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Stuck for outfit ideas? We've picked eight great spots to unearth that perfect costume
Even if dressing up isn’t usually your thing, a one-off party is the perfect opportunity to make an exception. Homemade costumes can often come across a touch half-hearted, so here's our pick of Paris's best new and vintage fancy dress boutiques. You’ll find everything you could possibly need for your outfit here, from clown masks and fake moustaches to elegant 19th century ensembles and superhero onesies.
Huge and colourful, Viva Fiesta offers a wide range of hats, wigs, disco shades and other classic constume gear at reasonable prices. Confetti, decorations, balloons and helium are all in stock, and downstairs is a proper selection of costumes for hire. Staff are friendly, and it's all clean and fun without being too cheesy...
These are some serious period costumes; don't come here unless you're committed to historical role play. Hire fees range from €25 for a shirt to €350 for a crinoline dress, cleaning included. There's also an amazing selection of Venetian masks, and you can pick up a basic one, wigs and other accessories for around €15 each...
Ideal for last minute emergency costume shopping, Le Fou Rire offers cheap and cheerful costume hire and accessories for sale. Root around for some real finds; stick-on scars and stab wounds, boils and false noses for just a few euros. If you're kitting out kids, watch out for the adult costumes section...
The relatively limited selection of 30 or so costumes here is organised by theme: 1920s, 1960s, Egypt or Antiquity, at between €30-€70. There's also a great range of false eyebrows, moustaches, noses, ears and so on...
Don’t make the mistake of calling Iglaïne’s wares ‘second hand’ in front of the owner – here it’s all about vintage and heritage pieces rather than charity shop rejects. So you won’t find dresses for €2 but a whole range of styles from 1900s bodices to ’70s/’80s blouses, sometimes for as much as €400. Carefully-preserved rare pieces are on display, principally intended for use by stylists and costume-makers...
Need to rent an outfit for a retro fifties party? Looking to splurge on a pair of aviator sunglasses or a ‘bibi’ hat? Then head to Mamie. Don’t be fooled by its tiny storefront decked out in pastel colours: inside, the shop has three levels, each filled with treasures from the 30s to the 60s – hats, jewellery, glasses, handbags, miniskirts, military jackets and polkadot dresses...
Sandrine Arnone and Narumi Hérisson have set themselves up in the Marais exhibiting designer pieces collected from all over the world. A pair of shoes by Yves Saint Laurent, an oriental clutch bag from the 1940s, an old dress made by a designer in their youth… all this and more can be turned up by the dedicated rummager...
Late-night shopping is fun at this Aladdin's cave of retro glitz, ex-army wear and glad rags that has provided fancy dress for many a Paris party...
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