The best costume shops in Sydney

You’ll feel like you’ve stepped into the dress up box of your dreams when you enter the Wardrobe. The store’s bright pink interiors are home to over 30,000 individual pieces of costuming. This place isn't for cheap flimsy outfits. The rentals here are top notch and often personally jazzed up with special fixings. They hae a tailoring room on site, used to customise costumes and create one-off pieces for local theatre ensembles and school productions.

Are they open? The Wardrobe is open from October 11 to up to 20 customers at a time. If you have something in mind, call or email ahead and they'll have some options ready for you.

Downstairs in this treasure chest of a shop you'll find high-quality accessories like Italian Swarovski-encrusted masks and realistic looking flesh tattoos, plus movie release licenced costumes that you can try before you buy. There's yet more upstairs and they even have a tailor on-hand to make minor alterations so that the costume you choose is perfect. Costume hire is also available. 

Are they open? This shop is open from Monday October 11 with a spooky new window display. The team has been working right through lockdown, creating balloon decorations for at-home birthdays and freedom picnics. The website also got a glow up and you can browse fancy duds to buy and hire there.

Tucked away in a Surry Hills side street is the little costume treasure chest known as Snog the Frog. Are you after the perfect Freddy Mercury-style diamond jumpsuit? Or a spooky couples' costume that mashes up Clueless with Ronald McDonald and the Hamburglar? Want to emulate an 18th century French duke? Snog's hire range has you covered. They've also got you covered if you just need a wild wig and some makeup, or a mask to accessorise your own creation. 

Are they open? Snog is open from Monday October 11, and the team will be sporting a Wes Craven-inspired 'Nightmare on Hart Street' theme. Grab a crucifix!

This party shop has more balloons than we’ve ever seen in one spot before. They’ve also got copious sweets for candy bars, glow sticks galore and plenty of knick-knacks for themed parties. While the two-floor shop brings its A-game on the decorations front, the costume selection isn’t as comprehensive.

Are they open? The shop is welcoming back customers for in-store browsing from Monday October 11, but the Party People haven't been out of action in lockdown. They've been taking care of online orders and click-and-collect throughout.

This bargain shop has a decent costume selection – but the price cut means a cut in quality. Here you’ll find your run-of-the-mill nun, dentist and army outfits alongside extensive wacky sunglasses, sequined hot pants and fake blood.

Are they open? We couldn't get in touch, but we assume they'll be open from October 11 to sort out your Inner West house party needs.

This sprawling costume shop has been peddling costumes since 1985 and has a big collection to show for it. 

Are they open? After the first lockdown, the business moved online (retail only), with costume purchases available for pick-up or delivery.