Fall Fun Guide: The Undead Come To Life At Area Costume Shops

“Zombies area always good,” said Ami Flores at JJ Blinker's costume shop in Antioch, of the popular Halloween costume choices this year.

Other popular options this year? Scary clowns, flappers, trendy Morphsuits and even Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Not so popular? Charlie Sheen masks. Flores said the store hasn’t gotten any requests for a mask of the infamous actor.

At The Costume Shop in Waukegan, classic getups like gangsters, kings and queens, prisoners and vampires are among the most favored costumes.

“We do all kinds of vampires. The most popular stuff is always the Dracula, not just with a cape, but the Bram Stoker’s Dracula dressed in 1800s stuff,” said  Audrey Fernandez of The Costume Shop.

According to Party City, zombies have been a Halloween mainstay since Night of the Living Dead staggered into theaters. Feathered and winged characters, inspired by Victoria’s Secret,  and imaginary friends inspired by videogame characters are also trendy, according to the Top 10 Halloween costumer trends from Party City.

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While many Halloween revelers are happy to purchase a costume from a large chain store’s seasonal department and others are happy to search their personal closets for a getup, those seeking a wider range of costumes can find them at area costume shops.

Independent costume shops are widely scattered. Two in Lake County are JJ Blinkers and The Costume Shop.

• JJ Blinkers, 896 Main St. Antioch, offers costumes for sale, a huge assortment of props, as well as rental costumes. Flores said a lot of their inventory comes from local vendors. These include a Ivy Lane Design, North Chicago business that makes garters; a Spring Grove costume distributor; Four Finger Effect, in Schaumburg, makes special effects like cut off fingers and bloody intestines; and Graftobian, a makeup company from Madison, WI. Blinkers also carries a wide range of costumes in plus sizes up to 4X. The store has a wide range of prices.

• The Costume Shop, 643 Center St., in Waukegan offers rental of costumes and props. “We have lots of mix and match accessories. You’re only limited by your imagination,” Fernandez said. She said rental for props start at about $5 while a full costume with all the bells and whistles could be rented for about $79.

National Halloween store chains can be found throughout Lake County. Some pop up as temporary stores just in time for the season like Spirit Halloween and Halloween City.  Here are some area stores:

• Party City, Hawthorn Hills Fashion Square, 700 North Milwaukee Ave., Vernon Hills

• Party City Stonebrook Commons, 6675 Grand Ave., Gurnee

• Libertyville Spirit Halloween Store, 904 S Milwaukee Ave, Libertyville

• Gurnee Halloween City store, 6521 Grand Ave, Gurnee

• Waukegan Spirit Halloween Store, 3060 N Lewis Ave, Waukegan