Our company’s HR team recently announced that our anniversary celebration will be a full-on costume party. As someone who barely attends parties, my first reaction was pure dread. Where was I supposed to find a costume that actually fits me?
Turns out, I wasn’t alone. The announcement sent the whole team into panic mode. None of us has any costumes just sitting in our closets!
And so, we did what we do best: research. We asked around, checked reviews, and visited multiple costume rental shops in Calgary.
If you’re also scrambling for something to wear, here are the top places in Calgary that we found worth checking out!
How much does it cost to rent a costume in Calgary?
Renting a costume typically costs from $40 to $100 or more, depending on the style and quality. Hard-to-find costumes are more expensive while basic ones are more affordable. Rental duration also affects the final price.
Table of Contents
1. The Costume Shoppe
Address: 4307 Blackfoot Trl SE
Contact Details: +14035712466
Operating Hours:
- Sunday – Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Thursday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Friday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
The Costume Shoppe is a rental store with a large collection of costumes. From Halloween to wizardry outfits, they have it.
Truth is, you’ll get lost when browsing their collection. So, if you’re in a rush, it’s better to tell them directly what you’re looking for.
However, if you still have time to browse online, they have a digital catalogue. We recommend going through this before you go to their shop to save you time and money as well.
They have the famous Batman, Scarecrow Patrick, and even mascots (if you want to level up your game). Customers also come here for their Holiday collection, which includes Gingerbread Man, Santa Claus, and Rudolph costumes.
The rental fees are fair. Even the prices for the accessories, like wigs and other add-ons, are also reasonable.
During our visit, we found some of the staff really friendly and helpful. Nic was especially approachable and helpful.
Some customers, though, did complain about feeling uncomfortable because some staff kept staring at them while browsing.
Polite staff
“Alan was amazing. He hooked me up and he got me set up with everything I needed. You problem solved and he was actually polite 10 out of 10 experience”
– Mr. Thomas Bugg, Google Review
Great selection
“Love the selection of awesome costumes and costume pieces to purchase or rent for your special event!”
– Ms. Crystal Berry, Google Review
2. Don’s Costume Shop & Make Up Shop
Address: 1515 Centre St NW
Contact Details: +14032625717
Operating Hours: Monday – Saturday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Don’s Costume Shop & Make Up Shop is both a store that sells and rents costumes.
Their comprehensive collection of costumes is impressive, especially since they have costumes that aren’t typically offered by other rental stores. For instance, they have decades-inspired costumes, like 20s and the nerdy 50s.
However, if you’re searching for professional stage-quality costumes for a theatrical performance, they have a very limited selection.
The good thing is they have costumes for kids, adults, and plus-size individuals. We find their selection pretty inclusive, so you’d likely find something that would suit you.
Aside from their costumes, we’re also happy with their additional make-up service. If you’re having an event and you want a full-blast look, Don’s Costume is worth considering.
Their prices aren’t cheap, but they’re not overly expensive either. Their staff are helpful, so we recommend asking them for recommendations if you have a limited budget.
If you’re not into renting, you can also buy directly from them. They have an online store, which is pretty convenient.
Giant variety of costumes
“Don’s Hobby Shop is a Calgary institution. They’re open all year round and have a giant variety of costumes and accessories for whatever you might need. Pranks? Videos? Corporate gigs? Birthdays? Halloween? They’ve got it all. Check them out.”
– Cmcalgary, Google Review
Helpful and friendly staff
“Very helpful and friendly staff. It’s nice to be able to try things on”
– Ms. C Pex, Google Review
3. Calgary Opera
Address: 1315 7 St SW
Contact Details: +14032627286
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 1:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Calgary Opera is a theatre centre featuring interesting shows. But what we like about them is that they also offer production rentals.
This is good news for those looking for some great stage-ready costumes they can use for their theatrical performance. There are limited shops in Calgary that offer theatre costumes, so this one is a great find.
What we also like about them is that they offer full production set pieces and props for rent. That means you’ll be able to have a full setup that complements each other, no stress and no hassle.
We believe that these are also the costumes used by the actors, so we have high hopes for the quality of their costumes. Also, the fact that you’ll be in touch with the director of production for rentals reassured us.
However, since they’re only for theatre costumes, expect that they have limited options. They don’t have casual and funny costumes, like the ones you’d expect for a birthday or Halloween party.
In case you’re interested, they also offer facility rentals for theatrical shows.
Great costumes
“The costumes were great! We especially enjoyed how live pianist played. The length of the performance was ideal for my daughter. We liked the Q&A session at the end.
I would recommend this opera for children 8 and up.”
– Ms. Svitlana Jones, Google Review
Fun experience
“Awesome afternoon! The storybook opera was so well done & enjoyable. My daughters can’t wait to go back again.
The hosts and volunteers were gracious and helpful.
It was super fun to be able to try on costumes during the intermissions. And, we love Free hot chocolate”
– Mr. A B, Google Review
4. Dark Age Creations
Address: 508 42 Ave SE
Contact Details: +14037190913
Operating Hours: Monday – Saturday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Dark Age Creations is another adorable rental shop that has a great selection of costumes. From film and theatre to Halloween costumes, they’ve got it.
What we like about this shop is that it specialises in Greek and early Celtic warrior costumes. Think of Normans and early crusader knights and peasant soldiers.
Another thing that stood out to us is that they can mix and match weapons and armour to suit your needs. They rent out high-quality suits and armours for great prices.
If you want the real thing, they do rent blunted swords too. They also offer sword lessons and fight demos if you want to go beyond dressing up as a knight or soldier.
It’s just that their non-warrior selection is a bit limited. It’s better to inquire or call them first if they have the particular costume you’re looking for before you go to their store. This way, you can save time and money from going there.
Great prices
“Incredible experience at Dark Age Creations. Professional service, great prices and welcoming staff. We were renting a suit of armour, and the quality and service were fantastic!”
– Mr. Jay, Google Review
Nice place to rent swords
“Great place to by your swords, rent your armor,and to learn all manner of defence.”
– Mr. Matthew La Brie, Google Review
5. The Costume Collective
Address: 1135 44 Ave SE Bay D
Contact Details: +14037011108
Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday: Open 24 Hours
The Costume Collective was founded by Ralamy, who loves putting costumes on people and co-creating with actors and directors. Ralamy’s background is a plus for us, as we can see firsthand how passionate and enthusiastic she is about costumes.
What caught our attention about this store is its reputation. They provide costume rentals to the film and theatre industries, with many costume directors sharing that the shop always delivers high-quality pieces.
In fact, they’ve once rented costumes for Ghostbusters and Netflix’s Black Summer. A customer we talked to also relied on The Costume Collective in outfitting their entire cast for a music video.
The staff also stood out to us. Many of the customers we talked to really appreciated the staff’s patience in helping them sift through the shop’s collection.
Costume-wise, they have a great variety. We saw costumes for the Victorian era, fairytales, and uniforms. First Nations costumes are also available in the store.
We also find it convenient that their inventory is available online. This way, you can quickly see if the costume you need is available before you visit their shop.
Amazing space
“The Costume Collective is an amazing space with amazing people! Ralamy and Rebecca are always going above and beyond to help out. I HIGHLY recommend them for ALL your costume needs.”
– Ms. Lianne Smith, Google Review
Extensive collection
“These girls know their stuff. The collection is extensive and will please any customer with the variety and pleasant professionalism.”
– Mr. Baddog121, Google Review
