SF residents love any excuse to throw on a costume and hit the streets, so it’s no surprise that we also have a treasure trove of vintage, thrift, and costume shops, where you can find the perfect Halloween look.
The list ranges from high-quality rentals to affordable vintage looks and even some DIY options if you’re feeling crafty. Whether you want to look straight out of a horror movie or out of Bridgerton, these spots will help you look your best.
1. Cliff’s Variety
Cliff’s Variety is a Casto district staple and a delightful place to shop. Since 1936, they’ve stoked a large but curated selection of just about anything that a city dweller needs, including Halloween decorations. This SF costume shop boasts an excellent selection of full costumes but is also a great place for finishing touches like props, face paint, wigs, fake blood, and vampire teeth.
Location: 479 Castro Street
2. Piedmont Boutique
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Piedmont Boutique specializes in disco-party wear, drag queen regalia, and classic Burning Man fashions. Imagine floor-to-ceiling displays of pink faux fur bikinis, silver sequin shorts, neon green wigs, and so much more. If you’re looking to go big on the color and texture this Halloween, Piedmont Boutique is definitely worth a visit. This SF costume shop is worth a visit, plus it’s near many thrift and vintage shops on Haight Street, perfect for completing your Halloween look.
Location: 1452 Haight Street
3. Held Over
Haight Street is known for its thrift and vintage stores, but for era-specific costumes, it’s hard to beat Held Over. They have a strong focus on vintage European fashion and arrange their clothes into hyper-specific sections like “1960s formal,” “1980s Prom,” or just “Long and Groovy.” They don’t sell packaged costumes, but with a little time and creativity, you can walk out with an outstanding look.
Location: 1543 Haight Street
4. One Stop Party Shop
One Stop Party Shop is a small but well-stocked store in Noe Valley that stocks wigs, masks, face paint, and complete costumes. They’re also known for their party decorations, ranging from Christmas to the Oscars and everything in between.
Location: 1600 Church Street
5. Decades of Fashion
via Instagram
You could easily, and understandably, mistake Decades of Fashion for a fashion museum due to the quality and quantity of historic looks on their racks. Decades of Fashion prides itself on “100 years of fashion,” stretching from the 1890s to the 1980s. Whether your costume dreams include Gatsby-era garb or a hippie chic look, they probably have exactly what you’re looking for.
Location: 1653 Haight St
6. Mendel’s
When looking for good SF costume shops, an art supply store may not be the first thing that comes to mind. If you’re handy with a sewing machine or hot glue gun and want to construct your own outfit, Mendel’s has the materials. It’s a very well-stocked art supply store with a vast selection of fabrics from vinyl to cuddle fleece. They also stock face paint, masks, and a few other Halloween accessories to help complete your look.
Location: 1556 Haight Street
7. Spirit Halloween
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Whether you’ve visited one or just know them from the memes, Spirit Halloween is a household name. They pop up at empty storefronts across the region and offer a massive selection of complete costumes and accessories. Spirit is a classic Halloween costume shop for a reason; it is perfect for a last-minute trip when you need to throw together a complete costume, especially if you’re not crafty. Spirit is a great option if you’re having a tough time deciding what to wear and need a flattering and instantly recognizable look.
Location: 306 Westlake Center, Daly City
8. Goodwill
Finding an affordable Halloween costume can be difficult, and the best approach is thrifting. Luckily, Goodwill has plenty of options to choose from, and they also have some special Halloween accessories if you need a last-minute costume.
Location: 1700 Haight St, San Francisco
9. Missing Audrey Vintage
While Missing Audrey is a vintage store, you can find many second-hand and vintage gems that are perfect for a creative costume. The shop is packed with unique accessories, vintage jackets, and shoes from numerous decades. Missing Audrey Vintage is open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 am to 6 pm.
Location: 1767 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94133