Holiday House
One-stop shopping for costumes and decorations, Holiday House is worth a visit for the wide selection of costumes. Find the scary classics, like ghosts, bats and witches, to the fun-filled princess and superhero variety. Many accessories, hats, masks, wigs and face paint can also be found here.
4/F, 21 Xuhong Zhong Lu, by Kaixuan Lu 长宁区徐虹中路21号4楼, 近凯旋路 (6447-7189)Mon-Sun 9.30am-6pm
Ruby’s Party
A well-established costume and party supply store with bilingual staff will make shopping here a breeze. A wide variety of children and adult costumes and accessories are in stock and many can even be purchased on their website. Prices range from RMB60 for simple witch or Superman costume to RMB180 for a Roman soldier. Adorable animal costumes for toddlers – penguins, zebras and kangaroos are RMB75.
3333 Hongmei Lu, entrance on Huaguang Lu, 长宁区虹梅路3333号, 进口在华光路,嘉年别墅二楼商铺 (6401 6323,www.rubyparty.com) Mon-Sun 9am-9pm
Party Pop Shop
Mainly a party supply store that specializes in balloons, the newly opened Jinqiao shop also carries a selection of Halloween costumes for children and adults.
Sports and Leisure Center, B13 633 Biyun Lu, by Lan’anLu (5025 8576,www.qqballon.com) Mon-Sun 10am-9pm
Nantai Costume Company
The place to find traditional Chinese theatrical costumes and accessories, this small costume shop also supplies costumes to several local Peking opera groups. If dressing like a Peking Opera star seems like too much work, they have also qipaos, silk robes, intricate wooden masks and Chinese style slippers, both child and adult sizes are available.
656 Guangdong Lu, by Henan Zhong Lu黄浦区广东路656号,近河南中路 (6323 8344) Mon-Sun 9am-5pm
Shanghai South Bund Fabric Market
Want to make your own custom creation? Find the materials and a tailor and bring along a photo to the fabric market for your one-of-a-kind look this Halloween.
399 Lujiabang Road上海南外轻纺面料市场 399 陆家浜路近中山东二路 Mon-Sun 10-6pm.
Neon Kids Plaza
At this children’s market, you’ll find a variety of shops selling fun costumes for the kids. And a number of shoe shops if the costume requires something special. An added bonus is a trip to the play area after your costume search is complete.
10 Pu'an Lu, by Jinling Lu 普安路10号, 近金陵路, (86 21 5383 6218) 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
Han City
If you don’t mind haggling and crowds, the fake market has a few vendors with children’s costumes. With so many shops, you might also find inspiration for a costume of your own creation.
580 Nanjing Xi Lu, by Chengdu Bei Lu 南京西路580号, 近成都北路 Mon-Sun 10am-10pm
Hongqiao New World Pearl Market
Similar to Han City, but in a different area of town, here you can find a shop or two selling your standard princess and superhero costumes.
3721 Hongmei Lu, by Yan'an Lu, 虹梅路3721号,近延安路 Mon-Sun 10am-9pm
Taobao.com
You’ve probably heard it many times before, but Taobao has everything, including the widest variety of costumes for young and old alike. Best of all, you can shop 24/7. If you’re not a Taobao user, you’ll need to get some help, but simply typing Halloween costume into Google Translate is a good place to start your search. You’re likely find the best prices here without having to trek all over town in your quest for the perfect costume.