# Urgent Halloween costume help needed **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 24, 2001, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-halloween-costume-help-needed/89394 "2001-10-24T21:17:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-halloween-costume-help-needed/89394/1 "2001-10-24T21:17:16Z")
OK, here’s the deal. I need to buy a matching (preferably paisley) suspender and tie set, and a colored shirt with white collar and cuffs. The catch is this, they can’t cost me an arm and a leg. Anyone know a store, or chain, that sells cheaper versions of these dress items? I don’t suppose Kohl’s has a men’s dresswear and furnishings department. How much could these things cost? I know at Marshall Fields and the like each piece would be like $40-60, I can’t drop that kind of coin on tack stuff like this. What do you guys think? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-halloween-costume-help-needed/89394/2 "2001-10-24T21:23:01Z")
I’m thinking you should hightail it to a vintage clothing store, a costume store, or a Men’s Wearhouse (is that really how the spell it?). All of these would have what you’re looking for. Also, I had good luck buying a really cheesy looking frilly tux shirt at a tux rental store. All in all, let your fingers do the walking and make a few phone calls. Someone in your area is bound to have something. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-halloween-costume-help-needed/89394/3 "2001-10-24T22:36:00Z")
Yeah, the catch is that I’m not really looking for old or vintage here. So i doubt a costume or resale shop would have this stuff. Its basically just going to be modern business attire (or at least what was cool 4-5 years ago) however I’m not sure what places that aren’t expensive are going to carry suit style suspenders. Men’s Warehouse isn;t a bad idea, not sure how expensive that place is. Off to shop online. ---
**Author:** ![Inky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7feea3/32.png) [@Inky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inky_1)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-halloween-costume-help-needed/89394/4 "2001-10-24T22:39:57Z")
Try a thrift store (a long-shot, granted) and you might try asking your dry cleaner if they have an “Unclaimed” box. Got a really nice silk tie from my dry cleaner once. ---
**Author:** ![seawitch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@seawitch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seawitch)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-halloween-costume-help-needed/89394/5 "2001-10-24T22:48:55Z")
Tux rental shops will often sell slightly damaged clothing at damn cheap prices. (Back when I was a cater waiter, that’s where I bought all my white tux shirts - usually $6 or so each.) ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2001, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-halloween-costume-help-needed/89394/6 "2001-10-24T23:56:06Z")
No luck at the Mens Wearhouse (yes the website spells it that way, the domain [menswarehouse.com](http://menswarehouse.com) takes you there too however). Apparently those shirts and suspenders are too out of style. gah! I don’t really have the time to go scavenger hunting at Tux shops. I don’t think they have much in the way of braces/ties/non-tux shirts anyways. Thanks for the help so far, but I need less creative ideas. Right now I’ll take any store who has a big selection of this stuff…maybe they’ll have the style I need. All my online quests seem to show that my costume is horribly dated, since none of the styles exist any more. ---
**Author:** ![Inky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7feea3/32.png) [@Inky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inky_1)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-halloween-costume-help-needed/89394/7 "2001-10-25T01:45:06Z")
What is your costume going to be (if it’s not going to wreck the surprise that is. Maybe you shoulda’ put a “Spoilers” tag on the thread title). > [@](#): > > “matching (preferably paisley) suspender and tie set, and a colored shirt with white collar and cuffs.” Eeer, hmmm… A 1920’s Arrow Collar advert guy? Charlie Sheen from “Wall Street”? That guy from “Spandau Ballet” or maybe “Haircut 100”? Gatsby? ---
**Author:** ![Inky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7feea3/32.png) [@Inky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inky_1)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-halloween-costume-help-needed/89394/8 "2001-10-25T01:49:40Z")
I know! I know! “Undead Stockbroker Guy”, right!? I can just see it! Ghastly green makeup. Expense report in-hand. Maybe a rolled-up Pottery Barn catalog lodged in your skull at some gruesome angle! ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-halloween-costume-help-needed/89394/9 "2001-10-25T02:42:57Z")
Inky, I could tell since no Dopers are going to see me, but I left it vague in the expectation that a astute doper would come along and say “Hey, you’re going as XXXX XXXX aren’t you!?” I’m going to let it simmer a little longer before I come clean. Damn I have to find this stuff. The matching suspenders and tie are going to be tricky. Chicago peeps, got any advice? ---
**Author:** ![Sue\_Duhnym](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@Sue\_Duhnym](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sue_Duhnym)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-halloween-costume-help-needed/89394/10 "2001-10-25T02:50:22Z")
The matching tie and braces could probably be found at someplace like Kmart or Sears…but I’ve got no clue about the colored shirt with white collar and cuffs. The only ones I’ve seen like that have all been custom made. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-halloween-costume-help-needed/89394/11 "2001-10-25T02:54:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sue Duhnym \* > \*\*The matching tie and braces could probably be found at someplace like Kmart or Sears…but I’ve got no clue about the colored shirt with white collar and cuffs. The only ones I’ve seen like that have all been custom made. \*\* Really? The dress shirt I’m describing was pretty basic in the late 80’s. Like Inky said, think Charlie Sheen in Wall Street. I’ll try Sears and Penney’s but I have a hunch thei suspender selection will be sparse. ---
**Author:** ![Tequila\_Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/41988e/32.png) [@Tequila\_Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tequila_Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-halloween-costume-help-needed/89394/12 "2001-10-25T04:28:48Z")
I’d suggest thrift stores again or possibly Marshall’s or Ross, if you have one in your area. Maybe a TG Maxx?( At least for the shirt anyway.) I doubt you’ll find a tie/suspender combo in paisley except at a thrift store. Try to find the thrift store closest to the area you think people may have bought those items in the 80’s or a veteran’s thrift store. (I’ve found Armani ties in thrift stores close to Beverly Hills.) Not familiar with Chicago though, so I can’t recommend an area to start. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-halloween-costume-help-needed/89394/13 "2001-10-25T16:38:37Z")
What would a thrift store be listed as in the phone book? ---
**Author:** ![Politzania](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ab097/32.png) [@Politzania](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Politzania)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-halloween-costume-help-needed/89394/14 "2001-10-25T20:04:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Omniscient \* > \*\*Inky, I could tell since no Dopers are going to see me, but I left it vague in the expectation that a astute doper would come along and say “Hey, you’re going as XXXX XXXX aren’t you!?” > I’m going to let it simmer a little longer before I come clean. > \*\* … Patrick Bateman? (aka American Psycho) ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-halloween-costume-help-needed/89394/15 "2001-10-25T20:11:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Omniscient \* > \*\*What would a thrift store be listed as in the phone book? \*\* They’re listed under “Thrift Stores” in mine. I seem to remember seeing some pretty hideous tie-and-suspender sets at Wal-Mart, but I might be mistaken. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-halloween-costume-help-needed/89394/16 "2001-10-25T22:00:28Z")
Politzania, nope.