If you’ve just been handed a crumpled note from the bottom of a schoolbag advising your kid needs a costume for Book Week this week, or maybe you’ve just completely forgotten about it in among all the other 5 billion things you need to remember. If you don’t have time to make something from scratch or, if like me you cannot sew to save yourself, there are a bunch of places in Melbourne with ready-made costumes you can purchase without stressing about whether it will arrive in the post on time or not.
- K-Mart
Good old K-Mart has a bunch of pre-made costumes. But there’s a good chance they’ll be completely out of the one your kid wants and/or their size.
2. Big W
Same as K-Mart, but if you have time to pop into a few different places you may be in luck by the time you get to Big W.
3. Spotlight
Spotlight has been my go-to for many years, they carry all sorts of dress ups all year round for whenever the school springs something on you last-minute. Definitely worth checking out, and they stock a bigger range of sizes than K-Mart or Big W.
Lombard have totally got your back this year – they are open from 8am EVERY DAY during Book Week to help you out if you get caught short. They are in 14 locations across Melbourne and have thousands of costumes to choose from.
5. Costume King
Costume King in Clayton have a huge range of fairytale and storybook costumes for kids and adults alike. They are mostly an online costume shop, but they can do click and collect from their warehouse for Melburnians.
6. Miss Kitty’s Costumes
Miss Kitty’s Costumes is located at 38 St Kilda Road, St Kilda, and has a huge range of costumes to buy or to hire, as well as a wide variety of accessories.
7. Party and You
This one’s for the parents who work in the CBD who may have time to pop out on their lunch break to snag a last minute costume. Party and You is located at 118 Queen Street in the city and have a whole selection of costumes ready to go for Book Week.
8. Costume Wonderland
Costume Wonderland is at 911 Nepean Highway in Bentleigh, and is open every day (except Tuesday) to pop in and grab one of their many costumes.
9. Little Shop of Horrors Costumery
If you’re on the Peninsula, the Little Shop of Horrors Costumery in Mornington has you covered. They have an impressive range of costumes, and Afterpay is available.
