In the city of haute couture, dressing up is a way of life. Whether looking hot and heavy for summer or cool and chic in winter, the French capital is all about the joy of donning your best garb. And it's the same for costumes too! It's possible that part of why Halloween is so popular in Paris is that the locals love dressing up. And instead of going for the latest trends, this season has them looking scary, sexy, or downright cooky. But where do they get these amazing costumes? In stores like À La Poupée Merveilleuse, Au Clown de la République, and Black Sugar, among many others! These are the finest costume shops in Paris!
À La Poupée Merveilleuse
Located on Rue du Temple in the 4th arrondissement, À La Poupée Merveilleuse is definitely among the best costume shops in Paris. The place has been operating for more than four decades now. That alone should tell you that this is the place to go to if you're in need of a costume. And if it's a Halloween costume you want, you'll want to get it as early as possible. Around October, the queue tends to go as long as possible. Thanks to its extensive collection of costumes and accessories, even those who don't live nearby get their costumes here. That's how popular À La Poupée Merveilleuse really is.
Source: À La Poupée Merveilleuse
Au Fou Rire
Although Au Fou Rire sells all sorts of costumes, they've become famous for a certain type: period costumes. Amidst the superhero garb and fairytale wings, it's the old-style dresses that have people coming back to this store on Rue de Faubourg
Montmartre. If you're looking to dress up like Marie Antoinette during her time in the royal court of Versailles, they have the best costumes here. Not to mention powdered wigs that are sky high too! But if you prefer to look horrific rather than historic, this place has its fair share of grotesque items too. They're even pretty affordable!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Au Clown de la République
Au Clown de la République has become somewhat of a costume institution in Paris that it has opened a second store l’Académie du Bal Costumé in the
12th arrondissement. It's not a bad place to check out but if it's the original store up on Boulevard Saint-Martin that's truly worth your while. This place is a mecca of all things Halloween, ranging from realistic costumes and various accessories to scary window displays that can decorate your
luxury home in Paris. One visit isn't enough for you to really look for the best and creepiest costumes they have in store.
Source: Au Clown de la République
Au Cotillon Moderne
While Au Cotillon Moderne still has its fair share of scary clowns, zombie makeup, and other creepy costumes, those aren't exactly what this place is known for. Just because it's one of the finest costume shops in Paris, doesn't mean it's all about the scary stuff. Au Cotillon Moderne is the kind of store you go to if you want to dress up as a movie star from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Or as your favorite superhero. Perhaps even as the protagonist of your favorite
Disney film! The costumes here are mostly character-driven, giving you a break from all the fake blood and imitation spider webs for once!
Source: Au Cotillon Moderne Facebook Page
Aux Feux de la Fête
Although Aux Feux de la Fête on Boulevard du
Montparnasse isn't that big, it's still one of the best costume shops in Paris. this is the place that can easily provide you with all you need to make you look as scary as possible come Halloween. Need zombie make up? Check! Want fake blood all over you? Check! Perhaps even a realistic-looking weapon to make your costume look more sinister? Check! Whether you want to go as a vampire whose mouth is dripping with blood or as a zombie with rotting flesh, Aux Feux de la Fête has it all for you!
Source: Aux Feux de la Fête Facebook Page
Black Sugar
Remember that Halloween isn't the only reason why you'd need a costume. What if you want to get into cosplay? If there's an anime convention going on in Paris soon, you'd want to go as your favorite character, right? And if that's your deal, then you'll want to go to Black Sugar on Rue Keller in the
11th arrondissement of Paris. Its full name is Black Sugar Gothic Lolita but everyone mostly refers to it as just 'Black Sugar.' It's also here that you'll find everything you need for your cosplay, ranging from Japanese school uniforms to frilly maid outfits. And true to its name, it has a bunch of cool Gothic looks on offer too!
Source: Boutique BLACK SUGAR PARIS Facebook Page
Want to celebrate Halloween in Paris? Or planning to go to a fancy dress party in the city? If you don't have anything to wear yet, consider shopping at some of the finest costume shops in Paris! They'll have what you're looking for!
