Pierre’s Costumes is not your run-of-the-mill Halloween store

Listen

Halloween is tomorrow. Do you have your costume?

If not and you’re short on ideas, there’s still time to stop by Pierre’s Costumes, a shop between Race Street and the Ben Franklin Bridge that’s quite different than seasonal “pop-up” stores.

“This is the old pretzel factory that has been converted over to our workspace,” said Jennifer Valosen, head designer at Pierre’s. “All the way back it was a horse stable.”

The block-long building contains a showroom, sewing studio, warehouse, make-up, accessories, and over 1 million costumes.

  • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

“Three full stories up of clothing that goes back the length of the entire building,” said Valosen.

Looking for a Game of Thrones get-up this year? They have it. Marie Antoinette? No problem.

And then there’s the novelty costume section. Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, Dr. Evil — it’s all here.

“Gore is a lot of fun,” said costumer Jordan Anderson. “You just use some tissues and liquid latex and blood and you make yourself look horrid.”

Head designer Valosen says she won’t be dressing up this Halloween, after putting in 70-hour weeks lately dressing up others.

Plus she’ll need to rest up. Starting November 1st, Pierre’s will start outfitting Santas with red suits, hats, boots, and beards for the Christmas season.

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal