I've been going here since I moved to Chicago in 1998 and the place always meets my expectations year round despite what I'm in the market for. The staff are true pros especially the make-up people, they really know their product. I don't think I've ever not been able to find what I'm looking for at Fantasy Costumes. Once in mid winter I just wanted to buy a bulk of fake roaches and they had plenty. Just a word of warning, if you're a last minute shopper for Halloween and go in October be prepared to stand in long lines and share the large store with a mass of people. I don't know how the staff can do it. Kudos to them. read more

Fantasy costume has a great costume selection. I bought a flapper dress that turned out to be to big they let me exchanged it. They where very nice about it. I definitely will shop every year for all costumes there. read more

Fantasy Costumes - Flapper girl - Costumes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is the best costume store in the Midwest. Their inventory is huge, you are sure to find something and a little more. I love the make up work and the prompts they have. The best part is that they are open year round and right now they are open around the clock. This is a 5 star for sure! YM read more

Today was the first time I had ever visited this store. My friend needed to buy a mask for an upcoming concert we are attending. They had exactly what he was looking for...for $10. Not too bad. The store is huge and they have a pretty extensive selection of everything you could imagine -costumes, wigs, accessories, rentals. It was crazy. It is truly a really big store -a one stop shop. I'm not so into Halloween but I would consider returning if I needed to go to a costume party. I really liked how the sales lady mentioned that her coworker was coming in shortly if we needed help to put something together. The coworker is apparently a costume guru. Cool place. read more

Fantasy. You've got your fantasy football, fantasy nails, fantasy massage, fantasy hotels. Fantasy is utterly ubiquitous. And an active fantasy life is supposed to be healthy for you. Sometimes that's all we've got. And I finally made to this fantasy place when I was on a mission for the right accessory for a Yelp event. While I'd walked by here, many times, I never set foot inside. Probably because I'd be afraid, prankster and novelty lover that I am, I would buy too much stuff. My experience here was exactly as I like the shopping experience to be, You go for something specific, but still open to some options and choices. You are greeted by a sales person who offers to help, and who actually does that. Between hauling me around the place like she would her little brother in a candy store, and disappearing to that secret back room and bringing back other hidden treats, she helped me make a good choice (and believe it or not also the exact item Anthony M. bought here to wear at the same party,) in a relatively short amount of time. So I got in there, got a good fun accessory at a great price, and got out without buying anything else. So I can't say enough about the great service. I also thought this could be a great gift source for kids, big or small. Just so many fun items. And at very reasonable prices. If one day, your are riding the Brown Line, and somebody dressed as Big Bird gets on, sits next to you,takes out "Fox In Sox" and starts reading, you will know that I had an extra hundred bucks one day and a few hours to kill, living out one of my fantasies. Just lean over and say: "Well, good morning, Big Bird." Then just chuckle a little. read more

I can't believe the selection of wigs and costumes. We are now ready for the parties this Halloween. We have never visited the store before and now they have a customer for live. Only a 25 minute drive from Palatine in non rush hour traffic . Plus they gave me a ball cap a with their cool logo on it. read more

I could spend days hanging out and trying on wigs and costumes at this one of a kind costume shop. 29000 sq ft of awesomeness. They have everything you could dream of and more. Fantasy Costume is a the world's best costume destination. I imagine that theater companies love it too. They own a city block on Chicago's north side, offer classes in all kinds of things year round. Great costume makeup area; masks and props. Wig enthusiasts won't have any trouble finding an amazing selection of both human hair and synthetic. Huge are of decorations for your yard, home or event. Great prices, fab customer service...they all know their stuff. Give your self plenty of time. You'll get lost in the wonderment! read more

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Some costumes seem a bit pricey here, even the one I bought was priced higher then what I found it for online but considering the time left before Halloween, fantasy was the only place that I found a variety of options. Plus they carry very specific costumes that other places don't. I went to 5 other costume places and pop up shops to find the costume cheaper but none carried it except fantasy. Definitely worth it and will be back! I recommend it! read more

This is hands down the best costume shop in Chicago. I have been coming to them for years and will continue. Mr. Garcia is such a wonderful person I really enjoy chatting with him. Thanks for everything! Happy Halloween!! read more

Emily is amazing! I'm starting chemo in two weeks so I was feeling a little emotional when I came in. She made me feel at ease and turned it into an amazingly easy transition for me as well as my friends! Great selection of wigs and they can do special orders as well! Thanks ! read more

We did a Roast of Wolverine at the Laugh Factory, and came in the week prior to try on and acquire costumes. I cannot say enough good things about Tess! She was an absolute delight to hang and work with, had a great sense of humor, and was entirely prepared for all our needs. She even came to the show! Fantasy Costumes is a legend in Chicago, and they're also generous and phenomenal people to work with. The show would be nothing without their help and they should be very proud of what they do. Thanks again, Tess! read more

Fantasy Costumes - Costumes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is a must see, if you're looking for ANY costume ideas you have to get in here! The staff is helpful and knowledgeable as well. I've brought my sons here since they were little and now they're grown men! Also they have one of the oldest wig stores in the city, very nice wigs for costumes or for everyday use! read more

I have shopped here several times and I am always AMAZED at the selection. I have not seen any store that comes close to all the choices that you have at Fantasy Costumes. I have bought from them for several years. This year, I am dressing up as Poison Ivy (from Batman) and did not think that I would really be able to find what I was looking for. I needed a plus size costume and a wig (that includes 'cones'). Cathy helped me to find the wig -they had the specific 'Poison Ivy Wig'!! Cones and all. Cathy was very helpful, she was patient while I tried on several other wigs (I thought of going with a different shade of red), She even pulled out a laptop and we looked up pictures of 'Poison Ivy'. Next Agnus helped me search for the costume - which I wasn't sure they would have in a plus size, but they did!! Agnus helped me pick out shoes and fishnets - and I was all set. Their inventory is HUGE!! If you are looking for something for a costume - this is the place that is going to have it. Everyone was very helpful and patient - which I greatly appreciated!! read more

This place is absolutely CRAZY for a week or more before Halloween...to the point of having to "let out 5 people, let in 5 people". Their prices are not the best-BUT you can find a lot of stuff here....they have an entire room devoted to wigs, and they carry Ben Nye makeup. You can find almost anything you need for costuming here, so I'm usually willing to pay the slightly more premium prices. Parking is horrible-especially around Halloween-READ signs or you'll get towed! read more

Biggest costume shop I've ever seen -- yet aside from some expensive masks, the quality is really poor for the price. It's like those cheap costumes you'd get as a kid from the drugstore, but for adults. read more

Fantasy Costumes - Costumes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Visited this place for the second time a couple of days ago searching for a clown costume and supplies for a burlesque show. I loved it, and they had a wide selection of stuff. I just hate how expensive the bagged costumes are. If I had more time I would've made it myself, but I was in a bind. The cheapest clown jumpsuit was almost $40. Pretty usual pricing for pre made costumes. The staff was really informative, friendly, and helpful. The make up selection was really great and we found some bright colors. Unfortunately they didn't have the Ben Nye glitter paint in RED, which was pretty upsetting. Every burlesque dancer needs the Ben Nye red glitter paint!!! I ended up purchasing a really awful generic brand glitter that didn't stick or have much color at all. For clown suppies I found some fun "tricks" like a squirty flower, a squirty cigarette, a "BANG!" gun, wigs, etc. All of that was really low priced, SUPER cheap! All in all, I will definitely come back here for Halloween this year!! read more

This place is great. It's a city block long and it's Halloween all year round here, so ya know, that's pretty cool. Also, when you go here during the "off season," it's great for people watching. Every type of weirdo goes here, so it's definitely an experience. OH, if you're going to order a costume for Halloween, it's best to do it in September, because October is insane... duh. read more

This place is not just a costume store...you can rent them, have your make-up done, customize wigs...they do it all. They even make authentic wigs. What's not to love about them in addition to all the costumes that come in sizes up to 6X. I was so excited that I left my keys there. Went back the next day and they were there. The great customer service is a plus! read more

Had so many varieties of costumes but the main thing we were looking for, which was a Venom mask, they were the only ones that had it! Believe me, if you need a certain item you will be in luck and they will have it. Plus staff was super nice as well read more

Next year for Halloween, go to Fantasy and rent your costume. Pro: Unless you get the super-premium crazy elaborate period costumes, it's only a little bit more expensive than buying a costume. And the quality is infinitely better. And it will fit you well. And you don't have to wash it. And you're not thereafter stuck with a Halloween-y piece of garbage that you can't bring yourself to throw away. Pro: They have almost all costumes in almost all sizes. I'm hard to fit because my proportions are funny, but I found a costume exactly like I wanted that fit like a glove, and I got to feel like a princess for a day. (3 days.) If you think you'll never find a rental costume in your size, go to Fantasy and let them prove you wrong. Pro: Concierge service! Even though pre-Halloween, Fantasy is crazy packed and open 24 hours (so the employees are all, pun intended, walking around like zombies), assistance was cheerful and plentiful. The rental costume people were answering questions, making suggestions, assisting with try-ons, and running around like crazy bringing out more costumes from the back. I was there two nights in a row and could not have been more pleased with the service. Pro: They run specials around Halloween. Normal rentals are for 3 days and they charge extra for each extra day. But before Halloween, for an extra $10 you could take your costume home with you whenever and bring it back between November 1st and 3rd. Hello convenience! Seriously, I hear October 30th costume pick-up is a clusterfuck. You want to avoid that if you can. Seriously, the whole experience made my Halloween this year. Go do it. DO IT. (Something you should know: They run an imprint of your card because there is a rather high security deposit, but they don't actually charge your card unless something goes wrong. And it seems to me that "something goes wrong" means that either you don't bring the costume back, or you bring it back in shreds.) read more

Crowded and overrated and overpriced. It's 5 minutes from me and I won't bother. It's that simple. read more

When I first walked into Fantasy Costumes I was scared. Not by the masks, but from some very scary looking prices. On more closer inspection, and a solid walk through the store, I realized that they really offer a wild, wide array of costumes at many different price points. They also won points with me, as a friend I was with wanted to buy a mardi-gras style mask, and we stood at the counter and asked to look at 10+ different masks. The assistant was patient, and didn't mind helping us at all. I'll definitely be going back for all of my theme-party needs. read more

Huge warehouse full of everything (costumes, wigs, wings, etc.)! Lots of sizes available, and the perfect location for the plus-sized girl, as they have a wide selection of items just for us. Everything is split into sections. The masks and wigs almost have rooms to themselves, and you can try on any of the wigs with the help of a salesperson, however you will have to buy a wig cap in order to do so. There are shelves and racks full of wings, tridents etc. Great selection of Mardi Gras and New Years Eve masks behind the counter. Great range of prices from cheap to expensive! WARNING! There is street parking available around the store, and a bigger public lot a block away. You CANNOT use the lot of the mini mall across the street. They WILL toe your vehicle...Also, shop within a week of Halloween (even though they stay open 24 hours the few days leading up to the holiday) and they will be PACKED with people. No, seriously, PACKED! The best time to shop for Halloween costumes is Oct 1 - Oct 14 anyway so definitely stick to that rule here. Happy hunting! read more

I was recently in Fantasy Costumes to buy a wig for one of those wig parties, and I had a very pleasant experience. First of all, their selection of wigs is vast. They had pretty much every kind of wig you could want. They had natural-looking wigs, Marge Simpson wigs, long wigs, short wigs, wigs in every color of the rainbow -- they had so many! I also felt like their prices were reasonable. I bought a blue wig that was sort of a bob with bangs, and it was only $25, which I thought was pretty reasonable. Some wigs were obviously more expensive if they were of a higher quality or had more hair, but they had options for every price point. Also, when I went in there on a weeknight with one of my girlfriends, there weren't very many customers so we got a lot of help from the saleswoman. She was very helpful and friendly, especially since I probably tried on four or five wigs before finding one I liked. They had a sign posted that you could only try on two wigs per wig-nylon-head-thingy (or whatever it's called), but she allowed me to try on more than that. I hope this doesn't get her in trouble! Anyway, I definitely recommend checking out this shop if you need a wig or costume. Their customer service is good, and their prices are reasonable. read more

We go a tad bit overboard at our house for Halloween, and every year things get just a bit more over the top. Not only do they have everything you might need for a great costume, they also have a huge variety of supplies, decorations, machines and everything else you need to put together some really scary stuff. I really like the ability to examine the products and get feedback from the staff. The advice and attention you'll get here beats any fly by night store or any on-line experience. read more

I was able to find everything I needed here. George, the owner was so personable and helped me find everything I wanted. I even got a baseball cap from him. read more

Great customer service! I called in the evening asking for a Darth Vader costume to be put on hold and to check the prices. THEIR ONLINE STORE PRICES ARE CHEAPER THAN IN STORE PRICES. I asked if they could match them and they said only if I brought a print out of the items with the skus and prices which was great since I needed it that day. They were extremely helpful and nice so if you need something last minute this is a great place to go! The only reason for the four stars is because there is a NO RETURNS policy and you can obviously get things cheaper online, otherwise this place is the best! read more

A HUGE selection of great costumes and they were so easy to work with. I highly recommend them if you are in need of a cool costume. Totally affordable as well. read more

My wife and rented costumes from here yesterday. The customer service we recieved from Frank and Susan made our day. I think it is staff people like those two that make this place 5 stars. They were so responsive, brilliant, and yes extremely creative. (and funny as hell). Why buy a cheap costume when you can rent from a creative team that will help you capture the look you are looking for. Need I say more? read more

The largest costume store I have ever seen. Their wig department is larger than most entire stores. Very friendly people that are fun and enjoy making you excited about how you are going to look. They have every costume and accessory you can imagine. Fun place and great people. Tony Gaudio P.S. I did not put a price range because they have such a wide range from and inexpensive kids to a professional grade costume. read more

This is the best costume shop you can find. An incredible selection of costumes & accessories for any occasion. Staff is helpful, pleasant & have good suggestions if needed. I have gone here for years & will continue to do so. read more

Fantasy Costumes - It's me of course-Oct. 2013 - Costumes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Giving this place 3-stars because they have a decent selection of various items. You can definitely find your cheap costume-in-a-bag here, but you can also find items of a higher quality. I am however disappointed at my experience after I went in to buy a wig. I was in need of something of a specific color and found one that fit the bill on display. I was told that it was the only one left. After trying it on, I decided to purchase it - price tag: $129 for a synthetic hair wig. They put the wig away while I was browsing the rest of the store. When I was ready to check out, they put my other purchases in the same bag. Spirit gum, fangs, claws etc. When I got home I realized that 1 - The wig had just been shoved in the bag, no netting, no box, no pouch 2 - the spirit gum vial leaked. But hey, no returns, no exchanges, no store credit - didn't even bother calling. Since they told me this was the last wig of that kind, I looked it up online to see if I could find another one elsewhere, and I did: for $18.99 on Amazon. Benefit of the doubt here because I didn't get to feel the Amazon wig to see if it was identical and the same quality, but it still hurt. read more

Lots and lots of product!!! My favorite room here is the mask room. There are so many characters some easily recognizable and some from not as well knows movies/characters. Was very excited to look at all the masks to try to plan my costume this year and future years. They are a little on the pricey side but very worth it! The young man at the mask counter was extremely friendly and genuine. When my partner and I commented on what movie certain masks were from; he asked about the movie and was interested in gaining more knowledge about the movies that these characters where from. The props area is a bit overwhelming due to a HUGE number of product and accessories. They even have things mounted to the ceiling! I feel like i could spend a few days in there and still not see everything they have to offer. The makeup counter also has an astounding amount of makeup and many options to choose from. It can be very overwhelming but if you are looking for something specific Fantasy Costumes will most definitely have it. I also love that they are open all year round! read more

I love this place!!! They seriously have everything! You could spend hours in here! Great prices too! Wigs, masks, any costume you can imagine. This business has been there for 55 years. It is a Chicago staple. read more

I was a first time shopper here just the other day. I had called ahead asking if they had pirate tattoo sleeves. The employee was extremely helpful on the phone, and even took time to double check the price. I showed up about an hour later and received immediate attention. The same employee helped me find the tattoo sleeves and I could have been in and out in five minutes. The only reason I wasn't in an out in five minutes was because I wanted to wander around and absorb the huge amount of items they had. It's wall-to-wall through multiple rooms. They have just about anything you could want or need. Very friendly employees.. A huge stock.. My only complaint is that things seemed to be a hair pricey. read more

Jason was very helpful with our search for Halloween costume, he was very patient with us. We were so indecisive, but Jason stuck with us and showed us all the costumes we asked for. He over exceeded all our expectations of great costumer service. Thank you so much Jason for being so sweet and patient, King Tut & Cleopatra. read more

yes they have a good selection....but remember this, no refunds, no credit, no exchanges...their policy sucks. and the help is very rude and in a hurry. oh and if you want a wig, it costs 6.99 for a cap to put on before you try it on. i agree its sanitary, but why charge people when you are recieving good money for wigs. greedy. read more

Very large selection. Great customer service. I have been going here for many years and they never disappoint. They also have so many kids selection. Very impressed. read more

This store has everything you can think of, for any occasion needing a costume. And more. Starting with cheap in "the bag" kind of costumes, ending with great quality, pricier stuff. They rent costumes out as well. Make up, crazy selection of eyelashes, prosthetics, wigs, and everything your heart desires. With wigs you are limited to trying on 2, you will obviously need a cap. Fantasy Costumes will gladly sell you one for $4. It's not a lot of money, but other places charge maybe a buck. I understand that they probably wanna deter people who are not serious about buying a wig, and just wanna play dress up, or take pictures. But it sucks if you are serious about your purchase, being limited to only 2 wigs. The service is a hit or miss. Either great, or you will be ignored or have employees follow you around making you feel weird. I encountered both. On Halloween people literally line up all the way around the block. Many of them coming from different states ! Crazy, i know. Overall very cool store. I recommend checking it out. read more

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Awesome selection and the staff was extremely friendly and helpful!! The owner George has a great sense of humor and can tell he loves his business. Will go there again for sure!! Laura read more