Shelly's is a true gem in a town running out of great costume options! The staff, and in particular, Juliet, we're amazing at helping me find just the outfit and details and accessories I needed. And critically, they had the right sensibility and sense of humor! Highly recommend! It could be your one stop shop! Planning on updating this review with photos of the outfit once it's actually done. read more

Shelly's Dance and Costume - Here is the amazing Juliet modeling a mini crown for me so I could share a photo of it with a friend - Costumes Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The ladies there were very helpful. I needed a gold top hat so I called them and they confirmed they carried one. So I went to check out the store. They have a variety of options, it's easy to get carried away. I'm thankful they had the final item that I needed to complete my ensemble. I went to a ball at a BookCon in New Orleans and the theme was Cabaret. So I threw a little somethin together. read more

See all

Great selection of dance wear for kids and adults. The ladies there are knowledgeable and a great help with fit (not all dance stores are so helpful)! Also easy to place orders if they don't have the the size you need. Check out Shelly's! read more

BEWARE OF INAPPROPRIATE SALESPERSON I brought my 7 year old here to pick out a leotard for an audition. She has been dancing her whole life and I know her size so when asked I just said her size. Different brands are a little different but I can pretty much tell by looking at the leotards what will fit my own daughter. Anyway the male sales associate was very nice and the right amount of helpful, not hovering but checking in. It was a few minutes later a female sales associate took over, one I had never met before and started making comments about sizing and my daughter's body. I was shocked when she said "but she has a long torso and a BOOTY" my daughter is 7 years old and in baggy school clothes- what on god's green earth would ever possess an adult to comment on a child's butt is beyond me. I let it go in the moment and redirected the conversation away from body comments and went to the dressing room. The associate was very present and I'm sure she was trying to be helpful but at some point she said it again "well she has that BOOTY" I clapped back in front of my daughter because I wanted her to know that the horrified look on her face was warranted. Adults should not be commenting on children's bodies full stop! We had to leave the store without buying a leotard. It's one thing here or there when clothes are being tried on people might say weird things but this was completely out of line. I allowed my daughter to buy two accessories to distract her and bring light back into her energy field. When we left my daughter asked if her butt was big and if the lady was making fun of her. I had to have a whole Ted talk with my daughter after leaving the store. I have been coming to this store since I was a child and the past few times have been not so great but I never expected this. We will not ever be coming back and we will make sure to warn other families. This type of sexualizing children is unacceptable! I am appalled. Train your staff! read more

The best and only place we buy all things dance for my daughter. Staff was super helpful and knowledgeable!

amazing selection of dance wear and they carry the Fuego shoes. Juliette is super helpful!

Great selection of tights and ballet skirts and flats! Will be back for leotards in my size! Very kind staff makes all the difference! My new spot!!! read more

this is my first time writing a truly bad review -- but not my first time experiencing racism while shopping. the girls who work at shelley's dance and costume are incredibly sweet and helpful. the owner (the heavier set older woman with a military haircut), however, makes no effort to hide her racial bias. i've shopped here multiple times and genuinely loved the store's unique finds. i even told friends about it and considered making a tiktok to help bring more business, especially with halloween coming up. after my most recent experience, though, i no longer feel comfortable or safe recommending it -- especially to people of color. i came in around 5:45 pm to put together a halloween costume. from the start, the owner kept insisting i place my items in a dressing room, even after i politely told her several times that i was fine. as a retail worker myself, i initially thought she was just being attentive -- but it quickly became overbearing. a group of white high school girls came in not long after pulling clothes, throwing items on the ground, and making a mess. i even noticed that a few of them had brought their backpacks into the fitting rooms. and at some point i overheard the owner gently ask them to "please stop throwing her merchandise on the ground." despite their chaos, her suspicion was directed entirely toward me. she followed me around, counted my items repeatedly, and indirectly accused me of hiding or stealing things multiple times -- even though i was the only one putting items back neatly on the rack and had shopped with her before. by closing time (around 6:45), her passive-aggressive behavior made it clear she wanted me gone, though she never said they were closing soon. i finalized my items and rushed to get in line. the two girls in front of me took nearly ten minutes debating whether or not to go through with their purchase. the owner was patient and cheerful with them the entire time -- even after they decided not to buy anything. i even chimed in to keep things light, telling them the outfit was "too cute to pass up." when it was finally my turn, though, her demeanor shifted instantly. she flipped her kindness off like a light switch -- suddenly cold, irritated, and quite literally silent, even when i spoke to her directly. it was painfully uncomfortable, but after being there for so long, i felt bad walking out empty-handed. still, it was obvious my money didn't hold the same value to her as the other girls that were shopping. i handed over my card, got what i came for, and left feeling disrespected and totally stripped of my dignity. it's disappointing because i truly loved this shop, but i'll never be returning. i've also told my friends and family not to shop here. the employees are lovely and deserve the world, but the owner's blatant and deliberate disrespect as well as her obvious implicit bias, is just not acceptable. read more

This is my go-to store for my kids' dance supplies. Great quality products! The staff takes care of each client one at a time

Great selection of costumes. Staff couldn't be more helpful as my daughter and I were looking for costumes. Offered different options and ideas. it's a small business but I'll definitely go back to them vs the bigger chain stores for these types of items. read more

Amazing store! They helped me get a fantastic pair of character shoes. The store owner is very knowledgeable.

An amazing selection of dancewear and dance knowledge. Owner was a delight and couldnt have been more helpful! Can't believe it took me this long to finally go to the store and now I dont plan on going anywhere else! Its a one stop shop and you wont have to drive all over LA. Plus they will also customize! read more

Do you need a Halloween costume? Do you need some accessories for an upcoming festival? Are you performing ? Maybe you just want to add some fun pieces to your wardrobe.. Come here and be amazed. This place saved me on halloween weekend . Fair prices and a large selection of clothes, accessories, and props to help you create a look. I'm very happy I supported this small business vs. Online through a corporate mega giant that was once a bookstore ;)) read more

Great store! So helpful and they had just what I needed. What's even better is I wasn't sure what I needed and they were able to help me what that. read more

One of the best dance supply stores in Los Angeles. You can count on Shelly's to have knowledgeable and helpful staff and lots of selection to choose from. My daughter has narrow feet so no matter what style of shoe we're looking for Shelly's has always had what we needed. read more

I've been coming to Shelly's for years for everything from ballet leotards to Halloween costumes to jazz shoes to drama camp costumes. To the untrained eye, it looks pretty disorganized, but the friendly helpful staff knows their stuff and can find exactly what you're looking for. If they don't have it, they'll offer suggestions on where you might be able to locate it. Prices are on the high side, but they do offer a 10% discount. Plus there's the convenience of not having to drive all over town to find something (always a plus)! They have a convenient parking lot in back, and there's also metered street parking (though you'd better keep an eye on the meter because the Westwood parking enforcement is ruthless). read more

I have been shopping at Shelly's Dance and Costume the last ten years. This is the best dance and costume store in Los Angeles. The owner Juliet is the absolute best! She is a costume designer and always has an amazing solution to whatever costume issue you're having. I was having trouble finding a crown that didn't hurt my head and Juliet found me a headband and spray painted it and fixed it so it was perfect for the costume! I highly reccomend Shelly's Dance and Costume! it's the best!!! read more

We came in looking for dance shoes. Juliette and Annie were absolutely amazing in helping us find the right shoes with the right fit. If you care anything about your feet and legs when you dance, you need to come here. Do not waste your time trying to order shoes online. Let the professionals here help you find exactly what you need. It was a fun and friendly experience. Absolutely lovely. read more

Shelly and her team are AMAZING! As a plus sized dancer it can be challenging and frustrating to find basic dance clothing essentials (ie leotards, body tight, etc.) in my size. I went to Shelly's today looking for a mocha colored cotton plus sized tank leotard. Due to the recent rush from Halloween Shelly didn't have a mocha colored cotton tank leotard BUT instead of apologizing and sending me on my way, Shelly asked me how I was going to be using the leotard (ie under my costume, etc.) and gave me options. One included cutting a long sleeve leotard if the tank leotard I tried on was too small and dyeing the leotard in store for a small fee! YES....I said dyeing the leotard IN store! I almost cried! Not only was Shelly friendly and knowledgeable, but she took that EXTRA step to make sure I walked out of the store with what I needed. As Shelly told me, "no" is not in her & her team's vocabulary. She also does quick alterations in her store as well for a small fee! Thank you to Shelly and her team! They have a new customer for years to come! read more

Oh wow! Juliet and Anais could not have been more helpful on my recent visit to Shelly's! I needed to put together a Tonya Harding costume for a party and asked for their expert help. They outfitted me so well! They were such a pleasure and so much fun to work with. I cannot recommend their store and these two ladies enough. They know what they're doing. Thank you! read more

Do not shop here owner is horrible .Bought over $100 worth of clothes for my daughter and few of the items were so small. I called not even an hour later to exchage the items for a size that fits and they would not allow it. worst store and horrible new ownership. So rude and i would never buy from such a store that does not take care of their customers read more

Needed a last min costume for an 80's themed party and not only were they extremely helpful but they costume was well within budget. Thank you for your help! read more

Great product! Great Service! Since relocating I am still able to shop and receive great customer service. Juliet Kaiser provided solutions and suggestions to my shopping needs. She went out of her way to help me. I can still shop at Shelly's with confidence even though I live out of town - and know that the excellent quality and personal attention to my shopping needs will be met. Highly recommend Shelly's Dance and Costume. read more

Went here for a mini costume for Halloween. The store has so much to chose from but it gets packed at this time of year. The owner or manager (as it seemed) was really rude and said something that shouldn't have been said in front of a child, but I figure it was insanely busy and she wasn't able to concentrate to see that my child was right in front of her.... or maybe she just didn't care... Prices are not cheap but they are pretty normal for a costume shop, although I looked at a pair of the "dance pants" that they had on a rack and saw things that looked like I could get in downtown LA at one of those alleyway shops for $65 here. I would not pay that much for that crap. No service given but who needs that much help with such a big selection, in fact I would suggest just look around rather than ask for help since they seem more irritated to help than not. All in all it was a decent experience for something that was a once a year thing, if i had to come here often you could expect a lower star rating. ALSO if you check in here on Yelp they give you 10% off! (i added a star for just that reason!) read more

The staff at Shelly's is absolutely amazing, professional and so very helpful. They made my daughters wish to become Ariel come a reality! Juliette is truly delightful and so talented, she has gone above and beyond....she made my daughter a beautiful headband to match her costume...when it comes to piecing together a costumed in a pinch, I would highly recommend Shelly's. They offer quick alterations at a very reasonable price. I am forever grateful to this wonderful staff and this gem of a shop. read more

Shelly's Dance and Costume - Loving being Ariel! - Costumes Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I've been going here for so many years! The store has so many options. They make use of their space well. The owner is super helpful and nice. read more

Dance stores here in town certainly aren't the friendliest of places; sometimes I feel I should rent someone's daughters and walk into this kind of place to see if they'll acknowledge me then. I take into account how many people are in the shop against how many employees there are. This can make a difference with service indeed, but it doesn't hurt to give a quick,'we'll be right with you' or something similar to people who are browsing for more than a few minutes. I was here looking for a specific warmup piece by Bloch, Capezio or Gaynor-Minden and I was only finding children's sizes in a brand I was not familiar with. Would have loved to have asked if they carry any of the above pieces, but quite frankly, I didn't have the time to wait after about 5 minutes of wandering around. Since they seem to have some decent halloween costumes, I'm keeping this at 2-stars instead of my intended 1. read more

I called all over the So Cal/LA area looking for a last minute pair of tap shoes in white for my daughter's dance show. No one had them, until I called Shelly's! Not only did they have them in my daughter's exact size, they were able to place them on hold until I got there. They were so friendly and nice and gave me 10% off! I will definitely be back!! Such cute costumes and great prices. I recommend parking in the back because parking in the front is limited. Thank you for saving the day for me!!! read more

Shelly's Dance and Costume - My daughter's dance show costume complete with white tap shoes from Shelly's - Costumes Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Juliet was very thorough and involved in the fitting and design process. She also provided an estimate earlier than expected. I will definitely return in the future. read more

Do not shop here!! The new owner is rude! Apparently, there is a policy in returns because of COVID but we were told that policy apples on certain items which is totally not true. No returns are for all merchandise. No exceptions!! Read your receipt !!! The owner doesn't care about costumer service. read more

Shelly's Dance is accommodating and has a large variety of products than you'd expect from the store's small size. The employees are knowledgeable and will help you find whatever you need. Thank you Shelly's! read more

They have everything and are so friendly! Shelly's Dance and Costumewear wants you to feel welcomed and appreciated, and it shows! Thanks for making my visit today a joyful breeze read more

Shelly's Dance and Costume - Ballet shoes :) - Costumes Near Me - Los Angeles, California

They were very helpful with the sizing of the dance shoes I purchased. Found parking on the street , although there was parking in the back. read more

Got my daughter tap shoes, ballet shoes, and a leotard. They were super helpful with everything. Seems like the spot to get ballet stuff

We have purchased dance and tap shoes from my toddler on two separate occasions from Shelly's Dance and Costume and it's been such a pleasant experience both times. The staff are so friendly and both times I got very prompt service. The sales person helped find the right fit for my daughter and we were in and out in under 10 minutes. Happy mom and happy toddler! I've previously bought ballet and tap shoes from a certain online mega retailer that starts with A and is named after a Brazilian rainforest. That was a horrible experience - we had to do 3 returns and bought multiple sizes due to inconsistent fit and poor quality. I was so happy to find Shelly's in my neighborhood. And it feels great to support a locally owned small business. We will be back! read more

Found exactly what I needed for body tape! Juliet was super helpful, easy shopping experience

So so helpful! I needed a 70's costume for a birthday party! They were great about letting me try in EVERYTHING! Thank you! read more

Anything you need for your dancing. Great selection. Exelent and very knowledgeable service. My husband and I are both historical dancers and for years we buying shoes and other accessories only from Shelly's. We are driving for about an hour, but it's totally worth it. The staff at Shellys makes sure the shoes are fits perfectly. Not like buying on line... Every balloon dancer knows how important this is. Thank you Shellys for years of making our fits happy. read more

Damn, I love Shelly's! I stopped by today for a few last minute costume items and the place was jumping! Tons of people shopping for their costumes or their kids' costumes. But the employees were all being super-helpful to everyone and running around finding all the right pieces for various costumes. I love the great customer service here- that's what sets it apart from all the other costume places. The selection is huge and the prices are reasonable- they have fliers floating around town with discounts on your costume needs, so keep an eye out. FYI- you can also get the free loyalty/frequent buyer card to rack up points towards more discounts. As for the parking situation, people who didn't know better were causing near-accidents on Westwood Blvd, but there is a small lot in back and several broken (free) meters on Mississippi. Anyway, time's running out for Halloween shopping, so visit Shelly's soon! read more

Brown Betties love Shelly's! We found a great ballroom high-heel dance shoe here for our cabaret show. It's comfortable, the right price and just all around awesome. Plus, we accidentally ordered one of the wrong shoes...discovered mistake at 5pm at night, by 12noon the next day, we had the shoe and we were on a plane with it to Atlanta. Thanks for taking care of us! read more