Centrestage Costumes

This place has given me the ability to strut out as Khal Drogo and a dodgy Johnny Depp a la Pirates of the Caribbean! Nice, helpful staff and a fairly generous returns policy make it my go to place for all of my costume party needs…

It’s not that often that I need venture into a costume shop, so it’s sweet that centre stage make the experience a bit of a treat.
The place is rammed to the gunnel’s with costumes, props and makeup supplies. The coolest thing about Centre Stage is that the staff will often be rockin’ a costume while they’re working. You can walk in off the street and be taken around the place by Wonder Woman or Steve Irwin and they love to get you trying shit on. The other cool thing about the place is the insane wig selection they’ve got. It’s fuckin’ freaky just as a visual wall of wigs.
I do reckon their prices are a bit steep, but I’ve got no problem recommending this joint to would-​be fancy-​dressers. You should definitely allow enough time to get a real vibe on in there though; there’s a shitload to choose from and it can take a while to get the service you’re looking for at busy times. Go with an open mind.

I find most fancy dress shops a bit freaky and scary because they sort of remind me of clowns and, well, clowns are terrifying. I know this isn’t rational thinking and I’ll be the first to admit that I watched The Exorcist and Texas Chainsaw Massacre when I was way too young and obviously some damage was done.
So apart from being slightly nervous when I walked in to find an animal mask for an ‘ears and tails’ party, I was also quite curious as to what I might find in such a large fancy dress shop.
Well, they have a fantastic collection of very fancy fancy dress, seriously elaborate costumes that I’m sure would make a party more festive and also a bit strange. Whatever you’re after, I’m pretty sure they have it. And if you can’t find it, and who could blame you in a shop of such visual overload, the staff are super friendly and helpful and will get you decked out in fanciful garb.

Every now and again one runs into a Platypus on Lygon St, not a life size platypus, but a human sized platypus. In its webbed hands is held a sign directing you across the road, where your eyes meet the words Costume and Hire.
Suddenly you realize this is no LSD flashback but a legitimate business enterprise, and I’m sure there is more than one occasion you have been compelled to dress as Harry Potter or a Hypnotoad or Grover dressed as a knight.
Here is where your dress up fantasies can come to life. Masks and heads line one wall, a selecting of boots along another. Between these on a large assortment of racks is the wardrobe you wish you had as a child. Reasonably priced, open every day at varying hours, and with friendly staff that help you find your way around. From full zip up body suits to smaller accessories like fingernails and glasses, this you one stop shop for costumes.