Finding a unique Halloween costume among the crowd of thousands of outfits can be quite the challenge. Luckily, the Hale Center Theater in Orem can help with that.
“We have a widespread inventory. Most of the costumes have seen the stage in one aspect or another, but there are a handful of costumes that have never seen the stage,” said Starla Nordgren, the costume shop manger at Hale Center Theater Orem’s Archive Costume shop.
Archive Costumes rents out costumes to people all over the country and has a reputation for quality costumes that can appeal to all ages, genders and tastes.
“We have something in every time period and every category that really could appeal to anyone,” Nordgren said. “Girls want to be pretty, and guys want to be cool or funny. I can appeal to all of them.”
BYU students have a love for costumes, as indicated by the unique assortment seen each year, including the remembered Transformers costumes, as well as Pac-Man being chased around campus by his four ghosts.
“I’m a fan of creative, clever costumes,” said Amelia Spencer, a sophomore majoring in psychology. Spencer has always loved dressing up. “I feel like Halloween is an excuse to embody a persona without being judged. It’s the one chance in the year to pretend to be whoever you want.”
Other students are working together to create an unforgettable group costume. Ryan Adamson, a junior studying mechanical engineering, is working together with his friends to go all out this year.
“There are eight of us; we all bought these animal onesies from Amazon, and another one of us will dress up as a claw machine,” Adamson said. “We are going to go around Halloween night and pretend like we’re a claw machine.”
For students who don’t know exactly what costume they’re looking for, the people at Hale Orem’s Archive Costumes are happy to help.
“My suggestion is if you don’t know what you want, come in with an idea and we can help you narrow it down. We can talk about it,” Nordgren said. “We have great staff here that are super creative and super talented. We can make you look good regardless of what your idea is. We’ll keep pulling stuff until we find just the right thing for you and you’re happy with the way you look.”
Archive Costumes has been making and renting costumes since 1994. Styles ranging from fairytale to sci-fi, Egyptian to Greek and medieval to western are available ranging from $20 to $60. Wigs and individual pieces are available from $5 to $20. Sizes are listed on the website, and many of the costumes fit all sizes. Those interested in renting should fill out an application on the website and contact the theater for additional details.
Hale Orem’s Archive Costumes inventory can be found online at http://www.haletheater.org/costumes/inventory/. The theater is located at 225 West 400 N. in Orem from 10 a.m.to 6 p.m., Monday–Saturday, and can be reached by phone at 801-226-8600 ext. 3.
