The independent student newspaper of Northeastern University

The Huntington News

The independent student newspaper of Northeastern University

The Huntington News

The independent student newspaper of Northeastern University

The Huntington News

The Garment District offers students costumes at low prices

Halloween is the holiday when students are given the opportunity to channel their inner Marilyn Monroe or favorite X-men character, but any good fix needs an enabler.

The Garment District in Cambridge is the perfect place to bring those fantasies to light at a reasonable price.

Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, The Garment District offers shoppers a wide variety of new and used clothes, shoes and accessories for men and women. The store is located in a renovated factory on Broadway, off the Kendall/MIT T stop on the Red line.

Their inexpensive clothing also makes The Garment District a financially sound option for college students, according to store manager Liz Donovan. She said people can easily assemble a costume that would cost about $10, or spend as much as their budgets allow.

“It seems like a part of the fun is coming here in a big group. It’s good for group costumes,” she said. “You can think of things and put stuff together and spend a whole afternoon [shopping].”

According to The Garment District’s website, the store sells about 40,000 items daily. Because of a large increase in business during the Halloween season, the store offers new pieces to accommodate the demand, she said.

“We really increase the stock on all sorts of things,” she said. “We put out everything that could possibly make a costume: lots of boas, lots of hats.”

Employees at The Garment District are enthusiastic about ensuring a fun experience for their customers, Donovan said. They will also help assemble costumes for shoppers with ideas.

Donovan also said popular costumes this year are pirates and ’80s themed get-ups, but The Garment District has all kinds of items, allowing shoppers to be creative.

In addition to costumes, the first floor of The Garment District features a large pile of used clothes sold at a dollar a pound. Contemporary, vintage and retro items can also be found throughout the store.

The Garment District’s inventory includes brand names like Gap, Banana Republic and J. Crew. With countless unique accessories available, finding the perfect Halloween ensemble is easy.

Tierney Borga, a senior marketing major, said she usually shops for costumes there.

“It has variety and it’s cheap,” she said. “There are a lot of choices. Plus, there aren’t very many party stores around Boston.”

Brian FitzGerald, a sophomore communications and French major, went to The Garment District after learning about it from his friends. He said its reputation for stocking hard-to-find vintage items attracts students.

“I’ve heard more and more people talking about it,” he said. “I guess there’s a large word of mouth, and a lot of people are trying to be retro. And they have that stuff, so that’s the place to be.”

When shopping for costumes, Donovan encourages students to keep an open mind and to remember that Halloween is a time to loosen up.

“You should have something in mind, but not too specific,” she said. “Bring your friends. Be creative. Remember that you’re going to look goofy, so have fun with it.”

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