Great Halloween Finds in Portland, Oregon

If you are a do-it-yourselfer, a crafting queen, or a creative genius looking to make your own prize winning Halloween costume, then Portland, Oregon is a great place to live. Check out Naked City, Red Light Clothing Exchange, and the many well-stocked Goodwill Industries stores for a variety of styles and a wide range of prices.

Naked City offers a variety of spendy yet fabulous brands. The store is found at 3730 SE Hawthorne Boulevard. If you are going for a vintage vibe try brands like Bettie Page, Illicit, EC Star and Lucky 13. Joan Cleaver or Stepford wife styles are available here. Some of the sizes are limited, but it is worth a visit as the store carries tons of accessories to help you complete your look. The best part for the ladies is that you will very likely find the perfect dress to wear year round... making your Halloween costume almost like an investment. When it comes to shopping, I am the queen of rationalization. Naked City is open Sunday through Thursday from 11am to 7pm, and on Friday and Saturday 11am to 8pm. For all the details, brands, and contact info, you can check them out on Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/nakedcityportland).

Just down the street from Naked City is Red Light Clothing Exchange (at 3590 SE Hawthorne). It is one of Portland's favorite second hand clothing shops. While shopping here is fun year round, it is a hot mid priced place to go for Halloween apparel. Vintage tees, dresses, and accessories are reasonably priced here. It is a great place to find manly styles, too. It can get a little crowded here, and it only has street parking, but be patient. It is worth it. If you are on a budget, clean out your closet. Red Light buys vintage and contemporary clothing. Check them out at www.redlightclothingexchange.com or just head on down to Hawthorne. Red Light is open Monday through Saturday 11am to 8pm, and Sundays from noon to 7pm.

Portland, like most cities, has many Goodwill Industries stores to choose from. They carry seasonal Halloween gear, but the real treasures are in the massive amounts of almost vintage, fabulous, or in a few cases, just plain hideous clothing choices. My three favorites for Halloween finds are is the well organized store with good parking near MLK (1943 SE Sixth Avenue), the Clackamas store where I've found some great bargains (11424 SE 82nd Avenue), and downtown (838 SW 10th Avenue), where I've found some amazing items. Grab a fur (or a faux) and and rock a little 1940's glamour. Pick up a 70's vibe suit for a little retro chic. Or, combine a glamorous eighties prom dress with some goulish makeup, to get your favorite zombie look. You can get all the hours and information at www.locator.goodwill.org.

Whatever your vision or your budget, Portland is the place for creative homemade costumes. Have a safe and Happy Halloween!