Where to Buy Last Minute Carnival Costumes

The festival of Carnival is the Christian-appropriated formerly Pagan celebration filled with frivolity, parades, drinking and dancing, traditionally used as a time for celebrating the luxuries of life before giving up those luxuries for Lent. On February 13, 2010, the festival commences with a parade of competing Samba Schools. According to some, participating in this parade with one of the schools is the best way to see Carnival, as you can participate for the price of a costume.

Costumes are in limited supply, but can still be purchased from a few places, including Rio Costumes, Zirigdum Carnival Costumes, Carnival Service, and Rio for Partiers. The prices for costumes that allow you into the parades is much higher than for a costume alone. Some costume prices include a full Carnival package with round trip airfare.

Zirigdum seems to have the most available costumes, but order fast, as the deadlines are nearly here. It is too late to order the ornate Marajoara,but the colorful and vibrant Phoenixcan still be custom made for you and, with express shipping, still arrive on time. If you prefer cooler colors, the Bird of Paradise is resplendent in blue and green with a hint of yellow. This is the type of costume most people probably think of when they think of carnival. Both of these are available for around $750, including shipping. They have costumes showing much more or much less skin, all for around the same price. Please keep in mind that the more complex the costume, the more likely that the deadline has passed for ordering, as each outfit is made to order and then must be shipped.

Carnival Services has several costumes still available, but again, act fast. Their prices range from $539 up to $1199, depending on which school's parade float it is for and how elaborate the costume. They have several color schemes, including pink.

One gorgeous unisex costume option is the Flauta Sagrada,available from Rio Costumes, which is monochromatic, but hardly dull. This bright blue looks Aztec or Native American in origin and sells for just $399.

The Caprichosos de Pilares is available for only $235. It is not as colorful or flamboyant as most of the other costumes, nor is it as revealing. The male version is sort of like a green Keystone cop, while the female is a cigarette or candy seller with a tray. This seems to be the only option available at Rio for Partiers.