WCCO Viewers' Choice For MN's Best Costume Shop

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The name is simple, but the insides aren't.

Minneapolis' Costume Rentals holds one-of-a-kind costumes you can't find anywhere else.

It's a non-descript building in northeast Minneapolis. The type you'd drive right by.

But inside is one of the largest costume collections in the Midwest, open for anyone to try on, rent or just peruse.

And general manager Alicia Wold is giddy to show you around.

"Welcome to our 17,000 square-foot dress-up closet," Wold said.

What lives inside the shop is 50 years' worth of costumes, totaling 70,000 pieces.

"We've got Wizard of Oz, Alice In Wonderland, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," Wold said.

How did they amass such a large collection of intricate pieces? Well, the pieces came from shows at the Guthrie and Children's theaters.

"More than 500 productions worth of costumes live in this closet," Wold said. "This is open to the public."

Schools, theaters, photographers and filmmakers from all over the country use this inventory.

"Directors have told us that when the actors get clothes from the Guthrie, they walk taller, their character becomes more pronounced. They get an extra level of confidence from the clothes," Wold said.

And even the general public can rent what they need.

"There are just so many choices that it's just not possible to pick a favorite," Wold said. "We have some great costumes worn by famous people. This lovely dress was worn by Kristin Chenoweth. She was in a production of Babes in Arms in 1996 at the Guthrie."

Many of the items have also been donated. But if a theatrical costume isn't your thing and you're wondering what to wear for Halloween this year, just look to your TV.

They have costumes from "Game Of Thrones," "Outlander," and "Downton Abbey."

"A lot of people think that only theaters can use the costumes," Wold said. "We really find that people have a lot of respect for the costumes and the wherewithal to rent the costumes."

Costume Rentals holds public tours on the first Saturday of the month. Tickets cost $12 and can be purchased through the Guthrie box office.