Costume shop Ralston located at 6550 S. 84th Street is ready for holiday shoppers with their stuffed racks of costumes at the store. The shop is an authentic fashion museum with several centuries of styles on display.
Costumes such as flappers and outfits from the Roaring '20s alongwith Dorothies and Elvis, are all popular.
Stocks piled up from peasant cotton dresses of medieval times to garish polyester men's slacks of the 70s; from the velvet fabric, braids and fur trim of 17th century royalty to a pair of distinctly 80s zany, zebra-stripped platform shoes, are up for grab.
Special techniques are employed to accommodate different sizes - the wide seams, the stretch fabrics that allow for expansion; hems specially stitched for easy alteration.
Beyond the racks of whimsy and drama, there are accessories tucked in corners, perched on shelves and hanging from the walls - character hats, fedoras, top hats, petticoats and can-cans, wigs, belts, beards, boas, shawls, swords and shoes.
Another room has sports shelves of period shoes - spectator pumps from the 40s, cowboy boots, oxfords, penny loafers. Adjacent room exhibits 100 authentic period hats hang clipped to three long wires stretching from wall to wall near the ceiling.
Specially ordered fabrics, coats, extra costumes, hand-sewn kilts and the Easter bunnies can be picked are all available at Ralston.
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