Costume Seekers Hail Columbus

On the 500th anniversary of his voyage to the Americas, demand for Christopher Columbus costumes is booming--especially with Halloween coming up.

At Stages costumes in Wheeling, W. Va., $35 will rent a rough-hewn costume portraying Columbus as he might have appeared when he hit the New World.

“But that’s not what they want. They want this glorified shiny gold, king-like Columbus because they want to look good rather than be authentic,” owner Dan Fincham said.

Costumes based on hit movies like “Hook” are also renting well. “We always do a lot of pirates, but it’s all Captain Hook now instead of the plain pirate,” said Bill Hale of Graight’s Great Costumes in Renton, Wash.

Mainstays like Elvis Presley, Scarlett O’Hara, witches and fantasy characters also continue to be popular.

“Most people over 20 years old are interested in being glamorous and sexy,” said Lola Beaver, owner of the Costume Studio in Washington, D.C. “It’s the kids that want the horror mask and Ninja Turtles and all that stuff.”