It’s Halloween season, and Spirit Halloween is back, filling its empty storefronts with costumes, decorative cobwebs, and organized chaos. As the largest seasonal Halloween store chain in the world, according to its website, Spirit operates over 1,500 locations across North America and brings in approximately $1.87 billion in annual revenues. Clearly, customers enjoy what the company has to offer, but is the attraction more about convenience than quality?
Personally, I have mixed feelings about Spirit Halloween. I usually make my own costumes and order pieces from websites such as Amazon or Shein. From my experience, you can find the occasional diamond in the rough at Spirit, but most of their costumes are cheap, ill fitting, and not made to last. Still, I’ll give them credit: they’re great for small accessories such as jewelry, fangs, blood, and even home decor.
As a member of the school’s costume department, I’ve learned the difference between professional-quality costumes and ones you just wear for a night. Since Halloween is my favorite holiday, I decided to give Spirit another chance by visiting the store and trying on some of the costumes myself.
After my visit, my opinion stands firm. The Stitch onesie was the most comfortable and accurate to character, but as the costumes required more detail and craftsmanship, the quality noticeably dropped. With a little creativity and effort, it’s easy to build a costume that’s more realistic and better made. You can use pieces found at thrift stores, online and in-person retailers to create a look that outshines Spirit’s cheap, yet pricey options for half the price.
Ratings:
1. “Adult Stitch Jumpsuit” (S/M) – $60
- 8/10 Fit
- 7/10 Accuracy
- 6/10 Quality
- 5/10 Cost (Comparable ones on Amazon $23-$30)
- 9/10 Trend
Stitch remains a fan favorite especially after the live action release this month. The costume is accurate and cozy but a very basic design. Similar versions on Amazon for cheaper ($23-$30).
Overall rating: 7/10
2. “Adult Mary (Sinners) Blood Dress” (M) – $50
- 7/10 Accuracy
- 6/10 Fit
- 6/10 Quality
- 4/10 Cost
- 8/10 Trend
Looks similar to the movie costume but the fake blood is too fake and the dress is loose fitting. The material feels low quality and better options exist online for less.
Overall rating: 6.2/10
3. “Adult Chucky Costume” (Men’s S/M) – $50
- 8/10 Accuracy
- 6/10 Fit
- 6/10 Quality
- 5/10 Cost
- 7/10 Trend
Accurate but uncomfortable to wear due to the jumpsuit design, sizing also runs large. Wig feels and looks cheap. Works for a quick, classic costume but the quality doesn’t match the price.
Overall rating: 6.4/10
4. “Adult Poison Ivy Bundle” (M) – $80
- 6/10 Accuracy
- 7/10 Fit
- 7/10 Quality
- 6/10 Cost
- 5/10 Trend
Slightly outdated character but still recognizable. Stylish but incomplete, missing the iconic red hair and full poison ivy leaf detailing. The corset gives nice shaping but the price is too high for what’s included.
Overall rating: 6.2/10
5. “Adult Glinda Costume – Wicked” (M) – $60
- 7/10 Accuracy
- 6/10 Fit
- 5/10 Quality
- 3/10 Cost
- 10/10 Trend
Captures the spirit of the Wicked gown but is scratchy and stiff. Accessories look tacky, and the dress doesn’t justify the cost, especially because it lacks the extravagance of the original design. Extremely trendy with the successful 2024 film and part two set to release in November.
Overall rating: 6.2/10
Spirit Halloween will always be a seasonal staple. It’s fun, it’s fast, and it’s filled with nostalgia. However, if you value quality, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness, perhaps it’s not for you. Although, walking through its aisles reminded me of why I love Halloween: the joy of dressing up, no matter where your costume comes from.
