Do I need an appointment to come to the Costume Collection?

You do not need an appointment to visit the Collection unless you plan to reserve a fitting room to fit costumes on actors or yourself.

What can I expect when I visit the Costume Collection?

The Collection can be overwhelming for first-time visitors.  Please give yourself ample time to browse, as we are not set up like an average retailer.  Our small staff is very friendly and accommodating; however, customers are responsible for researching and pulling all costumes.  We suggest fully researching the period of your project beforehand and possibly planning multiple trips to the Collection.  Also, allow an extra fifteen minutes to an hour to check out, as all inventories are hand written.

What should I prepare before I visit the Costume Collection?

If you are simply browsing the Collection’s vast stock, you do not need to prepare any paperwork.  If you plan to rent or reserve costumes, you will need to prepare a Letter of Agreement, which must be signed by someone who is fiscally responsible for the project. 

Does my company have an account with the Costume Collection?

While your company may have rented from the Costume Collection in the past, we do not establish accounts in the same manner that a commercial retailer might.  A company only needs to submit its proof of not-for-profit status once (510(c)(3) or the like).  A new Letter of Agreement must be filled out for every new production. 

Will my rental be a non-commercial or commercial rental?

If you are working for an organization that maintains not-for-profit status, the rental qualifies as non-commercial.  If your organization cannot supply the Costume Collection with proof of not-for-profit status, the rental will be commercial.  Rentals for film, television and photography projects generally fall into the commercial category.

Does the costume designer sign the Letter of Agreement?

No.  Please refer to the “Helpful Hints” section on the Letter of Agreement page to determine who in your organization should sign the Agreement.

What should I bring with me to the Costume Collection?

Because we are a self-service warehouse, we suggest that you bring research or sketches for reference, measurements of all the individuals needing costumes, a measuring tape, a digital camera and note-taking supplies.  If you plan on renting many costumes at once, you may also want to bring a rolling suitcase, as we are not immediately close to public transportation.

Can I take pictures of the costumes?
Yes.

Are the costumes and shoes sized?

Sizes are not marked in most of the items at the Collection.  Many of the garments have been custom-built in costume shops for specific actors.  Therefore, it is very important to know your actors’ measurements and bring a tape measure to the Collection.

The last designer who rented costumes for this company used the company credit card.  Can I pay for my rental with the same card?

Generally, a new Credit Card Authorization form must be filled out by the cardholder and turned in to the Collection for every new production.  If you plan to pay with your own card and you will be physically present when the transaction occurs, an authorization form does not need to be submitted.

I was told the Costume Collection offers free costumes to not-for-profit companies.  Is this true?

Unfortunately, no.  All costumes are reasonably priced on a sliding scale.  The price is determined based on the number of weeks of the performance and the number of seats in the house.

How do I put costumes on hold at the Costume Collection?

Once we have your contract on file with your company’s 501c3 and a signed Letter of Agreement, you may put costumes on hold four weeks prior to the opening date of the production.  All costumes placed on hold must be labeled with the company and designer information, placed on a rack in our hold area and tied together neatly.  Please be aware that the customer is responsible for restocking the items before the opening date of the production.  A restocking fee is assessed for any items not restocked before the opening date.

Can costumes be fit on site at the Costume Collection?

We have two fitting rooms where costumes may be fit on actors.  Customers who wish to use the fitting rooms must schedule an appointment ahead of their visit.  We ask that customers refrain from fitting costumes in the aisles.

What is the difference between Regular Stock and Special Stock?

Special Stock refers to items that are in a higher price bracket because of their pristine condition or because they belong to a set from a particular production.  Many of our Special Stock costumes were built for the Metropolitan Opera or in one of the major costume shops in New York City.  Customers must get permission from a staff member to browse our Special Stock.

When do I pay for the rental?

Payment must be received before any costume may be taken from the Collection.

How does pricing work?

The number of weeks of the performance and the number of seats in the house determine pricing for non-commercial rentals.  Please refer to the pricing grid for both Regular Stock and Special Stock rental rates.  Commercial prices begin at $100.00 per costume for one week and increase by $25.00 for each additional week.  Dry cleaning is also charged up front on all commercial rentals.  The minimum rental for any rental is one costume.

Does the rental price include dry cleaning?

No.  It is the customer’s responsibility to get all costumes that are kept beyond the opening date of the production professionally dry cleaned.  You may use a dry cleaner of your choice, or you may choose to return the costumes to the Collection and have them cleaned for $5.25 per pound.  Commercial customers must pay for dry cleaning up front at the same rate of $5.25 per pound.

Can I machine wash items that do not require dry cleaning?

No.  If you do not wish to use our dry cleaning service, you must provide receipts from a professional dry cleaner as proof that all costumes have been cleaned properly.

Some of the costumes I rented do not fit my actors.  Can I get a refund?

We cannot offer refunds for any items that do not fit or are not used after the rental has been processed.  However, customers may exchange costumes an unlimited number of times prior to the opening date in order to find items that fit properly.  After the opening date, costumes may no longer be exchanged.

How do you count costumes when writing up my rental?

Customers are quoted a per-costume price, which refers to all items that can be sensibly worn head-to-toe by an actor at one time.  For example, a hat, three-piece suit, shirt, tie, suspenders, shoes and overcoat all equal one costume.  If you do not require this many pieces, we can also assess half-costumes.  This refers to all the corresponding items that can sensibly be worn on either the top or bottom half of the body.  For example, a ball cap, shirt, sweater vest and letter jacket would equal a half-costume.  And finally, if you are only looking to accessorize a costume you already have, we count 2-3 accessories as a half-costume and 5-6 accessories as a full costume. 

Do I restock items I will not end up renting?

Yes.  The staff is happy to direct you to the correct category if you have forgotten where an item came from.  However, we do not have the manpower to restock every un-rented item and ask that our customers help us to keep the warehouse clean.  A restocking fee is assessed for any items not restocked before the opening date.

Is the Costume Collection open on weekends?

No.  The Collection is generally open Monday through Friday from 9am-5:30pm.  Hours of operation may differ on holidays and summertime Fridays, so please call in advance of your visit to ensure that the Collection is open.  Final checkout of costumes is at 4:00pm.

What is the best way to transport large rentals?

Most customers choose to pack their costumes in the shopping bags we provide.  Many transport large rentals in a cab.  Our building does have a vehicle elevator if you are able to drive to the Collection.  Please call ahead for instructions on how to use this elevator.  If you are unable to transport your costumes with these methods, you can also choose to have us ship the costumes to your company via  UPS.  Customers are responsible for all shipping costs, as well as a $3.00 per box handling fee.  There are additional fees associated with FedEx shipments if you chose not to use UPS.

Can I modify the costumes I rent?

Garments may not be cut or treated with dye, paint or glue.  Alterations are allowed, and we welcome all repairs to pieces that may be worn and torn. However, we ask that you discuss your plans with us before making any changes.

Does the Costume Collection provide an alteration service?

No.  Because our staff is small, we are not able to provide any alteration services.  Furthermore, we cannot provide maintenance or repair services other than routine dry cleaning upon the costume’s return.  Costumes are rented “as is”, and the current condition is noted on the inventory during checkout. 

Do you sell costumes?
No.  We are a rental warehouse only.

Can I rent my Halloween costume at the Costume Collection?

No.  We do not rent costumes to individuals attending social events.