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Your Weho Carnaval Costume Shopping Guide

Where to find a costume, wig and makeup for one of the world's largest Halloween celebrations.

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to flock to Santa Monica Boulevard on Oct. 31 for the 2011 West Hollywood Halloween Costume Carnaval, reports the city.

Since the main event falls on a Monday this year, revelers will have a few less shopping days than it seems to get that costume together. Whether you want to go spooky or sweet, check out these local stores brimming with Halloween finds.

Pre-Packaged Costumes:

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8878 W Sunset Blvd. The novelty gift and joke store on the Sunset Strip is your one-stop-shop for Halloween. Here, Angry Birds costumes are "selling like cupcakes," as one employee put it. Aahs has everything from police officers— both discreet and sexy, to nurses, plus a plethora of character costumes: Green Latern, Edward Scissorhands and Captain America. Prices start at $39.

, 402 N La Cienega Blvd. The grab ‘n go kind of gal can pick up a full costume and accessories here. Their best seller as of Tuesday was a Three Musketeers outfit ($700), complete with corset, laced slip overdress in blue, beige and gold upholstery, and a matching hat. The Greek goddess costume ($900) came in second, followed by Cleopatra ($750), which includes a staff and head piece.

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Make-Your-Own Costume:

, 8224 Santa Monica Blvd. If you want to bloody up a tee or tear up some pants, stop here to pick up some used pieces on the cheap.

1038 N Fairfax Ave. Wannabe 60s hippies and 80s rockers can comb their way through racks of yesteryear clothing from nearly any era. The shop specializes in vintage rock t-shirts, Levi's, leather jackets and vests.

Sexy Costumes:

7733 Santa Monica Blvd. The notorious adult store offers several options for Halloween, from pirates to S.W.A.T. team, with a great selection of masks. One employee noted the zombie cheerleader costume for both genders. "They are all very skin tight," she says. Costumes range from $35 to $100.

8920 W Sunset Blvd. This store carries a range of flirty outfits year-round, but their accessories are what make it a worthwhile Halloween stop. Boas, wings and tons of sequins will spruce up any costume.

Wigs:

, 6530 Hollywood Blvd. A favorite of costume designers and drag queens, this store offers a wide selection of colors, lengths and styles. They also carry an array of faux eyelashes. It's worth a trip outside Weho's borders.

Makeup:

, 8951 Santa Monica Blvd. The selection is vast, but the prices can get steep, so only splurge if you find a shade of shadow or lip color that matches your costume perfectly. The perk? Staff can offer expert advise and will do your makeup upon request.

1130 N la Brea Ave. There are also two CVS locations in town—8491 and 8607 Santa Monica Blvd. Don’t forget about drugstore makeup! You can find crazy nail polish colors and once-a-year-only lipsticks right in your pharmacy, some of them for as little as $1.

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