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Costume & Props Helpful Links

Last updated: 1/4/2026

Google is your friend. Some of the most helpful costume links you find will be ones you find yourself, using the search engine of your choice. If you find something really good, email me, will you? Happy hunting!

A NOTE ON LINKS: Many stores have gone to a database format, which messes up the links something fierce. So if the main link doesn't work, try a keyword search at the main page. I try to keep everything current, but I do miss things. If you find a broken link, please email me. Thanks!

Image Sources - or what to look at when you're bored with Tumblr Suggestions on How to Make RHPS Costumes Forums To Talk About Making Rocky Costumes
People Who Will Make Rocky Costumes For You

I really think it's more fun to make your own. (Don't know how to sew? Neither did most of us when we started. For ideas on how to find/cobble together/modify costumes, and finding supplies, visit the Q&A page.) But some people really don't want to, don't have time, or would rather hire someone more skilled, and I got tired of people asking for a list of costumers. So here it is. I haven't dealt with all of them myself, but I have met most of them and personally seen examples of their work.

What About Those Commercial Costumes?
Fox released these in 2001. I wouldn't recommend them except maybe the Riff wig (hard to find commercially; requires some skill to make), or the Frank wig (not bad for a wig in a bag--the shape is right at least). If you want accuracy, or durability, look elsewhere. I haven't looked at the Eddie costume that turned up in 2025, or the Rocky Horror SHOW costumes which Smiffys made available in the UK (Frank's surgery gown has a heart; Riff has a white bowtie; the Magenta wig is totally different...it's the play).
WARNING: the photos on the packages of the Officially Licensed costumes are not always the same as the actual costumes (they were probably of higher-quality prototypes).

If you want an approximate audience costume, these are great, and everyone will know who you are. But they're made to last one or two parties; how often will you wear them?

Rundown of the 2001 costumes:

Tailors and Costumers
Costumers are listed here as a service to our readers, and does not constitute an endorsement.
If you have a problem with one of them, I probably can't help.
There may also be options in your area, and if you can find someone local, you'll be able to try the costume on and check on its progress in person. Be sure to ask for references and CHECK them. Sometimes once costumers become known for excellent work, they get lots of orders, get overwhelmed, and go down in flames. So ask around before you order.
You can always talk with Edge, who prefer not to be listed here, or go to cosplay sources or Etsy.

If you do order a costume, discuss details that matter to you (number of pleats/eyelets; size of quilted spacesuit squares, color, etc.) with the costumer. (One of the advantages to making your own is that you know exactly what you want.)
Also make sure the measurements you send the costumer are as exact and complete as possible. Even if it they are, you may have to make some final alterations once the costume arrives. On my most recent commission, I asked that the costumer send me a muslin mockup to try on and modify before they started the real thing, which helped.

I DO NOT recommend commissioning a costume if you need it by a specific date, particularly around Halloween, when most Rocky costumers are swamped. If you're on deadline, you are probably better off doing the costume yourself. You are ordering a custom piece of vintage-styled clothing, and most Rocky costumers are fans doing this in their spare time.
A warning: if you live in a different country than the costumer, you may have to pay import duty on the costume, and shipping may be pricey!

General Costume Sources and Lists of Sources
Remember, you can find a lot of stuff looking around in the real world. Specific Costume Piece Sources
Note: I have not purchased these items myself unless indicated, and am not associated with any of the merchants.

A word to the wise if you're purchasing lingerie on-line--shop around. You'll find that the majority of sites you visit are selling exactly the same thing from the distributor--after a while the photos will all look familiar. Prices vary wildly: why pay twice as much for the same thing?

BEATLE BOOTS (For Riff) These are available primarily from UK sources. If you're feeling lucky, they're available in various sizes on eBay, running $40-$100 a pair. OPEN-TOED PLATFORM SANDALS
In 2007, the "peep-toe" style came back, so there may be fine Frank shoes out there I don't know about. When I bought a pair of Frank shoes for one performance, I bought Ellie's 557-LEA shoes, which show too much toe and have an open back. If you get a pair, buy it in the "PU" (polyurethane) style for a non-shiny shoe. In 2011 someone discovered the "Miss Me Faris" sandal; it's clunkier than Frank's shoes but has the heel cup, a very good heel, and the correct type of ankle strap. Sadly, I've never seen it larger than a women's 10. Someone actually got one of the platform shoe makers to make a Frank shoe; I should know who that was but I don't! TAP SHOES
Many tap shoes fasten with a ribbon tie instead of buckling; it's pretty, but it's not what Columbia wore. (OK, Columbia's shoes button. But I've never seen button tap shoes except in the UK.) Chunky heels are back, so I'm abandoning the Capezio 450 and 550 I used to recommend. Hooray for the Internet and copious photos! Expect to pay $20 or so for the taps. Current best recommendations are the Sansha Myrtha #CL51 (a character shoe, opening over the toes a little too pointy; the Capezio Lilina 455 (a character shoe; strap attachment shape not right) or the Bloch Showtapper S0323 (usually sold with taps, strap attachment shape not right).
A friend recently showed me a pair of squaredancing shoes, and if you don't want taps, these might be a good option...but the going price for new ones is about $60 a pair, so they may be even more expensive than tap shoes. Shop around.
This seems to be the portion of the site I have to update the most; most large store webpages run from a database, and they move the pages around a lot.
So with that said, here are some models of shoe that look reasonably good: Here are some stores that I keep in my rotation. If you can't find what you're looking for, type the model information above into a search engine and see what you get. I am very, very sad that Discount Dance has closed up shop. HIGH HEELED PATENT PUMPS
Floor show shoes are pretty easy to find. I've selected the links below as sites that have a wide range of sizes and reasonable prices ($35-$40). Sadly, shoe sites tend to come and go, and styles change quickly, so if a link doesn't work, please email me.

  • BACKSEAMED STOCKINGS AND ACCESSORIES
    Usually pretty easy to find locally, except for backseamed sheer stockings (Magenta) and backseamed fishnet stockings (Frank). (Why are these so hard to find without a lace top?!) If you're buying plain seamed stockings, you will usually end up with Leg Avenue unless you deliberately look for another brand. (After a while, you'll recognize the pictures.) Style 5026 is their regular style; style 1000Q is their Tall. They do mean Tall, not Queen--I love the length but the stockings are very tight and prone to run the first few times I wear them. Your other option is to get backseamed stockings with a Cuban heel--very elegant, but the top of the Cuban heel shows above my boots, so I don't get them. NOTE: as of 9/12, Music Legs stockings start the backseam at the back of the foot instead of the sole, so I no longer recommend them - it makes it harder to get the seams straight, particularly if you're in a rush in a dark theater.
    Classic fishnets are getting harder to find, being replaced by "industrial," "fence," or "diamond" versions, which are an oversized fishnet pattern. My husband tells me that Leg Avenue seamed fishnets have changed (as of 2011): instead of a real-looking sewn-on seam, there's just a double row of darker cells up the back. If this bothers you, buy another brand.

  • BACKSEAMED FISHNET PANTYHOSE (TIGHTS)
    In the US, "tights" tend to be dancer's tights with Lycra; pantyhose tends to be 100% nylon. Tights with Lycra last longer and hold their shape better. I've only worn them as Trixie; they are nice. Capezio 3400 fishnet tights have a backseam and are 45% lycra (which is why they cost three times as much as regular fishnet pantyhose). Solid sole for comfort (won't show unless people are looking at the bottom of your foot). Only available in S/M or M/L. Body Wrappers don't have the solid foot but are cheaper and come in L/XL for us larger folks. Tights with Lycra should run about $12-$16; regular fishnet pantyhose (no Lycra), $5-$6.
    Dreamgirls has gone to the thick-cell fake seam, which I think looks like crap. For now, your best bet seems to be Leg Avenue. I'm not sure if Leg Avenue went back to real seams or if I just got lucky. Good luck.
    WITH LYCRA: WITHOUT LYCRA: I don't have a recommendation right now; you can Google "Leg Avenue" + "fishnet" + "pantyhose" + "seam" and a bunch of results pop up. Haven't shopped with any of them; let me know if you find a source you really like.

  • 6-STRAP GARTER BELTS
    These were available for a while but my links have all gone 404. Good luck!
  • ROCKY SHORTS
    An on-line search for "wrestling trunks" is your best bet. Sadly, the fashion for lamé wrestling trunks on lingerie sites at affordable prices appears to have passed. If you're a girl, try Googling "gold"+"boy shorts" or "gold"+"booty shorts" and you should have plenty of options.

  • GLOVES Marching band accessory stores are worth a look; apparently as long as there are marching bands, there will be sequined gauntlets (some band stores refer to them as "mitts").

  • DR. SCOTT LAP BLANKETS
    Scott Labrecque, who won Best Dr. Scott at the 25th Anniversary, discovered that Dr. Scott's blanket is an Anderson Modern tartan. Be careful and do not order from a site that doesn't have pictures. Tartans may vary slightly; some sites offer a plain Anderson that looks fine; in my searches I found one Modern that wouldn't do.
    Remember, Scottish tartan blankets are a luxury item; they aren't cheap.

  • LAB COATS
    My uniform sites have disappeared. YOu can buy these on Amazon.

  • GREEN SURGICAL GOWNS

  • FABRICS AND TRIM
    Don't forget to use your Yellow Pages or the Yellow Pages of major cities near you as well as the Internet...many large specialty fabric stores are not on-line, and if they are, the entire stock is probably not listed. Please be careful buying fabric on-line...it's pretty easy to figure out what color you're getting, but texture is another matter entirely, particularly for non-specialty fabrics. If you can, request a swatch.
    If you're buying sequin fabric, try to avoid foil dot, and read descriptions carefully: real sequins appear to be making a comeback, but many are now "baby sequins" ("razzle sequins") and some are different shapes or dangle from off-center holes.

  • SEQUINED TAILCOATS
  • MOUSE EARS

  • NAME (NAMEPLATE) NECKLACES
    Through the 1990s, these could be found at Target or JC Penney. Those days are gone, at least in the US; apparently UK Janets can still buy the cheap costume jewelry version. US Janets can thank Carrie Bradshaw that these are available at all: $40 buys a gold-plated sterling silver necklace. 14K ranges from $80 or $90 up to $140, depending on the price of gold, so shop around. Some Janets buy wire necklaces. They're cheap (about $25) but they look totally wrong.

  • BRAD UNDERWEAR
    You're looking for Jockey's "full rise brief" (sometimes referred to as the "classic brief"). I'm not including any links here since a brief search turned up 60+ sites that sell the darn things, and you can find them at most major department stores. Run about $6.50; $5.50 if you buy the three-pack.

  • MOTORCYCLE PATCHES AND PINS

  • WIGS
    I find shopping on-line for wigs very difficult. It's difficult to gauge length unless a human being is wearing them, and key word searches are nearly useless.

    On the bright side, sometimes you'll luck into something, and there are now several good FAQ's up on how to care for your wig (such as this one at http://www.headcovers.com/care_wigs.php). Check out eBay and cosplay sites too.

  • LINGERIE FINDINGS/CORSETRY ACCESSORIES
  • FEATHERS You can buy feathers cheap direct from China on eBay, but when I did, the feathers were beautiful but got black dye all over my hands. So be careful. Black coque feathers have been turning up in the "floral arrangments" section of my local Joann's, either as wreaths (a lifetime supply of Frank crown feathers!) or weird accents for floral arrangements. Worth looking into.

  • MOSTLY EDDIE STUFF

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