[Been very lethargic due to allergies or a throat infection or something for the last few weeks. Apologies for not posting sooner.]
Taipei has costumes for rent on Han Zhong Street in the Hsimending district. If you're in Taiwan and in the market for one, simply take Exit 1 from the Ximen MRT station. Han Zhong Street will be immediately in front of you as you step off the escalators. Unfortunately, there are no street signs visible from the side of the road you're on, but if you walk to the left, you'll quickly see a few costume shops on this side of the road. There are a couple across the street as well. You'll also see some dance shops, which rent ethnic dance costumes (Thai, Spanish, etc). That might do also, in a pinch.
The road dog-legs to the right a couple blocks down, and takes on a different street name. No costume shops along that road, I think — only dance wear shops.
One other thing: If you don't speak Mandarin, you might want to bring a note written by a Taiwanese friend explaining that you want to rent a costume. I did that last year, and it seemed to work out pretty well.
Street sign on the same side of the road as the MRT station:
One of the first shops you'll come to:
Young Elvis and Fat Elvis? Hah! Well, THIS costume reflects all those years in-between, when The King fought crime under the tutelage of a certain Dark Knight in Gotham city . . .
'Nother store:
One of the shops on the other side of the road:
A dance wear shop. OK, the one on the left is a Taiwanese aboriginal costume. But what country does the one on the right belong to?
For some reason, these costume shops don't sell pumpkins this time of year, but I bet they'd sell a few if they bothered to stock 'em. I
happened to pick up a large one at FE-21 in Taoyuan this year, though there
weren't many left. In Taipei, Jason's Supermarket in the basement of
Taipei 101 also had some, for about $300 NT each.
(Photos by The Foreigner)
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