For the kids, Purim is terrific fun, and they're relatively easy to please. Throw together a genuine plastic crown, an obnoxiously dyed feather boa, a puffed-sleeve princess dress and fairy wings, and Daughter is ecstatically tricked out as Fairy Princess Flamingo, while Son is happy with his Spiderman mask and sword. Or not.
But what about yourself? It turns out that about 40% of Israel's adults will be dressing up this Purim, and many of them want something original, if only for the sake of winning the contest and prize breakfast at the corner kiosk.
The most conventional solution is to try the local toy store, such as Kfar Hashashu'im, Toys R Us and the like, and buy a generic costume for adults. Sexy policewoman, zebra, cat, vampire chick and Egyptian princess can be found in just about every size for prices that range from NIS 70 to NIS 120, including accessories. But what if you can't bear the idea of showing up in the tired old rabbit ears, or eye-patch and faux scar, with stuffed parrot sans beak sagging on your shoulder? You may find succor in one of the special costume warehouses near your home.
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Actually, these costume warehouses operate year-round, supplying the movie industry, television shows and theater plays. They're for professionals, not the general public. But come the month of Adar, these institutions throw open their doors for the common good.
Most will only rent a costume, not sell one, but a few will part with their treasure for the right price.
"Our team of tailors and seamstresses make most of these themselves," says Avraham Luria, who owns the Lev 1 Costume Warehouse (http://www.lev1.co.il/english.html). "Some we buy abroad, but in general these aren't costumes, they're genuine, special articles of clothing."
The Lev 1 Costumes Warehouse dates from the 1950s. Located on Ben Yehuda Street in Tel Aviv, it is a huge place, occupying 300 square meters crammed with colorful outfits. All the clothing items are designed according to precise sketches from the period in question, says Luria, and are made using the cloth of the era. If you're the nostalgic type you can even find original items of clothing a 100 years old, but you can't touch them, let alone rent them. Those are for viewing only.
You don't have to buy the complete French Milkmaid c. 1716 or Venetian Judge 1602. You can make up your own costume at the Givat Haim Ichud costumes warehouse, picking and choosing among the products.
"Most of our clients don't just walk in, choose a costume and leave," says owner Anat Shavit. "They choose this shirt, those trousers, a nip and tuck here or there, and leave confident that they'll be the belle of the ball, or the master of the dance."
The costume warehouses do not object to phoned-in orders and delivery, but strongly prefer not to handle them, mainly because costumes often need adjustment, which can only be done at the warehouse premises. Also, if you can't choose, the warehouse staff will be happy to help you out and accessorize the look.
The warehouses report that they get thousands of customers each year, and by the way, they do business year-round. It's been known for a man to rent a knight's gear, presumably without the lance, to propose marriage.
Also, cregular ompanies may rent costumes for a special staff party, presumably to ward off the scene of 20 Spidermen swinging from the chandelier as they try to win the favors of the 20 sexy policewomen on the dance floor.
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