Masters of disguise
For a combined 141 years, two costume companies have dominated T.O.’s dress-up landscape. Who can truly craft a character? Who knows their Elizabethan garb? You choose.
THEATRIX
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MALABAR |
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Gina Anki; 1965
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Name; year established: |
Jessica Robert & Diego Franzoni; 1923
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We have well over 50,000 rental costumes spanning from the turn of the century to the 1980s.
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How many costumes do you carry?
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We have 1,000 new costumes and about 80,000 rentals built over the past 91 years of production.
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We’ve made hundreds of custom costumes — from fun pieces for Count Dracula to movie characters like Maleficent. We even built a look-alike Kiss costume jewelled with hundreds of shiny rhinestones!
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Most memorable costume you’ve rented? |
A Queen Elizabeth–inspired costume for a wedding. The bride looked amazing in the lilac and white dress with an Elizabethan collar and intricate pearl detailing.
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| The hottest costumes so far are from Frozen, Maleficent, Game of Thrones, Cinderella and any superhero | Any predictions for popular Halloween getups this year? | We’re hoping people will be honouring some of Robin Williams’ best characters — some Genies and Mrs. Doubtfires. |
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We have a set of armour for $250. It’s been rented by romantic lovers who want to propose the old-fashioned way!
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Priciest costume you’ve ever carried? |
We special order collectors’ Star Wars costumes, which start at $1, 000.
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Paul Bellini came to us with a vision of a gold suit worn by none other than Elvis himself. We made him a custom one and he wore it to TIFF.
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Any celebrity encounters? |
A feature was filmed here on the Leafs last Halloween and included David Clarkson and Joffrey Lupul.
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Always! We’ll be doing our annual Halloween Fashion Show on Breakfast Television and are dressing up the production crew for the third time.
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Doing anything special for Halloween?
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Our theme this year is creepy 1930s circus. For Nuit Blanche (Oct. 4) our front porch will look like a travelling circus show until the wee hours! |
| 165 Geary Ave., 416-977-3113 |
Location | 14 McCaul St., 416-598-2581 |
