Victorian Vogue

I didn’t look at all of the costume sections, but what I did see was overpriced and not in the best condition. They do have a great selection of costumes and accessories, and this is a unique spot in Santa Barbara, so it’s definitely worth visiting.
In my opinion, their rental prices should be lower or they should keep their items in better condition.

If you’re searching for that last minute costume for Halloween, a costume party, or any other event then check this place out!
This vintage costume store is open year round. I tend to forget about it due to the location but it’s worth the drive just to check out all the fun stuff they have to offer.
Location Tip: It’s right after American Tire and just before Jiffy Lube. Look for the light blue painted store or BBQ grills outside.
The cool part about this store is you can buy or rent costumes! Each item is marked with two different prices. One is the purchase price and the other is the rental price. I must admit they are on the pricey side so just fair warning you will spend a pretty penny here. But a lot of the items are vintage.
They have tons of wigs, jewelry, shoes, and much more.
There’s another area located in the back filled with more costumes to look at. As of 10÷28÷15 everything is an additional 20% off but final sale.
Customer service is great and the ladies are ready to help you.

Lovely spot for renting or buying costumes! I have rented costumes here for a couples years now. The staff is very helpful and friendly … always willing to go out of the way to help one find the perfect costume! Thanks.

I visited this store once. I spent 30 minutes trying on costumes. The owner wasn’t super friendly. I felt like I was inconveniencing her. I decided to rent a costume for an event 28 days later. 5 hours after leaving the store I emailed and called to cancel and she refused to refund my money. I would understand if it was a last minute cancellation but it was 5 hours later. I’ve now paid money and received no merchandise or rental! Extremely disappointing. There rentals are overpriced and not the best quality. You can buy the item for the price they are renting it for. I won’t be back and am disputing the charge with my bank. Terrible customer service.

This place is fabulous! The owner and the staff made me feel like a princess and did a great job on my husband and daughter as well. They are extremely knowledgable and spent a ton of time finding just the right items for a Victorian Event we were attending. Their inventory is unbelievably huge, the items are immaculate and they even have authentic period pieces. Their knowledge, helpful attitude and selection made preparing for the event almost as much fun as the event itself. We are so lucky to have such a place in our town. I can’t wait for another occasion to utilize them. It really doesn’t get any better than this.

I really really want to shop local and support local business and This store has some really pretty vintage things and high quality costumes. I have never ever had a good experience there though. The customer service really effects the experience and ranges from absolutely no one helping (at all), like not even a hello, to not very nice. If the service doesn’t bother you then yes nice place just budget some time out to wait till someone decides they might want to help you.

I stopped in to pick up a dress for my nieces birthday and was pointed in the right direction immediately. But what earned the 5 stars is when I went to rent it, the woman who helped me knew JUST what the dress needed to really make the costume work (petticoat, gloves, choker, etc.). I highly recommend this place if you need a costume!

I went in to rent a costume. There were 3 people standing around and when they did speak they were rude. I looked at a few things. No one could be bother to help me. The stuff was tattered and smelly. I won’t be going back!

I have to agree with the other reviews here. OWNER rude and disrespectful. I was looking for one item. When it was clear that I wasn’t going to be a big sale for her, all interest in the customer disappeared. Acted like she (the seller) was doing me (the customer) a huge favor just by being there. What she didn’t know was my work with school performances. Oh, well. The money will being going elsewhere to someone who knows what the customers mean to a business.

It’s so sad that this is the only game in town. The selection is dirty, ratty and WAY overpriced, and the staff – in particular the owner – is downright rude! I went in to try on wigs for a wig party and was told there was a $ 3.50 fee PER WIG to try them on (which they would refund if you bought or rented but STILL). Then I was directed to a ratty bin of wigs I was told I could try on for free, so I tried a few. And THEN the lady was mad because she had to clean them (ostensibly the same process she’d have to endure for the $ 3.50 wigs)!!! I walked out with nothing because of her attitude. I am sure I will be forced to shop here again because there are no alternatives in town, but I will do it resentfully (and always as a last resort).

We were invited to a costume party and I had no idea of what to go as, so my friend suggested that we go to Victorian Vogue and browse as this might give me some ideas since their selection is quite robust. We got good help making our decision by the store staff and I feel confident that we will make our mark at the party. I will go back here again.

I was in town from Seattle and my daughter and her friends dragged me to the local «costume» shop. I was surprised to not just find the usual costumes, but great vintage pieces as well. Having found several items I liked, I was stopped by the owner. She was very complimentary to me and my 8 year old son and very tolerant of three 13 yr old girls dashing around the store. She engaged them with respect and knowledge and was pleased that my daughter would drag her out of town father to see her store. Needless to say she rewarded them for their store loyalty and gave me a great discount on my sons boxing gloves (kids find the oddest cool things). She made me feel right at home, making sure we checked out all of the store and I ended up going home with several gifts for my friends back home. Yes, some vintage items are expensive. But if they are good shape and have lasted this long, then they are worth it. As a man that will pay $ 50 for a 1940’s hand painted tie or $ 200 for a 1960’s continental suit from Fredrick and Nelsons, I get it. These types if items are not costumes and their rarity adds even more to the joy of these items. I am glad that we stopped here and impressed with my daughters taste in stores. I live on the golden rule of treating people how you want to be treated and feel very satisfied with my experience.

The owner is completely rude and disrespectful! I have observed this behavior not only towards myself but towards other customers as well.
I am never going back there, I’d rather buy all pieces of my costume than to interact with such horrible management.

This is THE absolute best place to rent a costume, a special outfit or accessories. The selection is amazing and the staff is helpful at finding something that will work for you. My husband hates to «dress up» but the owner made him feel comfortable and put together a fabulous W.C. Field outift that he actually enjoyed wearing. If you want something beyond the cheap, tacky Halloween store costumes come here. Come before mid October if you want to rent something for Halloween — otherwise you’ll have to purchase the outfit, and the place is so busy that you won’t get the personalized service they normally provide.

Went here with my girlfriend to rent a costume. The owner and her staff were extremely helpful, finding me a top hat that was perfect for my event. The store is organized and they have a lot of costumes, anything you can think of they have got it. They offer a rent price and a purchase price. Good stuff!

I went in today to look for a costume for a goddess party I’m attending. There was one male salesrep who was nice. But the OWNER is a COMPLETELY RUDE WOMAN. I walked in to spend money, and a pretty penny as I am already aware of their RIDICULOUSLY OVERPRICED and OLD SMELLY ITEMS, and the owner had the balls to tell me to PUT DOWN one of the dresses I was looking at because it would be too expensive for me, and that I should look at the pricetags before picking a dress.
Now, I am not a person that judges but who the hell is she to judge how much money I have? What a bitch. I feel sorry for the nice guy who works there, he was nice at least but unfortunately the old crotchety woman ruined everything.

I went in today to return my items. The owner was super sweet and explained to me the reason why they charge for the rentals UP FRONT. I appreciate her letting me know that the store is filled with «one of a kind» items of which if I reserve it without leaving money and then don’t pick it up, I take the opportunity away from another customer who could have potentially wanted to purchase/​rent the item i had them hold. I agreed and so I want to update with 5 stars. I was accommodated so well and will be back! Thanks Victorian Vogue!

This costume shop is extremely overpriced with that said, I would expect being right is not as important as providing customer service. If your expectations are low, or don’t mind awful, rude service then this is the place for you. NOT me. I would never go back there.

THE place to go if you’re in the area and need an elaborate costume fast for a New Year’s part, stage debut, anything.
At Victorian Vogue you can find epoque costumes and really anything. I have rented a Spanish-​style long red dress with black corset, a medieval gown, angel costume…
They have a huge selection and you are unlikely to go home empty-​handed.
It is convenient to be able to rent such clothing because, save for a small fraction of Unilocalers, an angel costume does not make its way into your permanent wardrobe.
The staff has seen it all so if you need to be a cave woman, they’re right on top of it!
For things like makeup and fangs, obviously buy, don’t rent.

It depends when you go to this store on the experience you’re going to have.
They do have an amazing selection of costumes and accessories to use. The only problem is that it is a little too expensive. It’s nearly the same price to buy an item vs. rent one.
Most of the time when I go there, the store owner is not the nicest. She doesn’t have a nice way of speaking to people, and it almost makes me not want to go in.
I’ve been there collectively, 20+ times since i’ve lived here, and it’s always the same. No service, and if there is service, they’re trying to overload you with junk you did NOT come in to buy or look at.
Or, the staff is having their little shit talking conversations about previous customers or whatever while they’re checking you out. I just do not think that it is professional, and if I am spending all this money, I expect to be in a respectful environment. But then again, it’s santa barbara for you. I guess I shouldn’t expect much better.