Frankie Steinz Costumes

Profile

When accountant-turned-costume designer Frankie Stein opened her fantasyland loft in 1990, she parlayed a penchant for make-believe into a source for high-end, one-of-a-kine costumes. The walk off Harrison Street into her shop is like tumbling into Alice’s rabbit hole, complete with faux tree-stump chairs, a life-size Mad Hatter and a wearable Queen chess piece. For Stein, elaborate headpieces, high-concept get-ups and interesting fabrics trump the cheap and gory; she has whipped up human tornados complete with funnel-swept houses, and cars and bikes on seas of green and gray, but leaves severed heads and limbs to other costumers. Her pieces have been featured on �Saturday Night Live,� in Walt Disney Productions and at corporate Halloween parties. In addition to everyday clients wanting to try on a new persona, celebrities like Jack Nicholson and Bill Cosby have turned to Stein for original costumes. Since this dress-up boutique is open by appointment only, clients are treated to a personal consultation with Stein, who prides herself on an intuitive costume-picking savvy. Vintage and children’s costumes are available, as are rentals for a day or longer. — Molly Noonan