Southern Importers & Exporters

Good selection with reasonable prices. Their customer service is much better than their East End competitor on Polk (77 023). I would buy from them again.

I wish I could give Southern Importers zero stars. I bought a makeup kit for my daughter on ¹⁰⁄₃₀ and found she had already purchased elsewhere. Southern Importers refused to take my unopened merchandise return on ¹⁰⁄₃₁ and in the rudest manner possible. Fine print states no returns. Buyer beware. I will never purchase from this establishment again.

Great place for costume make-​up. Staff is also very crafty; they really help you develop your costume idea. Great size selection for costumes. They have several plus sized options. And a dressing room. Easy parking. Museum district. great location.

Need shit for Mardi Gras? Go here. And if it’s not in the store, check online.
2015…we ready.

We used to come here every year for Halloween with the kids. We will not be going back after the experience we had last Halloween. The employees acted like my children were not welcomed and made them feel bad. We usually buy a few decorations there every year this time we walked out with nothing. It was disapointing.

I love this place! Excellent service, and I can usually find any and everything I may need if I’m putting on a play, going to a costumed event, or planning for Halloween!
Even if you’re here and not having any luck, the staff is really helpful. They informed me of places where I could purchase the materials I needed.
And, one can also call them ahead of time to pick out some props/​costumes for you if you need to save time. So great!

I was in need of a Roman costume for a church Christmas play so I tried this shop. Their website was devoid of any real info and not well built. Not easy to navigate had to search for what I was looking for. They only had two options with only limited info. They say call for more info. I called «come in for help».
When I got there they only had one of the two costumes from their website which was the more expensive one of course. I was immediately taken aback by what the costume entailed a tunic, a cape, and a vinyl chest piece with «gold» studs for $ 139.
I tried it on and the chest piece didn’t fit (I am a bit larger in the midsection). I asked for another costume. None. I asked for a larger chest piece the costume is a set package I could purchase accessories separate and build my own costume. Problem is like most men I don’t sew so I would still need a tunic (and still need to buy the costume).
I told them that I felt $ 139 was too much to spend on a costume that only 2/​3s of it fit. After no memorable response I gave the costume back and said I guess I will have to go somewhere else.
Hours are not good for people with a job closes at 6pm and their signs «No exchanges, No refund» make it clear that you better be 100% before you pay. I doubt I will ever go back. Based on my experience I cannot recommend this place

My first experience with these guys was during Halloween when I was looking for a costume. They offer some of your basics, but they mainly have higher end specialty costumes. Very high quality. But the best part is they are open year round, so unlike these pop-​up shops you can consistently come here for costumes year round. They also offer all kinds of decorations for whatever party need you might need. It’s like a local party city or a small Arne’s.

A trip here is a step back in time. It reminds me of a shop you would find in a Texas roadside town that hasn’t made any changes in the last 30 years.
This is the place to go if you’re looking for something specific or if you need anything costume related in the non-​Halloween seasons. They have a large variety of products that you probably haven’t seen in years, things you would think aren’t even made anymore.
My only complaint is something that may only bother me or other people with ranging allergies. It has a crazy smell of stale, but this only adds to the time warp that surrounds this place. If you own a book from the early 1900s or have been to the rare book section of Half Price Books you know what smell I’m talking about.

Although you won’t find serious props unless they are way off of your budget, you will find something to make do with. I needed a switch blade prop for a production of 12 Angry Men and I found a switch clade comb. It works though, since people can’t tell from the audience.

My husband & I completed the great ‘Tour de Houston Costume 2010′ today! We’ve gone to ALL the major costume joints in and around Houston — super fun way to get to know our new locale!
Put simply, Southern Importers rocked our world! We loved the old skool vibe from the first moment we opened the door. While Southern’s selection may not be as extensive as Party Boy, Frankel, or Danny’s in Spring, they more than make up for it w/​their experienced, friendly staff and excellent displays. ALL their costumes are up on mannequins and they have TONS of accessories, wigs, and a HUGE make-​up area w/​experienced folks. Their staff seems engaged and excited to work at this venerable establishment. We’ll definitely be back to Southern Importers!
Have fun, Houston!

From my previous experiences, buying a Halloween costume has always been a huge pain in the butt.
While Southern Importers doesn’t have a huge selection like some of the chain Halloween superstores, they do have a solid range of costumes and prices. Personally I wasn’t trying to break the bank to buy a costume so the fact that they had stuff under $ 50, and that it was of decent quality, was certainly appreciated. I’m not sure if a whole lot of people know about this place because while the store was busy it didn’t feel like the usual mayhem that happens as Halloween approaches. Normally they close at 6 PM but I believe the sign said they’ll be open until 9 PM this week.
The best part was the staff. The lady who helped us out was extremely helpful and actually really friendly. That certainly made things a lot smoother.

This is THE one place to put your Halloween costume together. Packaged outfits. Accessories. Wigs. Sequins. Stage Make Up. Tiaras. Bolts of fabric. All decently-​priced.
You know that adage, «I found it in the last place that I looked?» Yep. Southern Importers is that place. Anything and everything you may be wasting your time scouring the city for, you’re going to find it here. You’re really better off just starting here.
I am (make that was) on the hunt for my «inexpensive because I mostly made it myself» costume. Found all of my materials, trim, evil (and now removing from my costume) glitter, and wire. I needed the one crowning touch. Imperative to my costume, not found in the five other places I searched. Southern Imports was actually the last place I was going to stop before making my own. Not only did they have the one I got, they had about five other styles. Twenty if I included the case of more expensive options.
The salespeople are exceptionally nice and pleasantly affable. I knew that if I asked, any one of them would know where any item was located. I had no need to ask, however, I easily found what i sought. The store is logically laid out.
I’m so excited that my costume is now complete, save a glitter removal project.

Every Halloween I make a trip to Southern Importers, perhaps the best kept costume secret in Houston. It may not look like much from the outside, but on the inside it has just about everything you need to make a freakish splash at Halloween. Granted, its selection is not as comprehensive as Frankel’s, but it is truly surprising what costume basics Southern has that Frankel’s lacks – its focus is on quality, not quantity. Just keep in mind that a lot of their costumes are kept inside drawers (it’s not a huge store), and you have to ask one of the staff members to get them out for you – it’s not a big deal, just don’t expect to walk in and see costumes hanging all over the walls. A lot of the makeup is also kept behind a counter. If that intimidates you, don’t worry! The staff is so friendly and helpful! Even the policeman who works security is nice. The prices are very competitive, and may even be less than Frankel’s. In any case, the true beauty of Southern is that it is not complete bedlam during Halloween like Frankel’s, which could double for a Tokyo subway car during October. The only downside is that finding it is a little tricky because it abuts the light rail. ..

Walking into Southern Importers is a bit like time travelling back to 1972. I’m not sure when this store opened, but it can’t possibly have changed much since then. They pack a lot of stuff in the space, and it’s all pretty well organized so you can find whatever you need. The costumes are stored in drawers with hand-​written signs. I’m not sure where else you’re going to find that kind of personal touch anymore! You can purchase any number of those costumes and accessories as well as dance shoes. And to go along with those dance shoes you’ll also find a blinding selection of sequin trims so you can complete your Xanadu makeover! Seriously, these kinds of things excite me except I really have no use for them. Maybe I should rent out a roller rink for an 80s night and have Southern Importers be the sponsor!
This store has lots of competitors these days, from the corporate chains (Party City) to other local chains down the street (Frankels). I’ve been to both of those, and I have to say that I was much more comfortable shopping at Southern Importers. Perhaps it’s because it reminds me of a costume shop from my childhood, but I think it’s more due to their good selection and friendly staff. Plus, I didn’t have to compete for elbow room with hundreds of other people like at the other stores. I walked in and pretty much found what I needed right away. I’ll definitely pass up the other stores to come here whenever I get the chance.