If Halloween has snuck up on you – or if you’re among those of us who can’t sew or glue-gun our way out of a wet paper bag – here’s a list of unexpected places to find a fabulous-in-a-flash costume.

Restaurant Supply Store
Pick up a chef hat and an apron for an instant Nigella Lawson or Jamie Oliver.

Hardware Store or Mark’s Work Warehouse

A hard hat, tool belt and plaid shirt with jeans makes your little one over into a charming construction worker like Bob the Builder.

Local Grocery Store
Convert a large box or two into a pair of dice, a robot or even a car.

Specialty Sports Store
These shops have countless items to transform your trick-or-treater into karate superstar or an angelic ballerina. It may even inspire a new hobby.

Your Own Closet

The possibilities are endless…an old bridesmaid dress can become a flowing fairy princess gown, a peasant shirt can be the beginnings of a hippie costume, or a spa diva can come to life with a terry cloth robe, blue makeup “facial mask,” a towel on her head and fake nails.