• I worked at Spirit Halloween for three years and saw many customers make the same mistakes.
• I always encouraged shoppers to invest in high-quality pieces they can reuse year after year. 
• Many customers forgot to check Halloween makeup for irritants and allergens. 

Halloween has always been more of a lifestyle than a holiday for me, much to the chagrin of my husband and family.

Although I worked at Spirit Halloween — the seasonal chain known for taking over empty storefronts — for three years, I’ve been a longtime customer and have even joked that the store was created just for me.

Here are nine mistakes I saw customers make while shopping for their costumes and seasonal decor at the popular Halloween chain.

Going straight for the lowest price instead of investing in quality pieces

If you only plan to wear a costume once, it’s fine to go for the cheap stuff. But investing a little more can extend the costume’s wear.

Spirit Halloween offers a line of Signature Collection costumes, which cost more but are made with higher-quality fabrics. I’ve found these pieces can last through several years of Halloween events or cosplay fun.

And, in my opinion, investing in great accessories to complete the look is just as important. For example, if you’re dressing up as a vampire, fangs can add an extra layer to the costume. However, a cheap pair probably won’t last the night.

My personal favorite is the Scarecrow brand of fangs because they come in different sizes for a more custom fit.

Buying makeup kits without proper application and removal products

Makeup can really elevate a costume’s look, but let’s face it, most Halloween-store makeup isn’t top quality. I recommend protecting both your skin and your look by investing in quality products like primer, setting powder, and heavy-duty setting spray.

If you’re using prosthetics, be sure to purchase Spirit Gum adhesive and remover. Without it, removing prosthetics can be difficult. And you definitely don’t want to join that next-day Zoom meeting still dressed as Hellboy.

Failing to check makeup and prosthetics for irritants

Always test makeup and adhesives for allergic reactions by using a small amount of the product on the inside of your wrist. Wait at least 20 minutes to see how your skin reacts.

Before purchasing any products, read the package carefully and search for any irritants or allergens.

Not browsing the entire store

When shopping for accessories to complete your look, keep your eyes open and peruse the entire store because hidden gems are everywhere.

The checkout line, in particular, is always full of the best selection of chokers, earrings, and other fun novelty items.

Only coming into the store once per season

Never make just one trip per season to Spirit Halloween, as stores get truckloads of new merchandise delivered weekly. Chances are you’ll find something new every time you visit.

I also recommend asking an associate on the sales floor when the next delivery will be. I was always happy to help customers find the latest products.

Failing to read the labels on animatronics

When purchasing animatronics, always make sure you read the box before making a purchase.

A lot of the animatronics are made for outdoor, covered use only. That means that they can break down from exposure to weather (especially humidity that can mess with the electronics) if left outdoors unprotected.

Not signing up for email and text offers

Most people are tired of receiving email and text offers, but I think Spirit Halloween’s are worth it. By signing up, you’ll get a 20% off coupon to use during your next visit.

You’ll also receive exclusive emails throughout the year about new props and displays, and notifications when stores near you are opening or hiring.

Returning items before calling support

Most people don’t realize that Spirit Halloween has its own tech support hotline. Before returning any electronics to the store, call the Zombie Tech Squad (their number is displayed on all prop directions).

Most times, they can troubleshoot your issue and save you a trip back to the store, which can be super helpful during the busy Halloween season.

Forgetting that we stay open after Halloween

Don’t skip out on the clearance sales on November 1 and 2.

Three years ago, my store was still putting out new stock until closing on October 31. All of that merchandise is typically discounted by 25% to 50% the next day.

This story was originally published on October 12, 2023, and most recently updated on October 15, 2025.

• A New York City mansion built in the Gilded Age Beaux-Arts style is on the market.
• The 11,500-square-foot building has seven floors, including a cellar and a roof.
• It has passed through many hands over the years, including those of an exiled Russian prince.

While HBO’s “The Gilded Age” might be on hiatus — and the real Gilded Age ended 125 years ago — properties scattered across New York City are keeping the era alive.

Among them: this seven-bedroom, 14-bathroom limestone mansion nestled between two high-rise buildings on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

The 11,500-square-foot property, which is listed with Douglas Elliman agent Lydia Sussek, hit the market in April for a cool $29.75 million.

But it’s been around much, much longer. It was commissioned in 1901 by builder Joseph A. Farley, who hired the architecture firm Janes and Leo. Eventually, it ended up in the hands of another real estate developer, Samuel Borchard, who owned the property until his death in 1930, according to his New York Times obituary.

In the 1940s, the exiled Russian prince Sergei Belosselsky-Belozersky purchased the building and made it the headquarters of a nonprofit for Russian immigrants to New York called the House of Free Russia, The Real Deal reported.

It remained as such for 50 years, and was left in a state of somewhat disrepair, until it was sold and refurbished in 1999. The buyer, Randall Rackson, told Mansion Global that the house was an “empty building without a roof” with “rats and pigeons inside it.” His renovation was extensive, and he has lived there ever since.

But now he’s ready to downsize, he told The New York Post.

While many Gilded Age mansions were demolished, this one remains — here’s what the lavish townhouse looks like today.

This Beaux-Arts style mansion was built on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in 1901.

When you walk in, your first view is of the magnificent spiral staircase. But if you don’t feel like walking, there’s an elevator, too.

The staircase goes all the way up to the fifth floor, though there is a roof deck as well.

The kitchen, which is on the third floor, has a view of the large terrace.

A terrace that has — in addition to seating and a backyard feel that’s nearly impossible to find in Manhattan — a working fountain.

Inside, there are seven fireplaces.

A different view of this room shows how arches recur throughout the entire home.

The mansion also has seven bedrooms across its five floors and cellar.

And here’s one of the home’s 14 bathrooms.

This room has a built-in projector for the perfect movie night.

The ground floor has a wine cellar that’s not to be missed. There’s also a gym, a game room, a second kitchen, and three bedrooms down there.

One of the best parts of this home is that there’s plenty of color — no millennial gray to be found.

The mansion is on sale for $29.75 million, a price worthy of “The Gilded Age.”