Even during a pandemic, it wouldn’t be Halloween without getting dressed up in the scariest possible costumes, after all.
These Manchester boutiques have got you covered if you don’t know where to start.
American Graffitti
While some know this boutique for its selection of vintage and retro clothing, what’s less-known is that American Graffiti also specialises in fancy dress, accessories and wigs – making it the perfect Halloween destination!
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If you’re looking for something a bit outside of the box then the store’s quirky and kitsch selection is perfect for you.
Halloween isn’t just about dressing the part, you need to have the makeup to match.
MUOBU sells an exclusive range of cosmetic grade glitters, ‘Crazy Colour’ hair dye and spooky makeup that you won’t find anywhere else.
Whether you want to use face jewels to create a Día de los Muertos inspired skeleton or UV cosmetics to stand out from the crowd, this boutique is an essential visit.
Located in the Arndale, this family business has been selling its speciality costumes for 50 years – constantly moving with the times and updating their selection.
Hidden Corner has also worked alongside many local clubs and bars in creating themed nights, so chances are you’ve already seen their creations in action.
Located on the Manchester Fort retail park, Party Delights is dedicated to making your special occasions more memorable.
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This specialised store has over 20,000 products and sells a range of party supplies, décor and balloons – perfect for a Halloween at home.
Where to find them: Manchester Fort Shopping Park, Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester, M8 8EP www.partydelights.co.uk
Celebration Party Shop
This is Manchester’s ‘one stop party shop’ – born from the owner Sharon’s love of planning and organising parties.
Not only does it have some of the best and most frightening Halloween costumes on the market, but it also offers venue dressing to take the stress out of your hands.
This is one of the oldest and most established fancy dress shops in Manchester, with customers including the BBC and the Royal Exchange, so you can guarantee they’ll be top tier.
No matter how obscure your Halloween desires are, Maskerade has got you covered, claiming ‘there is literally nothing we cannot do for you’!
The store has sadly announced its upcoming closure, which is a real shame, but make sure you head down for some last-minute deals before it’s too late.
Where to find them: 50 Long Street, Middleton, Manchester, M24 6UQ www.maskeradeuk.com
Style
Chanel fashion show in Manchester brought a staggering £8m boost to the city
Daisy Jackson
The total value of the massive Chanel fashion show in Manchester has been revealed, along with that the amount it cost in public money.
Early analysis of the global event, which saw Thomas Street in the Northern Quarter shut down and turned into a runway, suggests it generated a whopping £8m impact for the local economy.
And it’s estimated that the value it’s had for the city overall through national and international media coverage will be worth at least £100m.
Chanel’s Metiers d’Art fashion show was held earlier this month and had the city in a flurry of excitement, with celebrities spotted including Hugh Grant, Tilda Swinton and Kristen Stewart.
They, along with names like Aitch, Bugzy Malone and Alexa Chung, were seen leaving fancy hotels and partying at venues like Salford Lad’s Club and Victoria Baths.
And now Marketing Manchester has valued the direct impact of the 600 Chanel guests and staff for the show to be worth £8m in direct income.
That includes staying in hotels for three to four days, spending in the local economy while they were here, and other expenditure like venue hire.
The Chanel show in Manchester is expected to attract even more investment, jobs and opportunities for Mancs too.
A main criticism of the show was how much it was costing the city to shut down one of its busiest streets for the week – the answer is nothing at all.
The council has confirmed that Chanel met all the associated costs, including cleaning, road closures, and recompensing the businesses affected by the event, with no cost to Manchester’s public purse.
In addition to that, 50 fashion students from Manchester Metropolitan University were invited to work backstage at the Chanel show, dressing models and supporting rehearsals.
Council Leader Cllr Bev Craig said: “The Chanel event is one of the highlights in the global fashion calendar and the choice of Manchester as the host city received international acclaim.
“But for us it was never about the glitz and glamour – events such as this help cement Manchester’s reputation on a global stage and come with both direct benefits, through the money spent within our economy while they are here but also indirect benefits by showcasing the city and helping to capture investment, jobs, visitors and attention, all of which open up opportunities for Manchester residents and communities.”
Victoria Braddock, Managing Director of Marketing Manchester, said: “The scale of the impact of the Chanel Métiers d’art show in Manchester will be felt for years to come.
“The global media coverage of the event has put a spotlight on Manchester and its rich heritage in textiles and home of iconic music, which will drive conversations about the city and bring new visitors.
“The £8m economic impact is a welcome boost across accommodation, restaurants, and attractions, and demonstrates the importance of global events in the city.”
Sephora to open megastore at Manchester’s Trafford Centre next spring
Daisy Jackson
Beauty fans rejoice – Sephora has finally announced plans to open a store in Manchester, and soon.
The world-famous retailer, which stops luxury skincare and makeup brands as well as cult items, has secured a spot in the Trafford Centre.
This will be the third UK store for Sephora, which currently has two shops down in London.
And after a fair bit of teasing and plenty of rumours, they’ve confirmed that their next megastore will be right here in Greater Manchester.
The brand have shared an image of hoardings inside the Trafford Centre, plastered in Sephora’s black and white branding.
The signs read: “Manchester, you called it. Our first Northern store in 2024.”
Sephora says it will ‘redefine the beauty landscape in the North with an extraordinary product range that caters to the diverse needs of beauty enthusiasts’.
Cult brands stocked at Sephora include Huda Beauty, Charlotte Tilbury, The Ordinary, Glossier and Makeup by Mario.
Sephora wrote on Instagram: “You heard correctly — Sephora is coming to the TRAFFORD CENTRE, MANCHESTER.
“Get your shopping baskets ready as we’re on our way up north! More to be revealed soon, see you in 2024…”
The Trafford Centre shared: “You asked, we listened! The wait is over….your @sephorauk opens late Spring 2024.”
Sarah Boyd, managing director of Sephora UK, said: “We are extremely excited to bring Sephora to Manchester, one of the most vibrant cities for beauty in the UK.
“Expanding our presence beyond London is something that consumers have been screaming out for, and we are listening hard to them when deciding where to go next.
“The Trafford Centre, known for its iconic atmosphere and diverse retail offering, is the perfect location for our third store.”
Russell Loveland, managing director at Pradera Lateral – Trafford Centre’s Asset Managers, said: “This iconic beauty giant already has a cult following, and our own social media has been blowing up with enquiries from excited customers eager for Sephora to open.
“We are very proud Sephora chose the Trafford Centre for its next location, which will be its first store in the North of England, and know it will be a fantastic success and a great addition to our strong international brand lineup.”
One person commented on Sephora’s Instagram post: “This is the best news I’ve heard all year!”
Another said: “OMG ITS HAPPENING, STAY CALM”
And someone wrote on Trafford Centre’s post: “Omg omg can’t wait.”