When Kirk Dafoe opened Black-Tie Tuxedo and Costume 34 years ago at 1017 S. Mission St., he never planned to sell Darth Vader costumes next to three-piece suits.

“It was originally supposed to be strictly a tuxedo shop,” Dafoe said. “But one day a woman from California came in who was selling top hats – I found out she made costumes and it took off from there.”

Now the shop offers costumes year-round.

“People come in a lot for holidays like Christmas Santa Clauses, Easter Bunny suits and New Year’s parties,” Dafoe said.

Fall is the busiest time of year because it encompasses Homecoming, Halloween and weddings, Dafoe said.

“I like the selection here; it has to be the best one in town,” said Flushing senior Jennifer Travis as she purchased her “Cotton Candy Cutie” costume for Halloween.

Dafoe said he tries to make sure there always is a wide range of different styles to choose from.

“I try to buy no more than three of one kind of costume,” he said.

Dafoe is a member of the National Costumers Association and attends conventions where costume designers and vendors come together to pitch ideas and display their work.

Black-Tie rents out about one to 10 costumes a week throughout the year, Dafoe said.

The shop has more than 200 costumes available to rent, from a beatnik outfit for $10 to a full Darth Vader costume for $100.

“The price is completely dependent on how elaborate the costume is,” said employee and Lansing junior Kelly Teklinsky. “If it’s just a T-shirt and pants it will be cheap. But if you have boots, a mask and more accessories, it will be more expensive.”

Dafoe said he typically spends $500 to $1,000 for a deluxe costume and he gets the outfits professionally cleaned after every use.

Teklinsky said occasionally people request funny costumes, such as a chicken.

“Nothing is too crazy, though, because we have costumes like hot dogs and pizza,” she said.

lifeline@cm-life.com

E-mail the author: Nathan Fournier