As Halloween quickly approaches, students flock to Charleston’s resale and thrift stores to find creative costumes.

Linda Spence, the owner of Spence’s on Jackson, said this time of year is a busy season for her store.

“Our biggest thing we’ve been selling is our hats and men’s vests,” she said. “The guys will build their costumes around those items.”

Spence said suspenders and bowties have also been big sellers around Halloween.

“The very weirdest costume I had someone ask my help with was a sexy Jesus costume,” she said. “That was pretty strange, and you never know what people are going to ask for your help with.”

Spence said she does not charge tax for the purchases and will work with students to help them get what they want for a reasonable price.

Nancy Kuykendall, the owner of Twice is Nice on 18th St., said she has found that many men want women’s clothing to wear as their Halloween costume.

“That’s probably the weirdest thing that I’ve seen so far,” she said. “I really don’t like for them to try on women’s clothing in the store so I tell them they can buy them, but they can’t try them.”

Kuykendall said Twice is Nice offered 50 percent off this past weekend, and all the current Halloween merchandise is currently 80 percent off.

She said Twice is Nice has nearly sold out of masks and wigs because of their popularity.

“We have so many college students come in around this time of year, and right after they finish buying Halloween costumes, they’ll start coming in for ugly sweaters,” Kuykendall said.

She said flannels and plaid are also popular for barn dances around this time of year.

Brenda Duzan, the owner of Community Thrift Store on Castle Drive, said the 8,000 square feet that make up her store enable her to keep a wide variety of clothing and costumes for college students to browse around Halloween.

“We have a lot of ‘70s and ‘80s clothing, as well as some just plain ugly clothing,” she said. “You have to be able to have enough room to keep all this stuff, and we do so we’re able to keep a lot of oddball outfits.”

Duzan said Friday was the store’s busiest day because of the weekend’s parties.

“I had someone looking to put together a Winnie the Pooh costume,” she said. “I’ve also had an Olympian and a fellow looking for an evening gown so I’m sure he’ll look really pretty.”

She said Community Thrift Store has also been selling many ugly sweaters already this year.

“The kids have had an absolute ball picking out costumes,” she said. “We love to have them come in here, and we love to watch them because they have so much fun.”

Duzan said the store has a special deal every day to help students and all customers find exactly what they want.

“We love having students come in and purchase their costumes here, and I’m just very grateful to them,” she said.

 Robyn Dexter can be reached at 581-2812 or redexter@eiu.edu.