OREM — Usually, the costumers at Archive Costumes start dealing with rental requests for Halloween in September.

This year, the first request came in May.

It's evidence that people are more into dressing up for Halloween every year, said manager Katharine Hawker. "We usually start to prepare six weeks in advance," she said. "We're very busy before Halloween and that's adults. Because we are a theater costumer/rental shop, we serve mostly adults. Those are the sizes we have."

Kids starting talking Halloween pretty early, too, said Teri Robinson, the general manager of the Orem Taylor-Maid store.

"It's really interesting this year because there's usually one movie that drives the interest. We don't have that this year. This year it's more spread out. We have a lot asking for the superheroes particularly The Incredibles for both adults and children. That's really popular for families. We have a waiting list for those, in fact.

"We are getting a lot of requests for 'Star Wars' characters and particularly for Baby Yoda. That's really surprised us because the movie was clear back in the spring."

Robinson said "Phantom of the Opera" costumes are also going quickly. "Even the little kids are being the phantom."

Hawker said they are also getting lots of requests for Phantom costumes and for Zorro and Elena outfits.

Archive Costumes is also renting out bustle dresses, Disney princess dresses, fairy dresses and Medieval costumes.

Laura Nance, a Partyland manager, said the company's costume component has been expanded to meet increasing annual demand.

"We have been adding more the last four to five years, especially accessories. People want the accessories that make the costume," Nance said.

Partyland's best-sellers include Obi-Wan Kenobi, Darth Vader and crusader outfits along with Zorro and Harry Potter quidditch outfits and Yoda masks. Little trick-or-treaters like "Thomas the Tank."

Costume staples include Marilyn Monroe white dress outfits, pirates, ninjas, prisoner stripes, witches, skeletons and vampires.

Buzz Lightyear remains popular as does Spider-man.

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