Custom costume shop to open, by appointment only, in Vandergrift

A mother-daughter duo is combining their creativity to open a costume and mending shop in Vandergrift.

Lauren Andrews, 28, grew up in Vandergrift and always had a keen interest in Halloween and dress-up.

“I had four Halloween costumes every year. I was always winning the costume contests,” said Andrews, of New Kensington’s Parnassus neighborhood.

Lauren’s mother, Deanna Whaley, 67, is the mending and sewing talent behind every costume worn by Andrews. Whaley is a professional costume designer.

“This has always been our love child. Dress-up was an everyday occurrence,” Andrews said. “Literally, every costume I would design and obsess over.”

Andrews left a job as a correctional officer to open Nana’s Costume Rental Mending Shop, named after her mother, aka “Nana.”

It’s set to open Saturday, Oct. 1. Customers will be seen by appointment only.

Andrews said the main aspect of the business will be costume rentals, suitable for high school musicals, theater productions, Oktoberfest, Halloween parties and other themed functions.

Whaley will offer light mending of garments, such as zipper repair, hemming of pants and the like.

Joyce Hanz | Tribune-Review

These custom costumes were designed by mother-daughter duo Lauren Andrews of New Kensington and Deanna Whaley of Vandergrift. Their new store, Nana’s Costume Rental Mending Shop, is scheduled to open Oct. 1 in Vandergrift.

Whaley bought the store when she purchased the building in 2010, but her plans to open the business were waylaid when her husband experienced health issues.

Whaley, who serves as caregiver to her husband, said his health has improved and she now can focus on the new store.

“I’m excited because I really, really wanted this,” Whaley said. “It just came to a screeching halt.”

With the new store plans on pause for years, the shop was used as a storage place for Whaley’s costumes. During that time, Whaley occassionally would open the shop’s doors, when she was there working, for people to browse the racks and purchase anything that caught their eye.

Every piece from their inventory seems to tell a story or conjure a memory for the ladies.

Like the old T-shirt with boxes of small cereal attached.

“It was for my husband,” Whaley said. “He was a ‘cereal killer.’ ”

Or the bright purple children’s sorceress costume.

“I think everyone we know wore that,” Whaley said.

Can’t find what you need?

“We can create a custom design,” Andrews said.

In an effort to purge old inventory and reorganize costumes, the ladies hosted a $1 sale this month.

“We sold more than 500 pieces… for $1 each, and you still can’t tell,” said Whaley, referencing the hundreds of costumes hanging on racks filling two rooms.

Customers looking to rent a costume are asked to call 724-393-8534 for a phone consultation. The next step is an in-person visit where Andrews will offer one-on-one service and the customer can try on selected clothing.

From children’s parties to parades, Andrews said dressing up is not just happening during Halloween anymore.

“You think Halloween, but people want to dress for the Fourth of July, and we put together boxes of clothing props for a lot of weddings,” Andrews said.

Prices for rentals range from $20 to several hundred dollars.

Whaley has worked part time as a costumer for Kiski Area High School’s musical and drama department.

She learned to sew in home economics class at Kiski (both ladies are alumnae) and plans to relocate her sewing machine from home to the store.

“When Lauren was born, we were always big into Halloween,” Whaley said. “I’m real happy for her.”