Between Halloween, themed events, and costume parties, there is actually a surprising number of times in your life that you might need costume shoes. The good news is, they're not as difficult to come by than you might think.

Here are a few ideas to get you started in your quest for costume shoes.

Make Your Own Costume Shoes

For many costumes, you won't even need to hit a specialty store for costume shoes -- basic styles will fit the bill.

And if you just think creatively, a trip to a local department store will uncover a treasure trove of usable shoes costume shoes.

If the shoes are only going to be worn as costume shoes, check the clearance section of your favorite store first to find the best deals, and then head to the craft section for items to customize them. Most costume shoes don't need to be long-lasting, so the process of adding adding bows, spray paint, and glitter is relatively simple.

Shopping for Costume Shoes

When I first decided to write an article about costume shoes, I gave a lot of thought as to how I'd break it out. Little did I know I'd find several sites selling costume-specific footwear, and one devoted entirely to costume shoes and boots. Since I haven't personally dressed in costume since I was in the fifth grade, I haven't shopped at any of these sites myself, so be sure to check their shipping and return policies before ordering.

• CostumeShoes.com
  Appropriately named, this site features costume shoes for men, women and kids. Ruby slippers, platform shoes, princess styles, and even superhero boots can all be had at fairly reasonable prices -- and, if it's clown shoes you're after, you definitely won't want to miss this one. (Vendor's Site)

• BuyCostumes.com
  Astronaut boots, glitter pumps, cowboy boos and roman sandals can all be found at this favorite costume destination. While the majority of styles are for adults, there's still a good selection of kids' costume shoes. (Buy Direct)
• FantasyCostumes.com
  Also stocking wigs, makeup, costumes and masks, this site has a large selection of costume shoes for men and women. Not as many dressy styles as some of the other sites, it's a good place to check for elf shoes, pirate boots, and roman sandals. (Vendor's Site)
• FunkyPair.com
  There aren't a lot of flats or subtle styles on this site, in fact, it's largely a selection of boudoir and fantasy type costumes and footwear arranged into specialty categories like "medieval and renaissance," "gothic," or "fetish," but still, it's a very creative and noteworthy collection -- I especially like some of the naughty witch shoes. They have reasonable prices, and also a decent selection of styles for men and kids -- and you'll be happy to know, these styles actually do have lower heels. (Vendor's Site)

More Ideas for Costume Shoes

If you're in the market for blatantly sexy, fetish-type shoes, you'll need to look no further than my article listing the top sites for Sexy Shoes.

Second-hand and vintage clothing stores are ideal for finding shoes from past eras that will add an authentic touch to your costume. This list of online stores that stock Vintage Shoes will cover your footwear needs, and to insure that you're really dressing the part, be sure to check out About.com's Vintage Clothing site.