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Party City Announces New Consumer-Designed Costume for Halloween 2010

ROCKAWAY, N.J., Oct. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Party City, America's largest party specialty and Halloween retailer, announces 5-year-old, Jamie Bunnell, and her mother, Faith Bunnell, as the winners of "Dress to Thrill," its consumer Halloween costume design contest. The costume will be mass-produced and available for purchase Halloween 2010.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091030/FL02905)

Last year, Jamie's mother, Faith, didn't have enough money to buy her a new Halloween costume so she repurposed an old dance recital outfit to help Jamie create a fun, one-of-a-kind costume. Together the two transformed a yellow leotard into Jamie's "flower princess" outfit by painting glitter and gluing flowers onto the fabric. They also glued the same flowers onto wings and a princess crown. Faith entered the costume into Party City's costume contest and with more than 3,000 online votes consumers selected it as the winner.

"The story behind the 'Dress to Thrill' contest winner is just heartwarming," says Lisa Laube, president, Party City. "In honor of Jamie and her mother, Party City has decided to call the costume 'Jamie's Flower Princess' and offer it at a terrific value to our customers next year."

The costume will be sold on Party City's Web site and in its more than 600 retail stores during the 2010 Halloween season.

"Even though Jamie's costume was homemade, she was so proud to wear it and still uses it to play dress-up with her friends," adds Faith Bunnell, Jaime's mother. "Jamie is very excited that her costume will be made for other little girls to enjoy, she even offered the original costume to one of her friends to wear this year. I hope Party City's 'Jamie's Flower Costume' helps other families enjoy Halloween ... and continues to put smiles on faces throughout the country."

Jamie and Faith are from Lackawanna, N.Y.

About Party City

Party City is the leader in the party goods industry. We are America's largest specialty party goods chain and the country's premiere Halloween specialty retailer. Party City operates more than 600 company-owned and franchise stores throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.

Party City is a division of Amscan Holdings, Inc. and has it's headquarters in Rockaway, New Jersey Amscan designs, manufactures and distributes party goods through its vertically aligned retailers as well as other retailer worldwide. Amscan's worldwide locations include their corporate headquarters in Elmsford, NY as well as locations throughout Asia, Europe, the Americas and Australia.

Amscan operates seven state of the art distribution centers throughout the world and six manufacturing facilities domestically. Product is manufactured both in the United States and overseas.

SOURCE Party City