subject: Why Fancy Dress Outfits Make A Hit For Any Occasion [print this page] The Victorians are credited with giving us the idea of fancy dress, even though what we are used to today is very different from what they used back then. Fancy dress outfits have been available for us to rent only for the last two decades or so, although we have always been taken with the idea of dressing up in the best fancy dress costumes we can find.
The term "fancy dress" by itself is rather quaint, but evidently traces back to the time when our everyday clothing was rather simple and plain. In those days, whenever you went to a formal ball or other spectacular occasion, you would be expected to go in the fanciest clothing that you could find, even though this might not have been a costume, per se, as we know it today.
New Year's eve is the time when we think about wearing our fancy dress outfits the most. However, some places such as North America celebrate Halloween as a great excuse for extravagance. There are many different excuses for having a fancy dress party, including birthdays, stag and hen events and in truth any other commemorative occasion that calls for excitement.
As technology has advanced and as the materials necessary to construct masks and accessories have improved, many of the fancy dress costumes of today have become even more ornate and creative. You can re-create anyone from pop culture of today, or you can be more generic and opt for a typical pirate, cowboy or princess.
It's not surprising that fancy dress parties have become so popular, as in truth they represent an opportunity for us to let our hair down and show the lighter side. We have so much to worry ourselves about in everyday life that the laughter and enjoyment associated with a fancy dress party is just the tonic we need to put a spring back into our steps.
While many people relish the opportunity to become creative, digging through closets, cupboards and storage boxes to find something inspirational, many now choose to go online to get a complete, readymade costume of their favourite character. Conversely, second-hand clothing stores and charity outlets have become good places to locate "period" clothing from the 80s, for example. Ingenuity and creativity come to the fore when selecting your fancy dress costume for the next party.
It can sometimes be difficult to throw a more conventional party, and the host can often find that he or she is very active in the early moments of the party trying to break the ice and introduce people to each other. Finding that interesting "spark" to start the conversation can be a challenge. Not so with a fancy dress themed party, as there will always be something to talk about, while marvelling at the costumes that people introduce to the mix. Why not throw a little bit of cash into the pot during the invitation process to really help get the creative juices flowing, to see who will dream up the best costume for that night?
