Fancy Dress Items & Accessories | Clothes & Body Care

Fancy Dress parties, also called costume parties, are growing in popularity. In the USA, Halloween is a celebration when people, particularly children, dress up to go trick-or-treating. In South America, everyone gets into the spirit of the Mardi Gras season by dressing up in colourful outfits. Children never really need an excuse to get into fancy dress costumes -- some children use fancy dress as a means of playing at pretending to be a particular character such as a princess or a superhero. There are also more and more children's birthday parties where there is a theme -- such as 'Pirates and Mermaids' or 'At the Zoo' parties where the kids dress up as their favourite animal. Adults, on the other hand, generally only have the opportunity to wear fancy dress costumes when they are invited to a themed dinner party or other social event. For example, Swinging Sixties themed parties are popular where guests come dressed up in the fashions of the 1960s. Adults also attend masquerade balls where there is a chance to wear beautiful masks. Costume parties are also held for major movie openings and book releases. For instance, Star Wars and Harry Potter parties were held worldwide prior to the launch of the movie and the release of the latest book. Corporations may also organise themed-celebrations for their staff and customers.

Different Categories of Fancy Dress
You can either buy or hire fancy dress costumes. Some people even create their own costumes at home! As fancy dress costumes are now mainly mass-produced in the Far East, prices are affordable and many people buy rather than hire them. If you do not have the talent to produce homemade creations, luckily you can buy a huge choice of different fancy dress costumes to suit all ages, gender, sizes and occasion. Here is a list of the main categories of fancy dress available to hire or buy:

Children's Fancy Dress -- Pirate, Princess, Fairy, Policeman, Doctor, Builder, Train Driver, Cowboy, Superman, Batman, Spiderman, Pop Diva, Knight, Fireman, Clown, Disney Character, Storybook Character, TV & Film Character, Mermaid, Roman Gladiator, various wild and farm animals, Harry Potter, Star Wars, Ballerina and more!

Adults' Fancy Dress
Adults share some of the fancy dress options as children such as pirates, policeman, clowns, knights and others. However, the more popular adult costumes include the following:
Clothes and Fashion from all ages including 1950s,1960s,1970s and 1980s, Famous People, Celebrities and Politicians
Period Costumes from the Medieval, Tudor, Elizabethan, Victorian, Roman, Egyptian times.
Viking Costumes
Gothic Costumes
Cultural Costumes such as Indian or Oriental Dress
Punk
Gothic Costumes
Animal Fancy Dress such as Gorilla or Chicken!
Couples Fancy Dress such as Mark Anthony & Cleopatra or Robin Hood & Maid Marian.
Hen & Stag Fancy Dress

Christmas and Halloween Fancy Dress
These are available for both adults as well as children:
Santa, Elves, Nativity costumes, Wizards & Witches, Skeletons, Vampires, Devil and more.

Fancy Dress Accessories
These include masks, wigs, make-up, face paints, body parts including eyes, wounds, teeth, fingers and lots more!

Places that sell Fancy Dress
The Internet A convenient and hassle-free option is to go online and use a search engine to lead you to an online fancy dress retailer. There are plenty on the internet and you will be spoilt for choice! This is, by far, the most efficient way to find that perfect outfit for your fancy dress party. You can search by type, by character or by price.

High Street Shops If you are looking for a child's fancy dress costume, it is possible to find a good range in toy shops. There are now also shops on the high street which specialise in both children and adults costumes.

Mail Order Ordering fancy dress items from a specialist mail order company is a popular option. You can request for a catalogue to be sent out to you. The catalogue will illustrate the different types of fancy dress costumes on sale -- there is usually a comprehensive range. Once you have decided which one you would like, telephone, fax or email your order through to a customer services representative who will process your order and post it to you in time for your special event!

Classifieds There are various classified advertisements available both online and offline including here at Classifieds. These can also be found in various local newspapers, magazines and directories. You will find a listing selling an item of fancy dress. It is up to you to contact the seller directly and negotiate a purchase. Classifieds are usually excellent places to look if you want to buy second-hand products which may be sold at a cheaper price.

Things to Consider when Buying Fancy Dress Costumes
Before you place your order either online or through a mail order company, make sure you get your sizing and measurements correct. Most retailers will be able to provide a sizing guide to help you make your decision. Be aware that some items of clothing -- such as trousers -- are more complicated to buy online without first trying it on. When buying such items, be extra careful and look carefully at the sizing charts and guidance on body measurements. If in doubt, feel free to contact a sales representative to discuss your concerns.

If uncertain about sizes and colours, ensure the retailer operates a returns or refund policy. You can be reasonably confident when shopping online as there are legal rights in place under the Distance Selling Directive which protects online customers but there are notable exclusions so check the individual retailer's terms. Generally, most retailers allow returns and / or exchanges to be made within 28 days of purchase.

If the fancy dress is required urgently for a specific event or party, ensure the order will arrive on time. Study the retailer's delivery times. Many orders will arrive within a week of purchase as long as the items are in stock. Some retailers offer a guaranteed next-day or express delivery service. Choose this if you are in a hurry to receive the items.

Things to Consider if Buying Second-hand Fancy Dress Costumes
As most fancy dress costumes are usually only worn once for a party, it may be a good idea to make a second-hand purchase. However, read the written descriptions carefully and take time to liaise with the seller to check that the costume will fit you and is in an acceptable condition. Remember that second-hand traders can be fined or prosecuted if they sell unsafe or incorrectly labelled goods. However, be aware that private sellers are less easy to prosecute.