Fancy Dress...

Malfiore

I am attending a fancy dress event in about a month. I have no idea what to go as!!

Does anyone have any ideas?

I am really not very creative so making something that requires more than very basic sewing etc will be difficult, although I am willing to give it a go (now might be the time to learn!)

I had thought of a movie or tv character where costume isn't an issue, but I don't know if I would be recognised then...

Any ideas or advice would be very helpful.

Thank you

Uniscots97

Didn't want to read and run. I'm guessing you're female? I think who you go as might depend on your age range, e.g. I'm mid-30s and if it were me I might go as Adam Ant.

Do you have a favourite film or tv character? Alice in Wonderland wouldn't be too hard to create, the costume needn't be expensive. Charity shops are great places for bits and pieces. I volunteer in one and dressed a couple as Bond baddies/girls, the lady as Solitaire (long evening dress and a set of tarot cards), the guy as Blofeld in a grey suit with a toy white cat

Seakay

how mean of your hosts not to give some sort of theme!

In terms of tv and film think very iconic and then only those details matter - and seek out your local charity shops for clothes, fabrics and jewellery
trilby type hat and whip - Indianna Jones
white vest and dodgy wig, Bruce Willis
big blonde wig, bikini and knife - Ursula Undress in Dr No (how bold are you feeling!?
Dress made of big floral curtain material - anyone from the sound of music!
Orange tan, white shorts and a big white sweat shirt - George Michael. Wham
Wild hair or wig, little black mini, shoe boots and a wide legged strut - Tina Turner
black dress with pencil skirt, beehive, collerless lapel-less jacket, string of 'pearls' - Audrey Hepburn
yellow tracksuit, black beanie, moustache - Ali G

Concentrate on what the person you want to be is known for rather than what they really look like - as a caricaturist mught do with features except you are doing it with their own or their character's clothes - and you will have far less work to do.

meames_2

Hi, I'm going to one this week and I've made a dorothy from wizard of oz outfit.

I bought 3 metres of gingham (£10) I made an elasticated skirt and added a bib and some straps (you can even use gingham ribbon for that). Took 2 hours and I am rubbish at sewing.
A white top with elasticated sleeves from Store 21 (£4), added some ric rac around the neck and sleeve edges (took 20 mins to hand stitch)
Got some red ballet pumps from the same place (£3), but then later found some better ones in a charity shop I then covered in glitter glue.

I even got a little basket and toy dog from the charity shop too - but i think they might annoy me as we are in a town rather than a house, so they probably won't go and I've got quite attached to Toto!

Some of my friends are going as dalamations - they are making a simple shift dress from spotty fabric and getting some ears!

have fun!

vanoonoo

you could go as the new nextdoor neighbour and just carry a cup and ask for some sugar?

I'll get me coat

lindab15

My daughter was invited to a friend's fancy dress party about a year ago, much to her disgust. She hates fancy dress - or, more specifically, the having to fork out hard cash to create a costume she doesn't like and won't wear again !

Anyway - we did a minimum cash outlay option of her going as Amy Winehouse. Main thing was the hair and make up (built up her own long dark-ish hair with lots of backcombing and hairspray, up over a couple of pairs of socks in a hair net!!).

We bought a set of the distinctive tattoos off ebay - cost about £3 at the time I think - as well as some joke cigarettes (complete with glowing ends and talc to make it 'puff' out smoke).

Then she just wore ordinary jeans and a white vest top.

Great success - immediately recognisable at very low cost. She was just 16 at the time so I wouldn't let her wander about with a half full bottle of wine........ !:rotfl:

babyshoes

There's always cross-dressing. A bit of mascara on the top lip gives a subtle moustache without going overboard, and you should be able to find some suitable clothing in a charity shop.

jackyann

I usually go as a gypsy fortune teller - bright scarves & big ear-rings.
Last time, at a party for my niece, I went as a character from one of her favourite books: I was Serrafina Pekkala, Witch Queen of the North (black skirt & top, cheap grey chiffon draped over) and I made a broomstick after trimming some trees. We went to a resturant and the waiter said "Madam, can I take your broomstick? That's the first time I have ever said that!"

Malfiore

Thank you so much for all these ideas, they're brilliant!!

I still haven't made my mind up but this has got me on the right track