Fancy dress box - what to include?

[MrsOpinionated]

I'm thinking of doing a fancy dress box for my dd for Christmas who will be almost 3.

Any ideas what to include? Any cheap bargain ideas as well?

I love wrapping everything individually but I'm guessing that may be extreme if I put them in a box? Would you just wrap the box up or also wrap each item inside?

[RidiculousDiversion]

Accessories go down well at that age as they're easy to take on and off. So charity shop hats, handbags, scarves etc. Plus a few fairy / witch dresses, and stuff that goes with (wand, wings, witch's hat, witch's wig etc). And some task-related stuff - Melissa and Doug does pricey but nice firefighter, doctor, astronaut sets. You could get others to contribute, perhaps?

[Haudyerwheesht]

Hats are always good! I'd wrap them all separately if they aren't getting many other things.

In our dressing up box we have :
Tutus in various colours
Doctors set with real stethoscope and oroscope and surgical masks etc
Doctor / vet / scientist white coat
Chef stuff
Big hat and disguise glasses with spy kit I made up
Disney princess dresses
High heeled shoes
Lots of things like beaded necklaces and feather boss
Policemans hat
High vis vests
Fire helmet
Hairdressers coat with FAKE scissors and hairdryer etc
Builder costume and tools
Big lengths of different coloured / textured fabric
Swords and shields

[Haudyerwheesht]

I didn't buy it all at once btw

[profpoopsnagle]

Lovely idea.

Some face paints?

[LostMyRubySlippers]

We have hats from Wilkos which were v good value, couple of quid each iirc... one is a builders hat & I then bought a high vis waistcoat thing off amazon cheaply to go with it....
round near us I’ve seen some nice old fashioned/ medieval princess hats & Robin Hood type hats at museums/ castles if you have anywhere nearby like that with a gift shop- they seem v reasonable prices, not as ££ as ordering a full outfit

[Trailedanderror]

Can you get to a fabric shop? My DCs enjoyed a couple of big furry animal print offcuts and a sparkly length which were 50p each.
If you literally put it all in a box, make sure it's finger trap and suffocation proof.

[BastardTart]

If your looking for bargains wait till just after Halloween - all the supermarkets will have reduced price dressing up.

We have mainly fancy dress costumes from tkmaxx (great quality and bargainous when they are reduced price) and charity shop finds.

[AllTheWittyNamesAreGone]

Hats, glasses and handbags are always popular.

The best thing I ever got ds was a clipboard. It turned him from a toddler to a power mad jobsworth council worker in seconds, he loved it

[BastardTart]

Forgot to include what we have

Princess dresses
Fairy tutu with wings attached
Doctor outfit and stethoscope etc
Police hat and top
Witch hat and broomstick
Tiara
Spider
Knight
Egyptian
A whole load of hats, bangles, necklaces,

[Blankiefan]

We did this last year m been played with lots. Do one of the most played with itens:

Super hero cape - a few quid online

Fairy wings and want from pound shop

Policeman hat from wilkos

Cat in the hat costume - reduced in Tesco (they've got some reduces again this year (.

[IhaveChillyToes]

Long pieces of material that can be capes

Use safety fastening that will come undone if caught up, so your DC are kept safe

Loads of hats and different hand bags

@AllTheWittyNamesAreGone Love the clipboard idea 

[Annwithnoe]

We have playsilks (silk scarves in different colours) which are used a lot in dress up, as well as for making dens/ doll blankets/ teddy sling, picnic rugs, theatre curtains, etc
They are silly money to buy
and a very satisfying and easy craft to make
Fabric off cuts would be good too but the light silk is very easy to twist and tie and not at all restrictive to toddlers and little hands

[Annwithnoe]

Oh and we have a set of little wooden pegs (like the ones you'd use for Christmas cards but a bit bigger) that we use as fasteners

[yikesanotherbooboo]

Hats and wigs...

[SockEatingMonster]

I wish I'd seen your DS with his clipboard AllTheWittyNamesAreGone. He sounds amazing!

Our DC love/d my old laptop case and plain glass glasses (from Claire's Accessories I think?).

They also LOVED a whistle on a lanyard (with safety breakaway). I did not love it...

[WaxOnFeckOff]

hi viz waistcoat was popular in our house
Agree capes are good too

Best played with dressing up bits in our house were a pair of long white gloves and a curly wig. I have boys.

[MrsOpinionated]

Thank you everyone for your comments, some great ideas! It's inspired me now to get buying.