Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Women's Fancy Dress Costumes

50 replies

Keeptrudging · 14/01/2019 15:06

AIBU to think that women's fancy dress costumes are mostly sorely lacking in material, and clearly designed by men? I'm searching high and low just now for a costume. Unless I want to be a Disney princess or Maid Marion, pretty much every costume is a 'sexy' version of something (and labelled as such). Much as my DH might appreciate me wearing something bum-skimming, I'd terrify everyone else.

The theme is supposed to be 'Movie Stars'. I'm really struggling to find anything. Where are the costumes for middle-aged, not stick thin women who don't want to dress as a cartoon character? I'm seriously considering a man's costume (at least they have more than a hanky worth of material)! Angry

OP posts:
Rubytinsleslippers · 14/01/2019 15:10

Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction.. white shirt, black crop trousers and a black chin length wig....

FlippinNora1 · 14/01/2019 15:13

Why don’t you go as something non gender specific? My MIL once went to a party dress as a darlek. She looked brilliant!

I agree with your dilemma about female fancy dress costumes. They are all “sexy x” or “foxy y”. It’s really vom.

If you are really stuck, dressing up as Princess Leia is always easy and non-gratuitous.

Sexykitten2005 · 14/01/2019 15:13

Sandy in grease, shiny black trousers and a pink jacket.
LBD and pearls Audrey Hepburn
White long sleeve dress with hood Princess Leia

Sassifrass · 14/01/2019 15:18

When younger, I used to wear my wedding dress to fancy dress parties. Am in my 60s now so possibly not a great idea now....

ShatnersBassoon · 14/01/2019 15:18

I went to a party where a woman had dressed up as 'Sexy Edward Scissorhands' Confused

Go as Ripley from Alien. That's fairly easy, and recognisable.

Sassifrass · 14/01/2019 15:22

Although - thinking about it, ‘Miss Havisham’ would be a good one.

SauvingnonBlanketyBlanc · 14/01/2019 15:26

Marilyn Monroe? Blonde wig,white knee length floaty dress

Original poster
Keeptrudging · 14/01/2019 15:28

Great ideas, thank you! All I've come up with so far as having longer skirts are Eliza Dolittle, Scarlett O'Hara and Mary Poppins. That's after trawling through hundreds of costumes. The Scarlett O'Hara one (on Etsy) was about £500, which is just a touch excessive. I've put on weight too, so am more like a 14 now so not keen on skinny outfits.

OP posts:
Jaxhog · 14/01/2019 15:32

Downton Abbey or any other Jane Austen period costume drama. Without the corset of course. Get a gigantic hat, pin loads of teddies to it and go as Lady Catherine Deburgh's cuddly sister. From Pride and Prejudice. Or go as a character from a Terry Pratchett novel i.e. a witch.

(I make Regency costumes for a hobby)

DontCallMeCharlotte · 14/01/2019 15:34

Can you rent a costume? There's an amateur theatre in our town which rents out their costumes.

PomBearWithoutHerOFRS · 14/01/2019 15:34

I do Princess Fiona as ogre Grin green paint, wig, crown headband with ogre ears, and a nice all encompassing green dress from Holy Clothing...

Jaxhog · 14/01/2019 15:34

Or a star trek uniform (not the orginal series).

simplesalvage · 14/01/2019 15:35

Or you could go scary and be the girl from the ring. Long dark wig and long white nightie.

Jaxhog · 14/01/2019 15:35

@PomBearWithoutHerOFRS Princess Fiona as ogre I like it!

marmeladerose · 14/01/2019 15:37

Mia from Pulp Fiction. Short black wig, white blouse, black trousers and a cigarette. Very simple but very recognisable.

marmeladerose · 14/01/2019 15:39

Are you going with your DH? A couples mary poppins outfit would be cool.

PomBearWithoutHerOFRS · 14/01/2019 15:46

See if this works... If it does it's a picture of me as ogre. Ignore the flip flops, it was the end of a long day and my feet were killing me so I changed shoes.

Women's Fancy Dress Costumes
TinklyLittleFart · 14/01/2019 15:48

Vicar of Dibley

Wilma55 · 14/01/2019 15:49

Lady in the van?

Suziepoozie · 14/01/2019 15:50

Bridget Jones? Then you get to wear comfy knickers as a plus!

AdaColeman · 14/01/2019 15:52

Movie Stars. If going with male partner, you in a long dress, him in a dark suit, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

thenightsky · 14/01/2019 16:05

DD works for a fancy dress company. The designers are 99% early 20s females with fashion and textile degrees. Only a few stay beyond the age of 30 as its not that well paid.

Original poster
Keeptrudging · 14/01/2019 16:23

I'm in stitches here, great ideas! Love the Princess Fiona one, I'm sorely tempted Grin. Simplesalvage I like the Mary Poppins one, it might be a winner, thanks. There's no chance of doing a couple-themed one, my DH has already bought his costume, and I'd put money on that it will be something that makes him look very dashing, not silly at all. He won't tell me what he's going as. I love this Scarlett O'Hara dress, but it's over £1,000 Grin, so not happening! Am off to investigate more of your great ideas, thanks!

OP posts:
Original poster
Keeptrudging · 14/01/2019 16:24

Oops, forgot the photo!

Women's Fancy Dress Costumes
OP posts: