Women's Fancy Dress Costumes

[Keeptrudging]

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)!

www.megafancydress.co.uk/ladies-scarlet-ohara-fancy-dress-costume.html

I know this says scarlet o’hara but you could ditch the hat and go as Nancy from Oliver!

Btw that £1200 scarlet o’hara dress is amazing!

Slightly missing the point but who on earth has £1200 for a fancy dress costume?! I spent less than half that on my wedding dress! 🤷‍♀️

I have gone as Freddie Mercury and Nicky Wire in my younger days. I just kept looking at myself in the mirror rather lovingly. 😁

Crayola crayon
Roll of carpet
Toothpaste

All available on amazon and all non sexy

Not quite in keeping with the movie star theme, JeanClaude!

I'd go as Godzilla. Covers everything.

I'm going to a party later this month with my OH and we are his and hers Oompah lumpahs - got the outfits off amazon and have ordered 2 sizes bigger than my usual dress size as past experience has shown me they aren't exactly haute couture for that price . Got a wig and white gloves and stick on eyebrows plus the face paint! Going to look hideous

😃 Godzilla would be hilarious (but sweaty)! Don't think I'd get away with the toilet roll one. I found a lovely Queen Victoria dress, but her hairstyle is awful. I quite like this one - it's sexy, but in an 'I'm going to chop your head off if you come near me' sort of way BUT it's probably really skimpy in real life.

Blobby I would have been totally up for doing something like that, since DH would have been equally silly. He didn't want to, and won't tell me what he's going as so I can't risk being the only silly one potentially in a room full of sensible costumes.

Would you consider hiring one? I've never done this (but really want to) and if you are London based and want a big gown, the national theatre hires out their costumes

.www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/costume-and-props-hire

I love George at Asda for fancy dress and they're usually quite decent (I wear them at school) and they don't break the bank. They have Professor McGonagall or Batgirl atm.

BUY a fancy dress costume! Why? You are unlikely to wear it again!
Hire such a costume-a costume with a long skirt/full bodice/or whatever, is going to cost more than a flimsy "Fairy, sort of costume".
How much do you care if you wear a flimsy cheap "bum-skimming" thing? Everyone will love it!
Show your...ahem...bum! Every one else will be the same!

This is why I love being an am drams member. I’ve been in all sorts of shows, so every time I’m invited to a fancy dress party, I just figure out which outfit from which show fits!
I’ve been a fairy queen in sleeping beauty (huge poofy white dress became scarlet Ohara for world book day)
Then I was in Agatha Christie black coffee (1920s flapper dress for a gatsby themed party)
I was in a Christmas carol once, which became an excellent Victorian costume for Victorian day at school.
I was a nun in a murder mystery (used for a friends call the midwife party) and in another I was a total sluttish tramp in a tight blue dress, slit up the side, fake fur stole, lots of fake bling. Excellent for my cousins “diva” party!

Toffee, I'm very jealous of your access to proper costumes!

Onlyaman, your reply did make me laugh. It's a big family event, believe me if I flashed my bum I would never hear the end of it (probably for years). It's not the same as going to an event where noone knows you.

Re hiring a costume, as it's a weekend event requiring travel, I'd have to hire it for 4 days. It works out cheaper buying one, as hiring would be over £120.

I'd be going as Maleficent. Easy enough costume and pretty covered up as its all about the horn headwear (15 quid ish)/on amazon or eBay. Black cloak again 15 quid ish on Amazon or eBay pretty much gian black under the cloak and of course blood red lipstick.

Sorted.

What about the Kathy Bates character from Misery?
Old cardigan , tweed pinafore....not butt skimming.

Mrs Doubtfire?

Thingy in pulp fiction.

Does it have to be really fancy dress?
You couldn't just be a movie star in an elegant dress?

If you are going with another then pair up and go as the blues brothers

Go all in black with a balaclava and you can be an assassin/ninja!

I've got it narrowed down now to Mary Poppins, Eliza Dolittle, Amidala (from Star Wars) or Cleopatra (but the decent length version), they're all costumes I can get easily. Thanks for all your help, much appreciated!

Grandma up thread makes a really good suggestion. Dressed up smartly, buy a fake Oscar and look for an obscure female winner of yesteryear.

Mrs Doubtfire is a great idea!

My friend and I once went to a movie themed party as Tweedle Dum and Tweddle Dee. We hired the costumes which were essentially fat suits. Being 24 at the time, it was pretty funny as all the other girls were indeed 'sexy', and we were rolling our way through people to get to the bar!