Fancy dress parties
have been around since for centuries and were particularly popular in
Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries. Italy is particularly well
known for contributing to the popularity of fancy dress parties. There,
the masquerade ball reached frenzied proportions. By the time Queen
Victoria took the throne much of Europe, especially England, had lost
its appetite for masquerade but still had a keen interest in fancy
dress parties. The Queen's interest in literature, poetry and history
had a tremendous impact on the themes for fancy dress parties
throughout her long reign.
During a time when Europeans
entertained often and lavishly, fancy dress parties were often called
upon to break up the monotony of what might have been another otherwise
boring social event. Almost any notable figure in history and
literature was likely to spur the imaginations of fancy dress party
guests. While characters from literature, especially the Shakespearean
plays, remained popular choices for fancy dress parties throughout much
of the century a quest for increasingly unique and creative costumes
began to appear. Fancy dress parties were concentrated among
those who could afford to devote the time and money to such lavish
events however that didn't mean that a few peasants didn't make their
way onto the guest list. Throughout most of the 19th century there
remained a keen interest in the less fortunate as the subject for
possible fancy dress costumes.
This interest was more likely than not spurred by the fact that peasant
style costumes gave ladies the opportunity to step outside their
normally rather strict social codes. While it would have been
unthinkable to appear dressed in a ensemble that allowed too much
cleavage or the ankles to show at any other event much could be
forgiven when inspired by fancy dress parties. Concepts and
ideas were also likely to appear in the form of costumes to be worn at
fancy dress parties. Seasons and holidays were popular choices.
Creativity allowed ladies to makeover costumes used for prior occasions
to suit their whimsy for an upcoming fancy dress
party. With just the addition of a few trimmings, an otherwise ordinary
gown could be transformed into a representation of anything the lady
wished. Today fancy dress parties are not as popular as they
were during the height of the Victorian era. The opportunity to dress
as your favorite historical character, or any character for that
matter, has unfortunately often been relegated to Halloween. Should you
have an upcoming event to celebrate, or just want an excuse to get some
friends together, why not consider throwing a good old fashioned fancy
dress party? Chances are you have just the right ensemble in the back
of your closet that can be reworked with a few embellishments to form
the perfect costume.
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