Members have consulted us about fancy dress because:
- They want help with costume ideas and themes.
- We can source hard-to-find costumes and accessories.
- We have contacts with bespoke tailors and make-up artists.
Lifestyle manager Hannah Rech says: 'Members contact us with all manner of fancy dress-related queries, from obscure costume requests to advice on outfit ideas or party themes (see insider tips for some themes or call us for ideas).
'The most common question is where to find a fancy dress shop that stocks a particular costume (a query we've even answered for a member on holiday in Sweden), but we also track down hard-to-find items. We helped one family who wanted to look like the Von Trapps from The Sound of Music source just the right kind of pinafores and lederhosen.
'If members can't find exactly what they want in the fancy dress shops, we have contacts with several bespoke tailors who are used to dealing with specific requests. One member wanted to look like Tommy Lee, so we found a make-up artist who could recreate his distinctive tattoos.
'If members want the fun of fancy dress without having to go to the trouble of dressing up themselves, we can hire lookalikes of famous figures for parties. We have arranged Halle Berry and Daniel Craig impersonators for a James Bond-themed corporate party, who did meet and greets with the (decidedly impressed) guests.'
Insider tips
- Don't be too understated or obscure. The whole point of a costume is to stand out as a character – there's no point dressing up if people have to ask what you've come as.
- Mannerisms, phrases, props or movements can really enhance a winning outfit. For example, you could practise the swing of the cane that goes with Charlie Chaplin's walk or Marilyn Monroe pushing down her dress and singing ‘Happy Birthday Mr President'.
- It's all in the extras. Keep a dressing-up box with wigs, wings, plastic guns, cowboy hats and other accessories. They can layer on top of normal clothes to create an instant costume. Some members buy any great accessories they see while they're on holiday abroad (belly-dancing costumes, Arabian slippers), just in case.
- If members have a particular accessory in mind, we can help source it, no matter how extraordinary.
- If you have plenty of time, we can order online and get deliveries to you before your party. If it's last minute, we can point you in the direction of a shop straight away. One member had forgotten his office Christmas party was fancy dress - we arranged for a Top Gun outfit to be couriered to him on the day.
- Don't sacrifice comfort for a costume. Your Danger Mouse ensemble might knock the guests dead, but will it leave you hot and bothered the whole evening?
