The Brits 2013

Who is going to be watching The Brits tonight? Why not celebrate everything that is great about GREAT Briton with a  Great Britons Fancy Dress party?

Best Of British Costume Ideas

Here are some of our Great Britons Costume Ideas (if you do not want to do too much, and pay too much money) why not look at our range of famous people masks?:

  • Various Olympic heroes
  • Various British Prime Ministers including David Cameron, Tony Blair, Margaret Thatcher (depending on who you thought was great, or not!)
  • Churchill
  • Nelson
  • Posh & Becks
  • The Royal Family
  • Queen Victoria
  • Isaac Newton – wear a Victorian style costume
  • Charles Dickens – another opportunity to wear a Victorian costume
  • Henry VIII
  • Queen Elizabeth I
  • William Shakespeare – Tudor costume
  • Captain Cook
  • William Wallace
  • Guy Fawkes
  • Boudica
  • The Beatles
  • Florence Nightingale
  • Emmilene Pankhurst
  • Famous Britains (Fictional)
    • Harry Potter
    • Mary Poppins
    • Sherlock Holmes
    • Robin Hood
    • King Arthur
    • James Bond
    • Alice in Wonderland
    • Famous Five – 1940s
    • Chronicles of Narnia characters
    • Frankenstein
    • Scarlet O’Hara
    • Oliver
    • Nancy
    • Austin Powers
    • Dr. Evil
    • Captain Hook
    • Peter Pan
    • Del Boy
    • Jack Sparrow
    • Willy Wonka
Posted in British Theme, Great Britons Costume Ideas | Tagged best of british costume theme, british costumes, british fancy dress, british fancy dress theme, The Britis 2013 | Leave a reply

Best Of British Fancy Dress Theme

Celebrate with The Best of British Costume Theme. At a time when the country is in the midst of an intense push of patriotism due Union Jack Hatsto the Jubilee, the Euro football and the Olympics, to name but three, today we mark the anniversary of a pinnacle of patriotic fervour – Winston Churchill’s ‘Finest Hour’ speech relating to the Battle of Britain in 1940. Of course in a normal year there are a number of 1940s commemorations occurring around now, and the start of the Queen’s reign came at the end of the period of austerity caused by the War. This, plus the fact that 1940s wartime is on the school National Curriculum means there is an upswing in demand for 1940s outfits. The problem is, as those of you who have searched the Internet will know, there are not the same multitude of sources for 40s outfits as there are for other eras. Here at Props & Frocks we have gradually built up a collection to help cater to the demand, but it helps if you can be a little realistic – it was not a particular glamorous era, for obvious reasons, and not everyone can be dashing WW II flying aces!

Take a look at all of our 1940’s costume ideas

Posted in 1940s Fancy Dress, British Theme, Costume Diary. Dates with a reason to dress up for! | Tagged best of british costume ideas, best of british fancy dress theme, british costume ideas, WWII costume ideas, WWII uniforms | Leave a reply

All Things British – Fancy Dress Theme

It’s a well known fact that us British are thought to be eccentric by the rest of the world, well let’s show them that we are all completely mad with an All Things British Fancy Dress George & The Dragon Fancy Dress Themed party today!

Even though it’s Sunday, dawn will see many strange costumed creatures emerging from their lairs to welcome the day. These will be Morris Men (and Women) who see Mayday as the traditional first day of summer and therefore the start of their dance ‘season’. Some will merely mark this with a few dances at dawn and then, after a breakfast and possibly a few early ales, a day of dance at local hostelries and venues. Others will be more ambitious and include a giant walking (and occasionally dancing bush, The Jack in the Green, in their celebrations. In other areas of folklore, May 1st (or at least its eve) has marked one of the major witches’ sabbats, Beltane, which means it is six months to Halloween. Today’s theme – if you need one – ‘There’s nowt so strange as Folk’! Or, if this is too difficult, why not ‘All Things British’

We’ve some great British costume ideas but if you still need more costume inspiration, just think of famous Britains’ (and there have been a few!). And, if all else fails, what about some of The Little Britain Character Costumes?

Posted in British Theme, Costume Diary. Dates with a reason to dress up for! | Tagged all things british fancy dress theme, british ladies costumes, costume ideas British theme, mens british fancy dress costumes | Leave a reply

Best Of British Fancy Dress Theme

Today, we celebrate The Best Of British as our fancy dress theme. The patriotic elements of this month are Knight Costume coming to a climax. Although we are in the middle of the Easter weekend, today is also St George’s Day, the Patron Saint of England, and the anniversaries of the birth (1564) of William Shakespeare, one of the greatest Englishmen, and of the coronation of Charles II in 1616. The latter event brought about the restoration of the British monarchy. We are also less than a week from the Wedding, so this is a great time for planning your Best of British event or putting the final touches in place for next week’s celebrations.

Us Brits are also know for being a bit eccentric, just look at our traditional pantomimes, so this is also a great costume choice for today. Morris Dancers are also quintessentially British, so can give other potential costume avenues.

Take a look at some of our Great Britains’ Costume Ideas (not a complete list, but we have given you a wide selection for you to start putting your own thinking caps on…)

Famous Britains (Fictional)

  • Harry Potter
  • Mary Poppins
  • Sherlock Holmes
  • Robin Hood
  • King Arthur
  • James Bond
  • Alice in Wonderland
  • Famous Five – 1940s
  • Chronicles of Narnia characters
  • Frankenstein
  • Scarlet O’Hara
  • Oliver
  • Nancy
  • Austin Powers
  • Dr. Evil
  • Captain Hook
  • Peter Pan
  • Del Boy
  • Jack Sparrow
  • Willy Wonka

Famous Britains’ (Real)

  • The Beatles, John Lennon, Paul MaCartney etc…
  • Jane Austen – Regency /Victorian
  • Nelson – bi corn hat
  • Shakespeare – Tudor costume
  • Queen Victoria – Victorian costume
  • Queen Elizabeth I- Tudor Rich
  • Queen Elizabeth II – overhead mask
  • Henry VIII – Tudor Rich
  • St. George – Knight
  • Winston Churchill – Black suit, black bow tie, bowler hat (cigar!!)
  • Guy Fawkes – Renaissance Prince
  • Isambard Kingdom Brunel – Victorian Man
  • Charles Darwin – Victorian
  • Sir Isaac Newton – Victorian
  • Diane Spencer (Princess Diana)
  • Oliver Cromwell – Tudor style costume
  • Captain Cook – Georgian style
  • David Beckham – football kit
  • Margaret Thatcher – overhead mask
  • Boudicca – nearest Greek goddess
  • Charles Dickens – Victorian
  • William Wallace – Kilt
  • Florence Nightingale – Victorian ,lace bonnet
  • Francis Drake – Tudor
  • TE Lawrence – Lawrence of Arabia
  • Julie Andrews – nun costume
  • Bronte sisters – Victorian
  • Lewis Carroll – Victorian
  • Robert Louise Stevenson – Victorian
  • JRR Tolkein – wrote Lord of The Rings
  • CS Lewis – wrote Chronicles of Narnia – died 1963
  • Lord Byron – Poet – Regency
Posted in British Theme, Costume Diary. Dates with a reason to dress up for!, Panto Theme | Tagged best of british, british fancy dress costumes, great britains costume ideas, knight costumes, st. george costume ideas | 1 Reply

Great Britain Fancy Dress Theme

Given that we’re in a month which may see a good many Union Jack flags in evidence on the streets, todayUnion Jack costume we celebrate the date upon which the flag was ‘born’. On April 12th in 1606 a royal decree legitimised the combination of the English George Cross (red on a white background) with the blue and white saltire (St Andrew’s Cross) of Scotland and the diagonal red cross on white background of St Patrick of Ireland. (Apparently because Wales was a Principality, it didn’t get represented). Although many argue that the term ‘Jack’ only applies to the maritime version, this is debatable and certainly doesn’t stop our flag being one of the most colourful and instantly recognisable in the world. So today, metaphorically, we salute the flag and remind you that time is running out to get your stocks of patriotic merchandise in for St George’s Day (23rd), the Royal Wedding (29th) and, in the longer term, the Jubilee next year!

So theme options that you may decide on include:

  • Red White & Blue Colour Scheme – including costumes, or masquerade masks
  • Famous Britains – we have some ideas on this British Theme Blog
  • Actual Place Names

 

Posted in British Theme, Costume Diary. Dates with a reason to dress up for!, Great Britain Fancy Dress Theme | Tagged all things british, british costume theme, famous britians costume ideas, great britain fancy dress theme, united kingdom fancy dress theme | Leave a reply

Let’s Have ‘An All Things British’ Fancy Dress Party!

We are going to celebrate everything British – in today’s fancy dress theme.

You win some and you lose some: It was on 25th October in 1415 that Henry V led the famous English victory against the French at Agincourt. Even those not ‘into’ Shakespeare will have likely heard of the rousing St Crispin’s Day speech from the Henry V play in which the King rallies his troops. On the other hand the date also marks one

Union Jack Ladies costume

Union Jack Ladies costume

of the major acts of military foolishness in the Crimea War – The Charge of The Light Brigade during the Battle of Balaklava – in which the British leaders pitted cavalrymen against the Russian guns with disastrous consequences. Militaristic anniversaries aside, today is also the date upon which John Peel, the well-respected DJ, sadly died in 2004. Perhaps today’s a day to celebrate things British.

So what costume suggesstions do we have? Well there are lots of ways that you can attack this particular costume theme. Below is just a few of our fancy dress ideas…

  • Pantomime – Yes this eccentric tradition is pure British. Gives you a whole host of costume choices from a poor Cinderella costume to a dashing Prince Charming and everything in between.
  • Morris Dancers
  • Politicians – there is a range of overhead masks that includes many of our previous Prime Ministers
  • Union Jack Dress – ideal for Gerri Halliwell
  • St. George – any Knight  costume will be fine.
  • Shakespeare – use a Tudor Man costume
  • Nelson
  • Queens – Elizabeth I & II, Victoria
  • Mary Poppins
  • Jane Austen
  • Harry Potter
  • The Beatles

We also stock Union Jack Flags & Banners to help you to theme your party room.