Not so long ago we only sold masquerade masks for New Year Eve’s events, but now they sell all year round. Now, this may be because we do not get many opportunities now to really dress up, with most dress codes being ‘smart casual’ so it makes a nice change to have a glamorous evening.
There is a huge range of eyemasks to choose from, from really extravagant feathered masks, to more simple eye masks, and even ones that you can decorate yourself to get a totally unique look.
A stick that is secured to one side of the mask, you hold the mask up in front of your face
Elastic, that secures around the back of your head (and tend to be the cheaper ones)
Headband. The headband masks give you the chance to wear the mask on your face, but also to lift it up higher inorder to eat and drink.
As the majority of our masquerade masks are really good value for money, it may also be this that is keeping this fancy dress trend growing more and more popular.
Today in 1976 saw the first Apple computer, but far from the sleek Macs and iPods/iPads of today which are its successors, this was a self-assembly do-it-yourself creation which nonetheless sold exceptionally well. Although it is still theoretically possible to build your own computer (or at least customise its component elements to suit your needs), most people do not have the time and/or enthusiasm and much the same can be said when it comes to costumes. Whether you choose to hire or buy a costume is very much up to you (Are you likely to wear it again? Do you want the hassle of taking it back? Do you want a costume that reflects your personality? Do you want to be someone totally different?)). When it comes to choices, these questions are part and parcel (literally) of our business. If you are not in the local area, you can always take advantage of our mailing service.
We advocate a Masquerade, or carnival themed fancy dress event as today in 1803, the Louisiana Purchase was completed in New Orleans. This is nothing to do with Christmas shopping, but the agreement under which France sold its rights to certain territories in North America. The name suggests that this was just about Louisiana, but in fact the transaction took in all or part of what are now fifteen American states and a couple of parts of Canada – the ‘United States’ virtually doubled in size overnight! Nonetheless, New Orleans was central to the deal in more ways than one, and the city still retains evidence of its French roots as well as being regarded as the birth-place of Jazz: Its unique style of ‘Dixieland’ jazz derives from ‘the Land of the Dix’, the nickname for the French ten dollar bill. New Orleans is also known for its celebrations of carnival and Mardi Gras. The post-Christmas period marks the start of preparations for the carnivals to come, so why not make masked carnival the basis of some festive or New Year celebrations?
We stock a vast range of masks for a masked ball suitable for men and women. The actual theme if ‘carnival’ is open to your own interpretation. On the continent, Carnival is celebrated by wearing any fancy dress costume you could think of, and when you think of all the costumes people wear for a traditional carnival procession in the UK, the costume choice is dependant on the theme of each individual float. So unless you want to go out wearing little more than a glitzy swimming costume with plumes of feathers, you can choose anything bright and colourful for this costume theme – we are sorry we cannot be more specific for this one!
In was on this day in 1895 that one Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen was experimenting with some electricity and discovered X-rays (you have seen the effect demonstrated in cartoons whenever a character touches a live wire or electric fence). Since then these rays have proved exceptionally useful in all sorts of fields, although the X-ray specs advertised on the back of 1960s comic mags (and for that matter the apps. for phones that claim X-ray powers) are, of course, not all they seem.
So in the spirit of things not being as they seem and being hidden, today is a ‘Behind the Mask’ day – get down and devious with a mask from our wide range of stock. Our feather masks in particular prove extremely popular and with such a fantastic choice of styles and colours they are sure to keep you disguised until the big reveal.
Props & Frocks stocks a huge range of masquerade masks for men and women, and we think you will be very impressed with our prices and the range that we have in stock all year round. Having a masked ball, is a cost effective way of hosting a themed event that can be enjoyed by men and women.
Our masks are secured in 1 of 3 ways. Read the description that is online and it willconfirm how each mask is secured to your head.
Elastic. a thin piece of elastic is fixed to either side of the mask. The elastic goes around your head. Very simple as the elastic can be hidden beneath your own hair, but this may not be possible if you have an elaborate hairstyle.
Headband. The mask is fixed to an ‘Alice’ style band that sits on top of your head. Most masks are able to be moved into the required position, and this also means you can move the mask up towards the top of your head while you are eating or drinking.
Stick. The mask is secured to a stick that you hold and place the mask up against your face. Ideal if you do not want to ruin your hairstyle, but realistically, you will not want to hold the mask up all night long, and most people will use it for an entrance, and pictures throughout the night. We stock a large selection of masks on a stick
However, this party theme also allows those of you who want to dress up in an entire costume to do so as well. Costumes that involve wearing a mask include:
As regular readers will know, we get our fancy dress theme inspiration from things that have happened on this date in history. We have a choice of 2 unrelated costumes themes today, read on to find out what they are and let us know which one you would choose.
September 7th and it’s the National Day of Brazil, but unless you’re keen on carnival or football (some British ex-pats did set up the first Italian football club in Genoa this day in 1893) there’s not much scope for a celebratory theme. There is always an option for a carnival based fancy dress theme. Some people use the carnival theme as a chance to wear one of our beautiful masquerade masks. We have one of the largest ranges available on-line and we keep them in stock all year round.
If Carnival does not ‘float (get it?) your boat’, why not go with our alternative excuse for a celebration is that it was upon this date in 1533 that the future Queen Elizabeth I was born. As most people know, she was the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, although her mother was executed when Elizabeth was two and a half as Henry sought to find a wife who could bear him a male heir. Despite being declared illegitimate as a result of Anne’s fall from favour, Elizabeth grew to be the last and possibly greatest of the Tudor monarchs.
As the current second Elizabethan reign stands on the verge of the Queen’s Jubilee next year, many organisations and groups are starting to make their plans for celebrations to complement the official events and, judging from past experience (and jubilees), many of these may involve pageants of the ‘Gloriana’ Elizabethan Tudor age. Needless to say, we at Props n Frocks will be here to help – just don’t leave it to the last minute!
Some of our Tudor Costumes include (some of these are hire costumes only)
A few days ago we talked about Venice and yesterday our topic was Angelina Jolie. Her recent film ‘The Tourist’, set in Venice, reminds us that the Venice Biennial, one of the world’s great art festivals, starts this weekend. Needless to say, as space is at a bit of a premium in this unique location (something to do with all those water-logged streets), the exhibition and its pavilions stretches out into every available green space and building in the city, and the serious festival goer needs a good few days to ‘do’ the event properly. Venice is, of course famous for its own unique style of celebrating costuming, especially using masks, so our theme for the weekend is ‘Art For Arts Sake: Behind the Mask’.
Props n Frocks has a huge range of Masquerade masks suitable for men and women. Our prices start from under £1.00 so there really is a mask suitable for everyone. We have found recently that people have been purchasing plain masks and then decorating them themselves. This way you can be assured that your mask is 100% unique. Although this is fabulous, if you are creative, you don’t need to worry too much as Props n Frocks has over 120 different masks to choose from.
Masquerade masks, originated in Venice, as we mentioned previously, but masked balls are gaining in popularity in the UK. Please Note: The flash can make the feathers that decorate some of the masks look a different colour. If the colour has to be accurate, please contact a member of our customer care team who can explain what the colour is like under a normal light.
The eye mask shown on the right is secured with a headband. This means that the mask can be moved up and out of the way if you want to drink or eat. You can also get eyemasks that are secured with elastic, for a flexible fit, or those that are secured to a stick that you hold up to your face. Take a look at each mask’s individual description as this will advise you how the mask is secured.
May is a popular time to have a Masquerade Ball. Props n Frocks stocks one of the largest Venetian style eyemasks on the internet, we have huge stocks & can get your beautiful masks delivered to you the next working day.
We have a great range of mens masks from plain masks right up to elaborate Highwayman style masks. Mens eye masks tend to be secured either with elastic, or the more elaborate are fixed on a headband. Both ways are flexible and comfortable fits.
Our range of ladies masquerade masks is massive. We have some beautiful feather eyemasks in a wide range of colours. Ladies also have the option of having a mask on a stick. These masks give a very elegant look and do not interfere with your hairstyle in any way whatsoever. The other masks are secured either by elastic, or on a headband. Masks that are secured on a headband are very popular, as you are able to move the mask up to the top of your head if you need to move the mask out of the way to eat or drink.
A lot of our masks for masked balls have feathers as a form of decoration. The colour of the feathers does change under a flash light, so if you need a particular colour, we would recommend that you contact us before you place your order. It is also worth considering that feathers are a natural product and we cannot guarantee the shape of every feather as each one is unique.
In 1718, on May 7th the city of New Orleans was founded by the French. Back then it was a bit of a swamp and much of the city was (and still is) below sea level, which was why Hurricane Katrina was so disastrous. After starting French, it became Spanish owned for a while, then reverted back to French rule and was eventually sold to the United States by Napoleon in 1803. The influence of its multicultural origins remain in its native Creole cuisine, its architecture and the fact that it’s distinctive ‘Dixieland’ music is so-called because of the old French currency. Aside from jazz, New Orleans is probably best known as a centre of Mardi Gras celebration. As our weather isn’t great when the festival actually occurs (February/March), now might be the weekend to ‘Let The Good Times Roll’ with a Mardi-gras style masquerade.
At this time of the year, Masquerade Balls are very common. At Props n Frocks we have been increasing our range of ladies and mens eyemasks, and now, we offer one of the best ranges of masks online, and we encourage to you to have a look at our huge range of masquerade eyemasks suitable for a masked ball. We display the majority of the eyemasks in our shop, based in Essex, so if you are local to us, why not pop in and have a look at the wonderful masks.
Holding a Masked ball, or party, is a fairly easy way to get the same effect as a fancy dress party – that’s to say the party gets going quite quickly, and you do not need to wait for long for barriers to be broken down. Even though the majority of the eyemasks are very elaborate, they tend to be very cost effective, costing a lot less than you would think by looking at them.
We have large stocks of mens eyemasks. the design range from very plain Zorro like masks to more elaborate pirate and Highwayman style masks.
Ladies are really spoilt for choice with our range of eyemasks. A lot of the designs incorporate feathers and the flash photography can make the feathers look a different colour in the images online. If it is very important to you that the feather colour is correct, please contact one of our customer care team who will give an honest orpnion as to the colour of the feathers on the mask that you are interested in. Please do remember that feathers are a natural product and we cannot guarantee the look and shape as each one is unique, all of which adds to the design of the eyemask.
Eyemasks are secured in one of three ways.
Stick. The mask is fixed to a stick that you hold up to your face. The advantages are that the mask does not mess up your hair or make up. The disadvantages are that you do have to hold the stick, which may get tedious after a while.
Elastic. Elastic is fixed to either side of the eyemask which then goes around the back of your head. Masks secured with elastic are going to be cheaper than the others, but may mess up hair. If you are going to be wearing a hat as well, this may be your only choice as the elastic will fit underneath the hat quite easily.
Headband. A lot of masks now come secured on a headband. One of the advantages of this is that the mask can be moved up to the top of your face when you are fed up with it on your face, or if you want to eat or drink and it is getting in the way. The mask can then be moved back down into position again.
may be because we do not get many opportunities now to really dress up, with most dress codes being ‘smart casual’ so it makes a nice change to have a glamorous evening.
