We are sure you can think of many others, so why not drop us a line?
Whatever happened to the Bermuda Triangle? It used to be such a major talking point. Barry Manilow sung about it! Did it disappear into itself or did the supposed phenomenon just die out as more interesting theories (such as alien abduction) took hold? We are prompted to ask, because it was around this date in 1918 that the USS Cyclops just vanished without trace in the relevant region, causing the greatest loss of a ship and its crew in a non-combat related event. This is only one of the many mysteries that has never been fully explained and as, the X Files people used to say, ‘The Truth is Out There.’
Also ‘out there’ and helping the man in the street (with a suitable telescope) delving the other mysteries of the Universe is Sir Patrick Moore whose birthday is today (he was born in 1923). Coincidentally, yesterday (March 3rd) was the birthday of another person famed for shedding light on the wonders of the solar system, that of particle physicist Brian Cox who was born in 1968. Spooky or what?
Meanwhile here at Props n Frocks we are not entirely unfamiliar with the concept of Black Holes and mysterious disappearances, but noting the universal truth that something is always in the last place you look for it, we’re going to try and save some time and look in that place first.
Having mentioned the Hammer House of Horror earlier in the week, today is the birthday of the American writer Edgar Allen Poe, whose works provided the basis of several Hammer films. Born in 1809 and dying in mysterious circumstances in October 1849, even after death the mysteries continue: For the sixty years leading to his bicentennial in 2009, on the anniversary of his death, a mysterious stranger, clad all in black but with a white scarf, would deliver three roses and a part-filled bottle of brandy to his grave in Baltimore. Observing this stranger, who became known as the Poe Toaster, became something of a cult, although out of respect for the tradition, no attempt was ever made to trap or identify the mysterious mourner, which led to several people claiming to be the individual in question.
So today’s theme is down to Mystery and Imagination, perhaps with a toast to Poe and a glass of Amontillado sherry!
Once you start to think about it, there are some great Mystery Costume Ideas including paranormal Ghosts, Angels, Devils, but what about some of the big conspiracy theories for your costume inspiration, as they are mysterious in many different ways. And then we have The Scooby Doo gang who solve many mysteries in their Magical Mystery Machine, Cluedo Characters and Gods and Myths & Legends including Fairies, Father Christmas & of course, The Bermuda Triangle – think of the fun you can have in a pair of Bermuda shorts and holding a triangle!
Murder Mystery is today’s fancy dress theme suggestion as today we are watching the detectives as the creators of two of the most popular – Sherlock Holmes and Tintin – were born today. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, born 1859, famously tried to kill off his best-known creation in a fight to the death with his nemesis Professor Moriarty, but was forced to bring him back from the dead ‘by public demand’. Meanwhile, Hergé (pen-name of Georges Remi who was born today in 1907) created comic strips about the Belgian boy reporter-cum-detective which were collected into over twenty-four story ‘albums’. These have translated into numerous foreign languages and Tintin is destined to reach a whole new audience with a series of three Stephen Spielberg films, the first of which ‘The Secret of the Unicorn’ is due for release at the end of October 2011. What better way to celebrate these anniversaries than with a Murder Mystery evening, possibly based around one of the many ‘off-the-peg’ games on the market? These can be great fun but we have found that, for some reason, those having food and drink between each ’round’ of clues, don’t always get to the end of the game so the whodunit is never solved. Why is a mystery, or is it?
If you do not want to go to the effort of organising a Murder Mystery dinner party, why not have this as a theme for a standard fancy dress evening? Take a look at these blogs that will give you some Murder (&) Mystery costume ideas….
Still need costume ideas?
Any detective (real or fictional)
Anything that is unexplained, ghosts, vampires, werewolves, gods & goddesses, angels or fairies
Today we celebrate Murder/Mystery as a fancy dress theme as on this date, in 1952, that Agatha Christie’s ‘The Mousetrap’
Sexy Ladies Detective Outfit
was first performed in the West End and is now famed as the longest running production in Theatreland. It is said that one reason for its long run it that the theatres it has played in, The New Ambassadors and The St. Martins are rather small, but something has ensured its longevity and made it a virtual institution on the tourist circuit. It’s a mystery (of course), which is why today’s theme is characters from Tales of Mystery and Imagination. So, put on your thinking caps, get out your magnifying glass and see if you can give people a clue on who you are aiming to be. Thankfully, there are all sorts of costumes at Props n Frocks that can help with this. From Sherlock Holmes to Hercules Poirot, Miss Marple to Miss Scarlet, we’ve got all sorts of costumes and accessories available. If the classic detective is not your style, why not broaden out your outlook and choose characters from Fantasy and Sci-fi such as Judge Dredd, Batman or even the Mystery Inc. team featuring that well-known sleuth ‘Scooby Doo’. Check out the Props n Frocks website for all your Scooby Doo costumes
You could also host your very own Murder Mystery night. This is where you and your guests dress up as a given character and have a lovely dinner party. You have to roughly follow a script and at some point someone will be ‘murdered’ and it is up to you and your guests to try and work out ‘who did it?’. These parties seem to be gaining even more fans as we are are constantly being asked for costumes, or accessories, to help our customers create their ‘character’. One of the most common comments is ‘had a great night out, but had no idea who actually did the murder and had too much drink to even care!’ and then a few months later, they come back to do it all over again!
Murder Mystery parties tend to be set in certain eras, one of the most popular themes are the ones set in the 1920s and Props n Frock stocks all the 20s costumes including flapper dresses that you could ever need. So why not think about having your own Murder Mystery party? It is no mystery where you need to go to find all your fancy dress costumes though, is it?
Today’s fancy dress theme suggestion is ‘Mysteries’. Having celebrated Halloween a week ago, today sees the anniversary of another spooky event.
Ladies Sherlock Holmes Costume
In 1872, November 7th was the start of a voyage which led to one of the greatest maritime mysteries of all time: The Mary Celeste, a brigantine cargo ship, left New York en route for Europe. She was found on 4th December drifting with no-one aboard in the Atlantic about 600 miles from Portugal, heading for the Straits of Gibraltar. The weather was fine and there were no signs of a struggle or any other event that might cause the crew to abandon ship. Many theories have been put forward to explain the mystery (those of a certain age will recall an episode of vintage Dr Who in which it was put down to the Daleks making a brief visit in pursuit of the Tardis!) but there has been no definite answer. Oddly enough, on this date in 2006, there was an alleged sighting of a UFO at Chicago’s O’Hara airport. So, perhaps today’s the day for a celebration of Tales of Mystery and Imagination or supernatural phenomena, such as why no-one ever talks about the Bermuda Triangle these days (wear Burmuda shorts and hold a triangle)–has it mysteriously disappeared into itself?
How about going in Scooby Doo Costumes? What is the link? I hear you say. well their truck is called the ‘The Mystery Machine’. You could also look at characters (fictional or otherwise) who solve mysteries. This could be Sherlock Holmes, or how about Hercule Poirot to give you a couple of examples. And what about ‘ The Magical Mystery Tour’ by The Beatles? Although, the ‘Mystery’ theme may seem limiting to start off with, once you get your little grey cells working, you’ll find you have plenty of choices.
To broaden this theme out a little bit more to make is more appealing to your guests, why not have a ‘Mystery & Legend’ fancy dress themed party? Costumes that immediately spring to mind include:
