Regular readers of these blogs will know that today is known in some quarters as Star Wars day, (May the fourth be with you). However, for this year it is another film that has been taking centre stage over the past week or so; The Avengers (but not as you know them). Actually, like ‘Pirates; An Adventure with Scientists’ last month, the name has been changed (this time in the UK) to ‘Avengers Assemble’. This is so that people do not confuse the film with the much-loved TV series of the 1960s, featuring Patrick McNee as John Steed, with arguably his most famous assistant being Diana Rigg, as Emma Peel. An attempt to bring these particular Avengers to a movie screen in 1997 (with Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman as Steed and Peel and Sean Connery as a baddie) was not a great success. But we digress..
Avengers Assemble actually brings together a number of superheroes from the Marvel comics to save the world, including Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Captain America and Black Widow (played by Scarlett Johanssen).. The latter’s costume has a nod towards the black catsuit of other comic-book female characters such as the original Catwoman (and, by all accounts, the newer Ann Hathaway version in the new Batman ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ film), Batgirl and Storm from the X-Men. It is also reminiscent of Diana Rigg in the 1960s Avengers and is becoming very much the ‘look’ of the season for action females.
Superheroes is today’s fancy dress theme as on this day in 1938 the first issue of Action Comics appeared. It was in this magazine that Superman (bet you’ve never thought of wearing a Superman costume for a 1930s costume fancy dress have you?) made his first appearance. He came from the Planet Krypton as a baby but his escape capsule landed near Smallville in the US heartland and, having been adopted by the Kents, he grew to develop his super powers to fight for Justice and the American Way (hence the red and blue suit). Of course at one time he thought he was the sole survivor of the destruction of his home planet but over the years a whole host of other survivors – both humanoid and animal, goodies and baddies, have come to light and the meteoric fragments of his planet - Kryptonite – have caused him many problems. Recently, like his crime-fighting partner Batman, he’s being going through something of a make-over both on and off the movie screen and the last we heard from the comic-book front was that he was thinking of renouncing his American citizenship.
Superman and other male and female heroes continue to be popular requests here at Props n Frocks, although we have noticed that whilst there are fewer female hero costumes on the market, they do seem to offer a wider variation of styles – but then a girl always likes to have a choice, with or without superpowers. Why not take a look at the wide range of Superhero Fancy Dress Costumes that are available…
We often find people wanting to have Superhero, Heroes & Villains or Goodies and Baddies fancy dress parties in May. Take a look at some of these other Heroes & Villains blogs
One thing you may notice about many of the costumes available, particularly the superhero ones is that are all very similar. This is to do with licenses and copyright. A few of the bigger names in the costume manufacturing world, will pay for a licence to produce costumes for a particular film, character, etc.. Often these can be for older films rather than newer ones, as many companies find it difficult to produce the costumes when the film is out in cinemas.
Most costumes for these types of parties, (particularly the Superheroes theme) tend to be character costumes, such as Batman, Robin, Superman, Spiderman, Supergirl, Lara Croft, etc.. However there are some generic costumes that will also fit the bill such as gangsters and molls, angels and devils, etc…
You do not need to be restricted to superhero costumes for this theme, why not also look at the following as it may give you some other great costume ideas…
Real Life Villains – Infamous criminal (Jack The Ripper) or a bog standard prisoner costume
Real Life Heroes – Mother Teresa, Doctors & Nurse, all the armed services
Film / Book Villains – Freddy Krueger, Wicked Witch Of The West
Film / Book Heroes – Indiana Jones, James Bond
Cartoon Heroes – Popeye
Fantasy Villains – Devils, Vampires, Witches
Fantasy Heroes – Fairy Godmother, Angels
Childhood hero, just who was your childhood hero? Maybe a teacher or a pop star?
Today’s fancy dress theme is Batman. Yesterday it was cats and today it’s bats, in honour of the fact that ‘Die Fledermaus’ (‘The Bat’) by Johann Strauss II, was first performed in Vienna 1874. A costumed ball ( so why not have a Masquerade ball today as well?) is at the centre of the operetta’s story, which involves someone seeking to revenge himself for being left drunk and dressed as a bat on a previous occasion. It happens. Obviously nowadays bat costumes are associated with Batman, who has gone through a fair few incarnations – almost as many as his major female adversary Catwoman, whom we mentioned yesterday.
We have noted in the past that there seems a shortage of female action heroes, although the Batman franchise has made an effort with Batgirl, whose origins seem to vary. One minute she is Commissioner Gordon’s daughter, the next she is related to Albert, Bruce Wayne’s butler. There was even a series (Birds of Prey, not seen ‘mainstream’ in the UK) which had a Batgirl character as the love-child of Batman and Catwoman!
Beyond that though, and the fact that Batman’s doing his bit for equality by having Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn as additional feminine foes, costume manufacturers seem to be running out of ideas. Take a look at our range of Batman costumes.
If the theme ‘Batman’ is too limiting, expand it out to include all superheroes. Take a look at our range of superhero costumes for all the family.
The latest concept is to produce female versions of established heroes and anti-heroes such as the Ghostbusters, Leatherface (from Texas Chainsaw Massacre, complete with chainsaw handbag!) and Edward (Edie?) Scissorhands, and needless to say they are in the short and skimpy style. The question arises, ‘Is this what you, the costume-buying/hiring public want?’
Today, we encourage you to have a Heroes fancy dress party. We decided that this costume theme was appropriate today as we celebrate the founding of the Victoria Cross by Royal Warrant on January 29th 1856. This medal, which is the highest that can be bestowed was originally given to those who showed great bravery during the Crimean War, but has since extended to all those who face adversity in the cause of fighting for their country, no matter what their rank.
Now, we don’t have too many medals to give out here at Props n Frocks, unless of course you count the 1960s, 1970s or Dracula medallions, but sometimes it’s nice to celebrate people’s achievements. As the Victoria Cross is normally given to those in the services, we thought a heroes should be called for today.
Now ‘Heroes’ can be interpreted in many ways, only today did we have a couple in the fancy dress shop, just for this particular costume theme, they decided that it meant ‘superheroes’ which does allow you to choose from our huge range of superhero costumes and includes costumes such as Superman, Batman & Robin, The Incredibles, Watchmen costumes, Wonder Woman, Batgirl & Supergirl.
You may also consider our loyal and hardworking, emergency services such as Doctors & Nurses to be heroes, and indeed they are, so again this gives you a huge range of costumes to choose from, why not take a look at our range of Doctors & Nurses costumes
Armed forces, heroes fighting wars on our behalf, often feature in this costume theme, and of course, at Props n Frocks, we have a large range of military costumes for both men and women.
And, then we come to your personal heroes. Now these can range from a football hero, film hero, such as Marilyn Monroe, or maybe you think of your mum as your own hero, it is really down to you.
Let us know who you would go as to this costume theme, it really helps others when they have the same theme.
It is the personal interpretation of this fancy dress theme that makes it such a good one. You can guarantee that there will be a wide range of costumes on the night, or, if you or your guests don’t want to think about it too much, there are plenty of easy choices to be made as well.
January 17th is a day for unconventional heroes. So ‘ Heroes’ is our fancy dress theme for today.
In1605, the Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes published his book ‘The Ingenious Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha’. The story, published in two volumes a decade apart, tells of a middle-aged man who becomes so obsessed with the concept of chivalry, that he takes it upon himself to go on a series of quests to right the wrongs he sees in the world. The problem is that many of his perceived wrongs and foes are in his imagination, and to others he just seems mad. Nonetheless the work is regularly listed as one of the ‘great novels’ and it is a good example of an early Fantasy novel.
Meanwhile, in 1929, Popeye the Sailor Man, makes his first appearance in a comic strip on this date. In a world now filled with super-heroes and graphical novels, Popeye’s exploits may seem a little tame, but ‘back in the day’ when he appeared in comics and a long-running series of TV cartoons, the adventures featuring Popeye, the love of his life, Olive Oyl, the baby Swee’Pea and the villainous Bruto, had children gripped. The key to Popeye’s success (and strength) was spinach, and despite his being a cartoon, his exploits greatly increased the sales of the vegetable – US farmers have raised statues in his honour! An additional legacy in this country is that a chain of hamburger restaurants were named after the scrounging character J. Wellington Wimpy. So today we celebrate heroes, whatever form they take.
Heroes can mean something different to each one of us. For example, you may have a footballing hero, or a person who has played an on screen hero, such as Harisson Ford as Indiana Jones. Other costume opportunities come from dressing up as one of our armed forces, heroes every single one of them and we stock a great range of uniforms ranging from Naval officer costumes to 1940s Home Guard uniforms. You could also go down the tried and tested route of wearing one of our superhero costumes – we have a large selection for both men and women.
Another option is to go to the fancy dress party as one of the emergency services, who have to be heroic in sometimes very difficult circumstances. Robin Hood was a hero to the poor (but not the rich), so as you can see being a ‘hero’ is subjective, but does create an interesting fancy dress theme.
