The Best Eras Fancy Dress

1920s also known as the 'Roaring Twenties' or 'The Jazz Age'

1930s also known as the 'Flirty Thirties'

1940s also known as 'The War Years'

1950s also known as the 'Rock n Roll' era

1960s also known as the 'Swinging Sixtes'

1970s also know as 'Glam Rock'

The 1920's are remembered for being the glamorous era.

The world was making its recovery from the 1st World War and the young people of this era were mainly interested in have a good time and partying.

It was the 1st time that ladies cut their hair and shortened their dress hems. A Flapper, or Charleston costume should ideally be level with the knee. Sexier costumes are now available but they would never have worn them that short during this time.

Fancy dress parties were becoming regular events during this time amongst the social elite. While on the other hand the upper class frowned upon the activities of the young.

This era also brought sports and other leisure activities high up on peoples agenda.

In the early 1930s, The general look for men was still smart and suits where the favoured choice of many, inspired by Al Capone and the 'gangster' era. The double breasted suit became very popular and every man wanted a striped suit.

For women there was a return of the more genteel, ladylike appearance in the 30s. The feminine figure was encouraged as busts and waistlines were seen. Hairstyles became more softer and pretty with curls and perms.

Evening wear was becoming more glamorous, new fabrics were emerging with even more glitzy, sequins and beads. The bias cut allowed fabric to swirl and halterneck and cowl necks also became popular. Ladies where copying the glamorous Hollywood 30s filmstars.

The 1940's was known as the war years. Around this time everyone had to make do or mend their clothing.

With the rationing in the UK started in June 1941. Ladies had no choice but to make clothing out of anything they could lay thier hands on.
This included parachute silk.

Ladies wore boxy jackets or tops with a nipped in waist and a skirt after a while trousers begun to be worn for convenience.

Uniforms were seen everywhere within the 1940's, this also continued well after the war was over in 1945

Suggestions for the 1940s

Mickey Rooney
Spencer Tracy
Clark Gable
Gene Autry
Tyrone Power
Humphrey Bogart
Dads Army
Army Uniforms
RAF Uniforms
German Officer Uniforms.
Bette Davis
Rita Hayworth
Betty Grable
Lauren Bacall
Ingrid Bergman
Vera Lynn
Land Army Girl
ATS
1940s Nurse
Tea Dresses

After the 1940's and the war, fashion of the 1950s took on some major changes - The Rock-n-Roll era had begun

The 1950s woman dressed very smartly. Older women tended to go for the the narrow skirts called pencil skirts, While the younger women or the era opted for the wide swing skirts ( these being the well known poodle skirt or the shirt dresses pulled in at the waist with a cinch belt.)

The 1950s man worn narrower suits with drainpipe trousers, (these where also known as teddy boy suits) added to these suits the men put bright shirts and bright socks and thick crepe-soled suede shoes to finish the look.

Here Are some Costume Suggestions...
Rizzo
Sandy
Marilyn Monroe
Doris Day
Teddy Girl
Preppie Girl
Danny
Bill Hayley
Elvis
James Dean
Marlon Brando
Buddy Holly
Teddy Boy

The 1960s also known as the 'swinging sixties' had a number of different fashion trends attached to it.

Early 1960's fashion for ladies brought us pillbox hats and suits usually in pastel colours, with short boxy jackets, and oversized buttons. Very simple, geometric dresses, known as shifts, then for the evening wear, full-skirted ballgowns were worn; Stiletto-heeled shoes were widely popular.

In the mid 1960's Mary Quant introduced the mini-skirt which completed changed the 1960s fashion and was eventually to be worn by nearly every stylish young female in the western world.

From the introduction of the mini- skirt came the mini and baby doll dresses these were made in floaty fabric such as chiffon. By the later part of the mid 1960's the micro-minis had been born. This pushed the way forward for the "angel dress" to make its first appearance.

The 1960s also introduced us to the Mods and Rockers.

The rockers liked 1950s rock-and roll, wore black leather jackets, greased hairstyles, and rode motorbikes

The Mods were classy they wore tailored suits, which were topped with anoraks and they rode on scooters, (this was also known as the city gent look of the time).

The later part of the 1960s the Flared and bell bottoms trousers also made thier first appearance in the 1960s leading the way into the hippy revolution.

Around this time both sexes wore frayed bell-bottomed jeans, tie-dyed shirts, workshirts, and headbands and took to wearing sandals. Peasant blouses, gypsy-style skirts, scarves, and bangles were worn by teenage girls and young women. But for the more conservative lady there was lounging pyjamas. (These consisted of a tunic top over floor-length culottes, and were usually made of polyester or chiffon).

Costume Suggestions for the 1960's

Austin Powers
Avengers
Dolly Bird
James Bond
Pink Panther
England Footballer
Mini Dresses
Elizabeth Taylor (Cleopatra 1962)
Cher
Twiggy
Julie Andrews (Sound Of Music 1965)
Mary Poppins (1966)
Star Trek
Lady Penelope
Catwoman
Bunny Girl
Cruella de Vil (1962)
Eliza Dolittle (1964 My Fair Lady)
Beatles
Elvis
Hippy
Jimi Hendrix
Sonny
The Krays
Peter O'Toole (Lawrence of Arabia 1962)
Dick Van Dyck (Mary Poppins 1962)
Thunderbirds
Star Trek

The 1970s fashion began with a continuation of the mini skirts, bell-bottoms and the hippie look from the late 1960s.

This was soon changing and leading the way for the 70s clothing we all know and love the platform shoes which where worn by both men and women, the flared jeans and wide leg trousers were another fashion mainstay for both sexes throughout most of the 1970's. Also, alongside the flared look came the tight-fitting shorts (Hot Pants) for the fashion craze for girls and young women.

The fitted blazer was another trend adopted by both sexes. The blazer was flared slightly at the hip, the buttons were covered and the lapels wide.

By the end of the 1970's the disco look was making its appearance the famous three piece suit for men, ( as worn by John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever) which became available in a bewildering variety of colours, the lapels became wider, neckties became wider and bolder, and shirt collars became long and pointed

The jumpsuit and wrap-around skirts and dresses were all becoming very popular choice of the decade.

Costume Suggestions for the 1970s

Abba
Huggie Bear
Charlie's Angels
Grease ( Pink Ladies & T Birds) ( although set in 1950's, the film was released in 1977)
John Travolta
Star Wars
Madness
The Specials
Mods
Rockers
Bee Gees
Elton John
David Bowie
Bay City Rollers
Bee Gees
Kiss
Marc Bolan
Rod Stewart
Stevie Wonder
Slade
Punk
Glam Rock
Star Wars
Kate Bush
3 Degrees

Once you have spent the time picking the costume that is just right for you.

You may decided that you wish to accessorize your costume. There are some fabulous accessories available to add that little bit of extra sparkle.

Below is a little taster of just some of the accessories that are available to add the perfect finishing touch to your chosen costume.

* Eyelashes - a must for a ladies fancy dress costume
* Platform Boots
* Platform shoes - for both men and women
* Bling Jewellery for a pimp costume - includes rings, necklaces, medallions
* Wigs - for both men and women
* Punk accessories - including spiked collars, tattoo sleeves, mohican wigs and fake body piercings

You May Find What You Are Looking For On eBay...

In the 1980s both both men and women began to wear looser shirts and tight, close-fitting pants.

Men were wearing power suits as a result of the greater tendency in the 1980s for people to display their wealth.

Brand names become increasingly important in this decade with the like of Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein household names becoming more apparant.

During the 1980s, Madonna was many young girls fashion icon. Around the time of the very popular film Flashdance (1983) maked ripped sweatshirts the next in thing.

The 1980's also brought us many fashion dilemmas, including...

The Shell Suit
Puff Ball and Ra Ra Skirts
Acid Wash Jeans
Parachute Pants
Cocktail Dresses
Leggings, Leg warmers
Tailored Suits - with big shoulder pads
Two Tone Suits that had trousers that stopped above the ankle to show the socks that were being worn.

Costume Suggestions for the 1980s

Blues Brothers
Adam Ant
Ozzie Osbourne
Pet shop boys
Spandau ballet
Tina Turner
Village People
Madonna
Fame
Banarama
Wonder Woman
Cyndi Lauper
Tina Turner
Toyah Wilcox
Ra Ra Skirts
Adam And The Ants
Duran Duran
David Bowie
Bryan Ferry
Boy George
Freddie Mercury
Miami Vice
Nightmare on Elm Street
Friday 13th
Stars Wars (Empire Strikes Back)
Madness
Top Gun
US Naval Uniform (Officer & A Gentleman - 1982)
Indiana Jones
Rambo
Beetlejuice
Blackadder
He-man
New Romantic
Punk