Monday 22 April 2013

Hire or Buy costumes

In the past the only way to get a costume was to make it yourself, have one custom made or hire one, but these days there are lots of costumes available for sale. If you have the option try to get to a store to compare what is available.

So what is the difference between hiring a costume or buying one to keep?


Hiring 
If you want a great quality or elaborate costume or something like a large fur animal hiring can be far more economical. Many really good costumes are simply way too expensive to purchase just to wear once.
 
Hire is a good option if you need an unusual size or uncommon character. 
A good fancy dress costume hire store will probably stock a whole load of stuff that you can't find to buy because they have been collecting and making great things for years.  As costume hire stores do often make their own costumes there is less chance of someone else having exactly the same outfit at your party. Hire stores will usually allow you to mix and match from a huge selection of pieces and they are able to cater for all shapes and sizes.


If you think about it hiring a costume doesn’t create landfill unlike a single use purchased costume.


 

Buying
If you are a standard size or think you may want to be the same character over and over again buying your own costume is a good idea.  Buying also takes away the pressure of having to return something on time or in good order (great if your going on a bucks night or taking something away for a extended holiday).
 
Purchased costumes are generally mass produced to meet a certain price point, the fabrics and materials used are usually lower quality. Depending on how much or little you spend you will probably find they are not made for repeated wearing and washing. They will often be one size fits most or come in only a limited range of sizes, unlike hire costumes you can not mix and match to fit.
 
 
 



Thursday 4 April 2013

Costume ideas starting with A

A is a great letter for a costume party theme. You can be as obscure or obvious as you like.

If you come up with any other ideas please feel free to add them to the comments.

Visit our costume catalogue to take a look at some pictures.


Abba
Abbess -  Female superior of a convent / Nun
Abbott -  Head of a monastery / Monk
Academic - Gown and mortar board
Ace - Pilot or aviator
Acrobat
Actor
Addams family
Admiral
African
Aladdin
Al Capone
Ali Ba Ba
Alice in Wonderland
Alice Cooper
Aliens
Alter boy
Ambassador - any national dress to represent a particular country
Amelia Airhardt
American Indians
Amphibian - frog
Ancestor - any period costume including cave people or ancient Romans or Egyptians
Ancient  - Egyptians or Romans
Anaesthetist
Angel
Anglo Saxon - Vikings or Medieval
Angus Young
Animals
Annie
Annie Oakley
Anthony
Apes
Apostle
Apparition
Arabians
Archangel
Archer - Robin Hood
Ariel
Aristocrat
Arthropod
Artist
Austin Powers
Australian colonial
Aviators