Kids' Fancy Dress

Picking kids' fancy dress by fit and character

Start with a tape measure, not a guess. Measure your child's height and chest, compare them with any size guide for the costume, and if they fall between two sizes, choose the larger. Children's fancy dress usually goes on over clothes, so a little room helps, and a looser fit leaves space to grow.

Then think about the child and where the costume will be worn. Some children want to be the character from head to toe for a party, while others are happiest with one piece they can pull on and off between games at home. Simple fastenings mean a child can dress up by themselves, and we find a costume they picked is the one that comes out again and again.

What our fancy dress is made from

Many of our costumes use polyester, a fabric that takes colour well and dries quickly. Some use nylon, which is light and hard-wearing, and many include plastic, which holds its shape. A few use paper, and those are best kept for gentle play indoors. You will also find a few crochet pieces and a few made with acrylic.

Polyester and nylon do not breathe the way cotton does, so a thin cotton layer underneath keeps a child comfortable through a long day in a warm hall.

Dressing up for Halloween and Christmas

Kids' costumes come into their own at Halloween, the big night for many of ours, whether that means a school disco or an evening of trick or treating. October evenings can be cold, so check that a costume still works over a warm top or with a coat on. For friends or siblings going out together, a shared theme looks wonderful in photographs and saves a few arguments on the doorstep.

A few of our pieces suit Christmas too, ready for a festive party or a lazy afternoon of dressing up over the holidays.

Keeping a dressing-up box at home

Plenty of dressing up happens with no party in sight. A dressing-up box in a bedroom or playroom, or a row of low hooks on the wall, keeps costumes where children can reach them and swap characters whenever the game changes. Dressing up is one of the ways children try out stories, take turns at being someone else and play out what they have seen, and having costumes to hand makes it easy to begin.

Add a few things from around the house, such as an old scarf, a hat or a sheet that becomes a cloak, and a handful of costumes goes a long way.

Fancy dress as a present

A costume is a present that comes with something to do. If you know the child well, follow their current favourite, whether that is fairies, stars or something nobody saw coming; if you are less sure, a piece that suits several games is a good bet. Ask a parent for the child's height instead of guessing, and look for a costume that can go in the washing machine: parents will thank you, and some of ours can.

Wrap it with a note that suggests the first game, and the fun starts before the paper is off.

Washing and storing costumes

Check the care label before anything goes in the wash. Some of our costumes are machine washable and a few are best washed by hand, while paper should stay dry and plastic can simply be wiped with a damp cloth. For hand washing, use cool water and a mild detergent, press the water out gently without wringing, and dry away from direct heat, which can damage synthetic fabrics.

Glitter can shed a little over time, so a gentle shake outdoors after wearing keeps loose sparkle out of the carpet. Between outings, fold costumes loosely or hang them, keep paper pieces flat, and store them in a box with a lid so they come out clean and ready next time.