When the topic of a party comes up, most of us immediately think of a child’s birthday party complete with a princess, pirate or mermaid theme. Granted, these parties are wonderful events, but why should children have all the fun? Is there a law that says adults can’t dress up in costume and party? There is that law about impersonating an officer but that’s another subject altogether. Sooner or later you’ll be invited to an adult costume party and before you scrunch your brows in consternation at the very idea, consider going. Let your adventurous spirits run wild for a few hours and have some costume party fun.
CHOOSING A COSTUME
Choosing a costume should be part of the fun, not a job of drudgery. Costume shops exist for a reason. Don’t be afraid to check one out, either in person or online at Costume shops like Blossom Accessories. You may also find unique items at local thrift or charity shops.
THEME
Consider the theme of the event. The wildly successful Downton Abby series and The Great Gatsby movie caused Roaring 20’s theming to soar in popularity recently. This particular theme gives you a plethora of costume choices with flapper dresses and fedoras being first choice. Pirate, medieval and fantasy themes are never old hat, so to speak, and they’re all fun for getting decked out and showing off a character hidden within your otherwise low key personality.
ACCESSORIES
Whatever the theme, try to be accurate in your presentation of costume and accessories. Obviously, if attending a Viking Warrior party, you don’t need an authentic Viking helmet. The plastic one from the costume store will be fine. Just don’t wear a Lord of the Rings Orc mask to a gathering of Vikings. However, because Vikings were seafaring people, your inner mermaid can swim out and shake that fish tale all night long.
MAKE-UP
Don’t go half-hearted into adult costuming. If you’ve gone to the trouble of putting a costume together, including the appropriate accessories, complete the look with make-up. Zombies need bloodstains and dark circles under the eyes, and an Egyptian queen must have the black eyeliner. Since Johnny Depp so amazingly portrayed Captain Jack, pirates need eyeliner as well. Again, think of the inner character waiting to come out and play. Go for the make-up and see what happens.
YOUR OWN PERSONALITY
If all this seems a bit much, consider your own personality. If you’re the quiet type that tends to be wallpaper, yes I mean wallpaper, while in a group, use this opportunity to peel away from the wall and be noticed. Remember, you’re not plain Jane or John tonight. You’re a cowboy, astronaut, British King or Queen for the evening. Own it by wearing it on the inside as well as out. Look up phrases and facts about the person and times you’re representing and practice using them. In fact, many shy people find that once they get into costume and character, they actually feel like a different person altogether, making socializing much easier.
UNDERLYING THEMES
In the world of adult costume parties, there are often underlying themes other than a simple costume ball associated with New Year’s Eve or Halloween. Many underlying themes could include singles out for hook-ups or couples looking for friends. Any number of sexy scenarios could be part of the secondary theming. Your invitation should be clear on these points but not always. When in doubt, ask the host for advice but don’t let it scare you off. Remember your inner Patrick Swayze or Jennifer Grey is ready to step out at the 80’s dance movie party! After all, what do you have to lose besides few hours in front of a TV with nothing more exciting than a new tortilla chip commercial?
Seriously, these parties can be amazing fun and once bitten by the costume bug, it becomes a party style you’ll look forward to. After all, don’t we all want to be a vampire or the victim of a vampire once in a while? There is no better way to give outlet to the fantasy than playing it out at an adult costume party. Have fun!
Author Bio
Christopher West is an avid blogger in the art, gaming and home improvement markets, with the dream of building his own home and aiming to blog about it every step of the way. You can connect with Chris on Google+ here.