A couple from Cornwall decided to throw tradition out of the window when it came to their wedding ceremony, by deciding to dress up as Alice in Wonderland and the White Rabbit. Newly-weds Jane and Mark Sharp-Hall were married underground at Poldark Mine, a venue that certainly fits in with the cookiness of their theme! Among the guests were the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts, along with the Cheshire Cat and a giant caterpillar, not to mention the 28 playing cards guarding the ceremony! "This is the second time round for both of us and we did it traditionally the last time so we thought we'd do everything a bit differently this time," said Mrs Sharp-Hall. She's not kidding! It seems like more and more couples are throwing caution to the wind and embracing some really different themes and ideas for their wedding day. More power to these people we say! If you're interested in an Alice in Wonderland theme for your own wedding or party why not check out our cool range, which includes Alice in Wonderland herself, as well as the superb looking Mad Hatter Costume.

Hawaiian CostumeFinally summer is here! Its time to put on those summer clothes and shades and splash on the factor 30, whilst barbequing those bangers to perfection! And what better way to celebrate the summer months than throwing a summer themed fancy dress party? There are some great themes you can choose from for this kind of party. As long as it’s fun or colourful, or makes people laugh, then the outfit will fit in perfectly! Here are just a few of our favourite suggestions for summer fancy dress costumes: Pink Lady Jacket This is one of the most popular costume choices for both Hen Nights and Summer themed parties, and its an absolute bargain to boot! Perfect for recreating that ‘summer loving’ feeling!!! T-Bird Jacket Where would the Pink Ladies be without the T-Birds eh?? This ultra cool looking jacket is electrifying! It also has a pretty smart looking ‘T-Bird’ logo on the back. Just add a slick quiff wig or apply copious amounts of gel to your own hairdo! Mexican Poncho  Another popular choice for the summer months, for its rainbow and sense of fun. Just make sure that you apply the essential Mexican style moustache and sombero! Hawaiian Costume It doesn’t get much more colourful than this! This cool looking Hawaiian costume for men would even put a smile on Magnum’s face! If you like the Hawaii theme then check out our Mens Hawaiian Outfits section. Have fun, and don’t forget the sun screen!!

Watch out sci-fi fans, because one of the biggest movies of the year is set to be released in June. X Men: First Class, the latest instalment in the hit X Men franchise is set to be as big a hit as its predecessors! X Men: First Class is the prequel to the popular saga, which explores the breakdown of the relationship between Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr (Magneto). The film boasts an impressive and diverse cast including the likes of Kevin Bacon, James McAvoy, January Jones, Oliver Platt and Zoë Kravitz. With an A-list cast, a riveting script and memorable characters, the new X Men film is sure to become one of the biggest films in the series. Although Wolverine is not present in this film, his character is still a favourite among many die hard X Men fans. The Wolverine Costume has also proved to be one of our most popular superhero costumes over the last few years. The Wolverine Costume includes muscle padded chest, abs, biceps and deltoid muscles, a pair of claws, belt with buckle, foam mask and attached boot tops.  So why not don this authentic looking costume and emulate one of the coolest superheroes around!!! Xavier would be proud.

Red Riding Hood and Wolf CostumesWith the upcoming release of the new Red Riding Hood film this month it’s time to revisit the classic pairing of Red Riding Hood and the Wolf! It’s always a quandary for couples to know what to wear when they are invited to fancy dress parties. So, by deciding to dress up as this classic fairy tale combination you are sure to make an impact, and be bang on trend! The ladies Red Riding Hood Costume is sexy, sassy and mysterious all at the same time. It includes black and red velvet-feel dress with petticoat, and red velvet-feel hooded cape. And the Wolf Costume is a great choice for gents. Whilst it enables you to look mean and scary, this costume has a softer side too, and you’re guaranteed to get a cuddle! For more fancy dress inspiration why not visit our Couples Costumes section.

Big royal weddings don’t come around that often, so it’s fair to say that the whole country is getting excited about the upcoming wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. The wedding will be taking place at Westminster Abbey on Friday 29th April, and the day itself has been designated as a national bank holiday. The bank holiday gives us all a chance to celebrate their wedding, and of course party hard! Here are just a few royal wedding party ideas to mark the special day in style: Hold a Street Party If you are fortunate enough to live in a street that has a real sense of community then why not get together with your neighbours and organise a street party? Whilst this does involve a lot of organisation and planning, this kind of party can be fantastic and is a great way of bringing your local community together. Some of us at All Fancy Dress are old enough to remember the street parties organised for Charles and Diana’s wedding back in the early 80’s (which were great!). One of us even dressed up as a giant tree! If you do organise a street party, here’s a suggestion: Invite all the guests to dress up in fancy dress costumes, and hold a competition for the best dressed person- It adds a fun focal point to the festivities! If you love making people laugh and smile then why not check out our range of funny costumes. Don’t forget to dress the kids up as well. We have a wide range of children’s fancy dress costumes. Organise a House Party Alternatively if you fancy celebrating with just your friends and family why not organise a royal wedding themed house party? If you are looking for a fancy dress theme you could go for the obvious royal fancy dress theme, or alternatively why not consider something a bit more whacky and left field? Why not get all nostalgic and choose an 80’s fancy dress theme or even a star wars costumes theme? However you choose to celebrate the royal wedding make sure that you do it in style… and have fun!!

It’s not your typical subject matter for a movie, but the Hollywood bigwigs have created an exciting new blockbuster movie based on the folk tale Little Red Riding Hood.Sexy Red Riding Hood Costume Directed by Catherine Hardwicke and starring Amanda Seyfried (from the hit film Mamma Mia), the film is loosely based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, and is set to retain all of the darkness of this children’s classic. The film promises a great deal of drama, tension, and of course a healthy dose of special effects and CGI. And let’s not forget the acting talents of the brilliant Gary Oldman (who can forget his performance in Leon!). Of course if you fancy dressing up as Red Riding Hood herself, or fancy a turn as the dark and dangerous Wolf, why not try one of our Fairytale Costumes ? Whether it’s a girl’s Red Riding Hood costume, a ladies Red Riding Hood costume, or an adult Wolf costume, we have the outfit for you! Red Riding Hood Costume WHY IT’S AWESOME: One of our most popular kids Red Riding Hood costumes, this costume recreates this iconic look perfectly for your little girl. A great choice for School Book Day! WHAT IT INCLUDES: Hooded cape, dress and belt Sexy Red Riding Hood Costume WHY IT’S AWESOME: At All Fancy Dress Towers we love this sexy twist on the classic Red Riding Hood theme! You’re definitely going to make a statement at the party dressed up in this hot looking costume! WHAT IT INCLUDES: Black and red velvet-feel dress with petticoat, and red velvet-feel hooded cape. Wolf Costume WHY IT’S AWESOME: Where would Red Riding Hood be without her arch nemesis the Wolf!? Bare those teeth with this fantastic adult wolf costume! WHAT IT INCLUDES: Grey and white jumpsuit with tail and attached hand and shoe covers, and separate wolf headpiece    

Queen Elizabeth CostumeChoosing the perfect theme for your party can be a tricky job; there are so many themes for you to choose from, all with a wide range of incredible costumes. However, if you want to throw the party of a lifetime that no one will forget, there is one particular theme that comes to mind. Tudor Fancy Dress The Tudor Period is a great theme for a fancy dress party, especially as it is a slightly unusual one. Everyone tends to go for superhero or emergency themes, which are brilliant, but its great to go for something a little but different! Choosing a historical theme like this one will really get people thinking about their costumes and accessories. There are some brilliant characters from the Tudor times to choose from including Lady Suzanne, Henry Tudor, Sir Francis, Queen Elizabeth and Romeo. The fashion in the 1400’s were extravagant; the more material you had the better, and the bigger and bolder the prints the wealthier you were. With Tudor fancy dress costumes you can have fun rewriting history and at All Fancy Dress you will find there is a costume for everyone; there is an amazing array of boys Tudor costumes, ladies Tudor outfits, as well as costumes for men and girls as well – something the whole family can enjoy together! Of course if you really want to be the talk of the town and rule over your party then why not dress up as a Tudor monarch . When you’re dressed as Henry VIII no one will dare question your commands! More Tudor Costume Ideas Tudor Book Day Costume Ideas Female Tudor Themed Fancy Dress Male Tudor Themed Fancy Dress Girls Tudor Themed Fancy Dress Boys Tudor Themed Fancy Dress

Get inspired by AnnaLynne's 60s costumeSexy AnnaLynne McCord has appeared in the new recently sporting a vintage look on set of 90210. The star of popular American TV series 90210, a spin off from the 80’s hit Beverly Hills 90210, has been wondering around in a very short, 60’s retro dress, with some equally impressive shoes to match. With the pictures spread across the internet, the 60s look is sure to be a favourite with fancy dress lovers. If you love AnnaLynne’s look and want to see what it would look like on you, why not try some of these 60s costumes? Here are some of All Fancy Dress’ favourite 60s looks: Feeling Groovy 1960’s hippy Costume WHY IT’S AWESOME: When you want to dress in pure 60s style, you have to get the print just right and colourful creation is just the ticket. McCord would be proud. WHAT IT INCLUDES: Dress and Head-tie Swinging 60s Costume WHY IT’S AWESOME: Want a swinging look? Look no further, this is the perfect costume for you to wear, if you want to look as sexy as AnnaLynne in her 60’s dress. WHAT IT INCLUDES: Pink & Black Checked Dress And Matching Hat. 60s Flower Power Costume WHY IT’S AWESOME: The 60s was all about flower power and in this dress you will be showing everyone how powerful it is. This is the perfect groovy 60’s costume. WHAT IT INCLUDES: Short multi-coloured psychedelic sixties style dress and matching scarf. Steal AnnaLynne McCord’s style by wearing these Long White Lace Boots – they look just like the ones she is wearing on set! Whatever look you are going for, make sure you have a swinging time. No matter what 60s costume you wear you will look groovy and may even outshine AnnaLynne McCord!

A guide to Tudor curriculum costumes Digging out a letter from the bottom of your child’s bookbag and discovering that Tudor Day is next week, or worse, tomorrow, is all too familiar an experience for some parents and leads to a lot of unecessary stress and panic. That’s why we have created this guide to Tudor clothing; to enable you to quickly create an authentic looking outfit for your child.  For many schools, Tudor Days are one of the most popular educational activities in the school calendar. Not only do they give your children a unique insight into the lifestyle of the Tudor age, they are also incredibly good fun! So what can your children expect from a school Tudor Day? Primarily your children are likely to be asked to turn up in authentic Tudor costumes that encourage your children to step back in time to an exciting era of British history that included the likes of Henry VIII, Elizabeth I and the leader of the creative Renaissance, William Shakespeare. There are some brilliant characters your children can emulate – from Lady Suzanne and Queen Elizabeth to William Shakespeare and Henry Tudor himself. Fashion in the Tudor age was extravagant. Back then, the more material and the bigger and bolder your prints were the wealthier you were!  One of the most popular Tudor topics your children learn about at school is the divide between rich and poor. What do they wear? What do they do for work? What social circles do they have? It’s possible for boys and girls to get into the spirit of Tudor Day at school with outfits designed on both the rich and poor. Below we have put together a list of clothing required for your child to either be a rich nobleman or a lowly peasant.  Boys Men adopted the ornate Tudor look just as much as the ladies, with distinctive square shapes and natural colours that were accessorised with a ruff, wig or vibrant shoes like all Tudor noblemen. Consider the following clothing for a ‘rich’ Tudor boy outfit: • Loose patterned trousers • A waistcoat or jacket - preferably patterned • Decorative hat (with colourful feather) • Accessories – sword? However, the simplest authentic Tudor oufit for boys is the 'poor' look! An outfit perfect for recreating a colourful period of British history, your boy will require: • Long white socks • Plain white t-shirt • Dark shorts (preferably brown)  • Dark waistcoat • Flat cap Girls Meanwhile ladies were also obsessed with grand appearances, wearing dresses that are renowned for their triangular shape and headdresses to perfectly match any garment, providing an air of distinction. For a beautifully regal Tudor girl outfit you will require: • Long patterned gown • Floral collar • A heavy patterned cloak • Crown/headdress • Gold or silver jewellery - brooches, bracelets & necklaces It’s just as straightforward to dress up as an authentic poor Tudor girl or peasant: • Dark skirt • White t-shirt • Dark waistcoat or overalls • White hat • White apron The Tudor Day is a worthwhile learning experience and helps put into context the lives and achievements of some of the most memorable figures from the Tudor age. Your children will have great fun rewriting history and let’s be honest – it’s a refreshing change to the superheroes and television characters our children so religiously idolise! If you are looking for general costumes for your child then you may want to consider our Kids Fancy Dress section.

Henry Tudor costume perfect for Book DayStepping back in time can be a lot of, and especially so for World Book Day. There are some incredible stories to tell and some fantastic costumes to dress up in. Whether you’re a fan of Henry VIII and his many wives or the dress sense of the Tudor Dynasty you will find a costume for your child to fall in love with. If your child loves British history and has recently been taught about Henry VIII, School Book Day is the perfect excuse to dress them in period costumes. There is a fantastic range of history costumes for Book Day, including many Tudor options to choose from. Here are just a few we think your child will love: Lady Suzanne – Tudor WHY IT’S AWESOME: If you want to dress up as a character from the Tudor dynasty, your little girl has to dress as a Lady. This is the perfect costume for Book Day and in this beautifully designed red dress she is sure to feel every inch a lady. WHAT IT INLCUDES: Stunning flowing dress with coronet headdress. Sir Francis – Tudor WHY IT’S AWESOME: Sir Francis Bryan was an English courtier and diplomat during the reign of Henry VIII, making this outfit an ideal Tudor costume for Book Day. This is a brilliantly authentic costume that your son is sure to love. WHAT IT INLCUDES: Decorative Blue Jacket, Hat And Trousers. Henry Tudor Costume WHY IT’S AWESOME: If you want to dress as a Tudor, then the ultimate person to dress as is King Henry VIII himself. This is the ideal costume for Book Day, your son is sure to feel very regal, and you never know he mighteven  be sending people to the tower! WHAT IT INLCUDES: Decorative tunic, trousers, overcoat and hat. Lady Catherine - Tudor WHY IT’S AWESOME: If you want to dress your little girl as a lady who had a lot of connections Lady Catherine is the right choice. She was the younger sister of Lady Jane Grey, the cousin of Elizabeth I of England and the granddaughter of Mary Tudor, Queen of France. Because of all her connections, Lady Catherine had a strong claim to the throne.  WHAT IT INLCUDES: Stunning flowing blue dress with gold decoration and coronet headdress. For more Book Day costume inspiration, take a look at our Historical Book Day fancy dress ideas or Boys Book Day costumes More Tudor Costume Ideas Tudor Fancy Dress Theme Female Tudor Fancy Dress Male Tudor Fancy Dress Girls Tudor Fancy Dress Boys Tudor Fancy Dress