World Book Day fancy dress tips from Sally at Fun Warehouse in Bristol
Posted on: 21 Feb 2018World Book Day is around the corner on Thursday 1 March 2018, but with schools asking children to dress up more and more for theme days, it’s easy to forget that fancy dress is supposed to be fun!
I own Fun Warehouse, an independent fancy dress shop based in Bristol’s Galleries shopping centre and over the last four years have helped hundreds of parents put together outfits for their children, whatever their budget and timescales. It's my favourite time in the fancy dress calendar. I love the sentiment behind World Book Day and really enjoy chatting through costume ideas that bring book characters to life, whether or not it results in a sale.
Hopefully, I can help take some of the stress out of World Book Day on 2 March by sharing my top five tips for dressing up on the day.
Top Tips
Raid the dressing up box. It’s amazing what can be adapted or reused from old costumes tucked away and if you don’t have one, now’s the perfect time to start - a vintage suitcase makes a cheap, practical and attractive ‘trunk’.
Think accessories rather than a full costume. Not only are accessories cheaper than a costume; they're more versatile than costumes and your kids won’t grow out of them so they can be used over and over again. From the age of four or five children can get away with most adult costume accessories so you can borrow them, too!
Borrow an outfit. Reach out to other parents at the school gate or through Facebook groups; many parents will be delighted to pass on costumes their kids have outgrown cheaply or for free.
If time and ease are your priority, or your child has set their heart on a character who is difficult to replicate at home, buy a complete costume. The fancy dress world has pulled its socks up in recent years and there are great-value, well-made costumes to suit every budget.
If you do decide to buy a costume, save money by opting for generic versions rather than licenced outfits. I’ll happily sell you a Harry Potter robe rubber stamped by Warner Brothers, but also have a long black hooded robe that is a fraction of the price and can easily be enhanced with a home-made Gryffindor badge.
Sally Quigg is the owner of Fun Warehouse, an independent fancy dress, balloon and party shop in the Galleries shopping centre in the heart of Bristol. You can contact her on 0117 926 4703, email sales@funwarehouse.co.uk.
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Sally owns Fun Warehouse, an independent fancy dress, balloon and party shop in Bristol's Galleries shopping centre. She lives in south Bristol with her husband and two young boys who, naturally, love dressing up! Sally is a two-time World Beach Ultimate (Frisbee) Champion but now only has time to throw Frisbees for her dog.
