I used to think motherhood has made me gentler, kinder, definitely more compassionate, and very very anxious! While all these things are true, I discovered over the last few years that I have a dormant creative side as well, that occasionally manifests itself during my kids’ Fancy Dress Competitions or School Dances or Birthday Parties!
So, when my 3-year-old recently had a fancy dress costume party at his school, I went all out with his attire, makeup, hair, and props. To stay in line with the school’s ‘Superhero’ theme, I dressed him up as my favourite – ‘Thor’! Living in a city as exuberant as Mumbai, you certainly have a horde of options when it comes to purchasing a perfect costume for your little one. I had the signature red cape that Thor dons in the Marvel movies, and I even scored a little ‘Mjolnir’ to go with the whole vibe!
I thought I’d help fellow parents and compile a list of some of my favourite fancy dress costume ideas that are fun and hugely popular with kids.
Cinderella
When my daughter turned 4, her school hosted the dreamiest fancy dress competition! I inadvertently went on a ‘Best Cinderella Costume’ hunt and gathered some of the cutest props to go with her costume. I decked her up in a pretty pink gown that had just the right amount of laces. I even got her a Tiara and sandals that looked like they had been made of glass. What acted like a cherry on the cake was the famous Cinderella line I taught her to throw in between conversations – ‘My! It’s midnight, I’ve to go’!
Robin Hood
If your kids are huge pop-culture enthusiasts or movie buffs, they’d know Robin Hood – the heroic outlaw that took riches from the rich and gave to the poor. Since Robin Hood is a well-known archer and swordsman, you can purchase these fancy, colourful bow and arrows to go with your kids’ fancy dress costume! Your child will totally pull off the hooded Robin Hood look and ace that fancy dress costume competition.
Jungle Princess
This is a fun and utterly simple DIY project for your kids’ fancy dress costume! All you’ll need is a sleeveless top, a short skirt with a curved bottom edge, a tiara, and lots of flowers and leaves. Leave your girl’s hair loose, and she’s sure to turn a lot of heads in her direction.
Barbie Doll
Dressing up and looking like a quintessential Barbie doll is every little girl’s dream. You can help your child nail this look with a beautiful jumpsuit paired with a belt at the waist, just how Barbie does! Getting the hair just right could be challenging, however, with a little dedication and a couple of Youtube tutorials, you can perfect this look in no time!
Cheese Burger
This has to be one of the most brilliant ideas that my husband has ever had, like ever! We bought a couple of multicoloured felts (we went with the typical cheeseburger colours – green, yellow, beige, and red). We also got a brown onesie to complete the look! We simply cut the yellow felt in the shape of a square to make it look like a slice of cheese, then stitched the semi-circle red felt cutouts on the sides of the square. We then attached the green felt on all the four sides and added Velcro to separate the pieces. The beige felt (burger bun) has to be added on the top. This costume induced a laughter attack in both me and my husband as our daughter boarded her school bus!
Chota Bheem
This look is completely hassle-free and so much fun to put together! For the character’s signature yellow dhoti, either invest in a kid-sized dhoti from the market or create your own dhoti with a dupatta! Look for the perfect yellow bracelets to go with the attire and make a turban out of yellow cloth or simply purchase one online. I stuck a small red pendant in the centre of the turban to finish the look. My son as Chota Bheem totally won people’s hearts and I couldn’t help but feel proud at having nailed the look!
These fancy dress outfit ideas are sure to make your little monster famous among his peers and earn a good laugh or two from the parents!
Do let me know if you have more ideas for fun fancy dress costumes in the comments section below.
