The new age of Star Wars is almost upon us with the impending release of the first episode in stunning 3D in UK cinemas.

The Phantom Menace is, naturally, the first instalment of the saga to get the 3D treatment and, while it might not be many people’s favourite episode, it certainly generated some excellent fancy dress ideas for generations to come. The Darth Maul costume is obviously the standout winner in the costume world when it comes to the Phantom Menace, but Darth Vader arguably still leads the way in terms of Star Wars costumes.

Originally released in 1999, 16 years after the Jedi Returned to our screens, the Phantom Menace is in for a return of its own. The $115 million movie was highly anticipated but it was fairly poorly received amongst film critics. The movie review website, Rotten Tomatoes, which was launched in the same year as the Phantom Menace was released, gave the instalment the lowest rating of any Star Wars film to date – a mediocre score of 60%.

However, despite its rather unenthusiastic reviews, the movie amassed nearly a billion dollars at the box office and it no doubt continues to bring in a profit in terms of merchandise.

The Star Wars franchise has created some of the best ideas for costumes ever to come out of the movie business and the 3D re-mastering of the entire series is bound to bolster that popularity.

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace 3D will be released in UK cinemas on 10th February 2012.

Also known as the Second Indochina War, the Vietnam War marks an important time in US history, a time where a nation was not only at war against communism, but at war with itself. Due to the bloody nature of the conflict, many of its veterans came home forever scarred, mentally in addition to physically. The 1982 film First Blood addresses one such veteran.

The film, which is based upon a 1972 novel of the same name, follows the journey of John Rambo, a highly troubled Vietnam War veteran who finds himself unable to re-adapt to society after the horrors he faced in the jungles of Vietnam. When a series of unfortunate events leads him to come into conflict with the police force of a small town, Rambo does what he knows best – uses guerrilla warfare tactics to survive and defeat the enemy. “They drew first blood, not me” is the much-quoted line Rambo gives when asked why.

While the Vietnam War is not a shiny moment in US history, it is an incredibly iconic one. In addition to Rambo, other classic films addressing the effects of Vietnam include Platoon, Born on the Fourth of July, Apocalypse Now, The Killing Fields, Forrest Gump, Good Morning Vietnam, The Deer Hunter, and Full Metal Jacket.

For 1970s fancy dress, military styling can be found in costumes for both men and women. This includes a Rambo costume which takes its look from the character John Rambo, as portrayed by Sylvester Stallone.

Back in 1988, two men with model looks appeared on the music scene that immediately won the hearts and minds of music fans.  Known as Milli Vanilli, the pop/dance duet was comprised of Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus.  Their hit songs included “All or Nothing”, “Girl I’m Gonna Miss You” and “Blame It on the Rain” from their album, Girl You Know It’s True.  An 80s costume inspired from this former pop duo consists of longhaired braids, hats, and bright-coloured suits.

Milli Vanilli were known for their good looks, dance moves and popular tunes but later became infamous for not truly singing on their album.  Rob and Fab tried to keep up appearances, but when it became obvious that they were lip-syncing, they had to admit the truth.  Rob and Fab were the good-looking dancers serving as eye candy; the actual singers were not given credit.

Milli Vanilli still shines as fancy dress inspirations.  The key to this look is the hair; both Rob and Fab wore their hair long and braided.  The men’s Shake and Fake Wig is ideal to recreate that look.  Rob and Fab favoured jackets with large shoulder pads, often in bright colours as shown in their videos, award appearances, and concerts.  They are also seen in the classic torn denim look popular during their reign as pop stars.  People can relive the classic Milli Vanilli moments again while lip-syncing, swinging their long braids, and living it up at an 80s costume party.

Men’s fancy dress costumes are very popular.  They are more commonly used for stag parties or special celebrations and although some hide the fact, many men do enjoy getting dressed up in a costume and having a good time.

Superhero costumes are one of the more popular of the men’s fancy dress, to some it is a way of staying with their macho image while playing dress up.  Others however do not mind and will attend a party dressed as a cowboy, a gladiator, or even one of Santa’s helper elves. 

Star Wars themed costumes remain a big hit with many men who enjoy dressing up as Darth Vader or Han Solo.  A Star Wars themed party will also produce many storm trooper costumes and a few Obi Wan Kenobis.  There may even be the odd appearance of a Jabba the Hutt. 

Fancydressball also offers several novelty men’s fancy dress costumes for those who really know how to have fun.  The Mr Miss World costume consists of an evening gown, gloves, and a sash.  It is also possible to get a wig and a tiara to complete the look.  Getting high-heeled shoes that fit a man may prove a little more difficult however. 

A group of men out on a stag night might enjoy a collective outfit with one main theme such as The Village People, soldiers, or even a gang of ninja.  Whatever the occasion it is guaranteed, if you go out in fancy dress, you will be noticed.

If you’re a guy, you may or may not fancy wearing a wig in order to achieve your fancy dress look. So here are some great blonde characters that you can play in fancy dress costumes, with or without the wig.

Julius Caesar: The beauty of pulling characters from far back in history is that, often, we do not know what colour hair they actually had. Or, if we do know, it is of little matter when it comes to recognising the figure for fancy dress. Julius Caesar was a Roman general and a statesman. He can be played in Roman military garb or in Roman statesman robes with headpiece (see Caesar Costume (FC)).

Charles Lindbergh: A famous aviator amongst other things, the Biggles Aviator Pilot Flying Jacket Costume provides a good start to creating a fancy dress Lindbergh look.

Barney Rubble Costume: There will be no worries if you go wigless with this character; the iconic coat collar and big feet are a sure give away. Alternatively, go as a grown up Bam Bam or borrow from Fred’s wardrobe with his costume minus the black hair. Check out our Flintstone Costumes

Johnny Bravo: To achieve Johnny’s look, you will need the black t-shirt, jeans and the exaggerated pompadour hair. The Bail Enforcer Wig provides the pompadour; all it needs is a bit of a trim and shape for the full effect.

Dog the Bounty Hunter: If you aren’t keen on trimming the wig for Johnny, consider going as one of America’s most famous (or infamous) bounty hunters. Attitude not included.

A great theme for a 1970s era fancy dress event is a night of celebrating favourite film characters.  The 1970s offers a lot of inspiration through the popular films of the decade.

Let’s start with American Graffiti from 1973. This classic film about growing up in early 1960s America provides an opportunity to evoke 1960s styles into a 1970s fancy dress party.

When it comes to 1970s classic dress, think Annie Hall from 1977.  Diane Keaton’s wardrobe in the film became the foundation for major fashion trends in the late 1970s.

When considering military themes, there are several films to choose from here:  MASH (1970), The Deer Hunter (1978), and Apocalypse Now (1979).

The 1972 film, Cabaret, can inspire a sexy twist to the era. The film that made Liza Minnelli a star, her signature look is recreated in the Cabaret Costume that includes a black hot pant jumpsuit with gloves and thigh high stockings.  Add a 1920s styled Bob Wig in black and a topper or bowler hat for a complete set.  As an extra touch, the small, black-feathered eyelashes really help make your eyes noticeable.

A good film for 1970s fancy dress is Saturday Night Fever from 1977.  To get Tony Manero’s look, the 70s Men Suit White is perfect.  Add a black shirt (we suggest the 205201-2), and you are ready to wow the crowd with your best disco moves.

Other great 1970s fancy dress films include Star Wars (1977), Taxi Driver (1976) and Young Frankenstein (1974).

The Afro is far more than just a hairstyle; it is also an iconic identity statement associated with the ‘60s and ‘70s African American community. It is also a fabulous idea for 1970s fancy dress.

In a big way, the Afro was a result of the African-American Civil Rights Movement, a moment which, for many African Americans, brought forth a sense of appreciation of their own inherited, natural beauty.

When Afro-textured hair is left untreated (straightened, relaxed, braided, etc.), it tends to hold a very tight wiry, curl pattern. As it gets longer, instead of lying flat, the hair tends to grow outward. The result is the familiar rounded dome appearance. In the 1970s, this easy-to-maintain, culturally definable style became a political statement, reflecting what was known as ‘black pride’ and serving as a symbol of the ‘Black is beautiful’ movement.

Key figures from the 1970s who wore afros include Jimi Hendrix, The Jackson 5, The Supremes, and actress Pam Grier, who portrayed the now iconic figure of Foxy Brown in the era’s Blaxploitation films.

Of course, the afro wasn’t just worn by African Americans; many other races adopted the afro, using perming and backcombing techniques to recreate the style.

As a 70s fancy dress idea, the afro wig is perfect for both men and women. The Funky Afro comes in several colours, including black, brown, blonde, orange, pink, and rainbow. Because the style is suitable for both sexes, afro wig selections include men’s, women’s and unisex. The Disco Glitter and Disco Dude wigs also give a nod to the style.

Strongly associated with Christmas, the candy cane is a cinnamon or peppermint flavoured curved stick of hard candy decorated with red and white stripes. In many places, including Europe, candy canes are used to decorate Yule and Christmas trees.

The origins of the candy cane are quite humble; starting life as a very basic stick of white sugar which served as a treat for children. At this point, there were no red stripes and the classic cane shape was yet to be seen. Although it is difficult to pin point where the first basic canes appeared, we do know that they were popular throughout Europe by the mid-17th century.

The original manufacturing of the candy cane was a difficult and tedious process, performed by hand, with makers having to pull, twist and bend the sticks repeatedly to create the treat. This labour-intensive method of production meant that the candy was not always readily available, making it perfect as a Christmas special treat. Over time, production became easier and in the 19th century, the candy cane acquired its signature red and white striped look.

For fancy dress inspiration, it is to these stripes that we turn, with the addition of red and white stripes to any outfit evoking a Christmas spirit. To enhance a Christmas fancy dress costume, candy striped hosiery can be a lot of fun. Depending upon the look, Candy Striped thigh highs or Candy Cane socks can serve as the perfect final touches. To evoke more of a Christmas elf feeling, choose red with green stripes.

We’re all about fancy dress costumes and our pages provide 100s of completed looks for every size, shape, age, gender and taste. But fancy dress is not just about having a costume completed for you; it is about allowing your imagination run wild. So, mixing and matching is on the menu. Who (or what) do you want to be?

Consider the Theme

To begin at the beginning, consider the event. Does it have a theme? Is it a Halloween ball or a 1970s bash? Have guests been asked to come as their favourite fairy tale or film character? Is the theme related to a time or place in history? If a theme has been provided, then this is where you begin. If not, then it is more a matter of your own individual style.

Find Inspiration

You may already have something specific in mind, you may have an idea that needs to be developed, or you may be at a complete loss. These pages can inspire you. Don’t just peruse the fancy dress costumes, but take a look at the accessories and wigs as well. Sometimes inspiration comes from the little things rather than the big ones.

Assemble and Tailor

While we provide plenty of full costumes, you can also find that extra something to make your fancy dress costume complete. For instance, the Silver Screen Sensation Red Wig may complete a Jessica Rabbit look or something needed for Tallis from Dark Age: Redemption. A Blues Brother suit may be just that or it may be a Man in Black (or even Meet Joe Black).

Some say the sexiest thing a person can wear is power.  With a Greek god or goddess fancy dress costume, that power can be yours – well, the illusion of power anyway. 

When it comes to Greek goddesses, there were plenty of them, each with their own unique gift and style.  When it comes to roman fancy dress, we have plenty of options for you.  These are our three top Greek inspirations:

Aphrodite was the goddess of love, romance and beauty.  For her, consider the Immortal Beauty Costume, with headband, dress with cape, and gold armbands.  We envision Aphrodite as a blonde (perhaps too many viewings of Hercules), but she can be whatever you desire. 

Artemis was the goddess of the hunt, the forest and its wildlife, childbirth, and of the moon.  For her, we suggest the Heaven Sent Costume.  Something about the way this one looks says to us “strong sexy woman who can hunt” – and we love the headband for Artemis and would love to see it teamed with the Seductress Reddish Blonde wig. 

Hera was the protector of marriage.  Wife to Zeus and incredibly strong willed, we envision this mother goddess in the Olympic Goddess Costume.  We also see her with dark hair.  Because motherhood can be incredibly sexy (and goddess motherhood even more so), we suggest the Seduction Black Wig as an added touch.  It really helps make that statement of sex and power. 

Other inspirational goddesses include Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war, Demeter, the goddess of agriculture, and Hestia, the goddess of home and hearth.  There are also many other goddesses, embodied in muses and other mythological figures, which can be found through web search.