How to Dress Up as Your Favorite Film Character

Dressing up is a favorite pastime for many people. Dressing up fills us with a magical feeling; and whether it is because we get to step out of our lives for a moment and become someone new, or we want to engage with the shows and films we love most, everyone should try transforming themselves with fancy dress at least once.

If you haven’t ever tried fancy dress before, and you want to give it a go, then you have come to the right place. This piece will discuss the steps you need to take to dress up as your favorite film character and live like them for the day.

Choose Your Character

If you are a fan of Super Smash Bros, you might have heard that in song in your head when reading that headline! Choosing your character is your first port of call for a fancy dress adventure, and you might have more than one idea if you are a film buff. Write them all down and determine which characters are easier to put together, right down to those that are the most difficult. It is then up to you what level of challenge you want to accept and how much effort you are willing to put in.

Study Your Character

Once a character has called to you, you are ready to get to work. Studying your character is the next step to homing in on their aesthetic and their personality so you can make the most accurate replication.

What kind of clothes do they wear? What accessories will you need? What are their facial expressions like? Will you need to do any special make-up effects? Considering all of these factors will not only give you the best outcome for your look, but will also get you prepared for what you need to purchase.

Get Shopping and Making

Some of the joy of dressing up comes from DIY if you are particularly creatively, but there is no shame in buying the best ready-made options for yourself, either. It is entirely up to you which one you pick, and often how much time you dedicate to creating your outfit.

If you do not want to spend too much money, and your character allows for less specific clothes and props, then going to your local thrift store can certainly help you out. Buying second-hand items are also great for customizing. In terms of cost, it doesn’t sting as much if you mess up, and sometimes you will need to create an outfit that you most likely will not wear again—such as an outlandish dress or jacket. If that’s the case, then using a second-hand item and customizing it yourself can save a pretty penny, as products such as Angelus paint or fabric glue will most likely cost less than a custom-made piece.

Be sure not to forget the finishing touches, either, such as accessories or props. And if you truly fancy a challenge, you can also try your hand at some shaping make-up!