Fancy dress and costume news, features and pictures from the Guardian and Observer
July 2024
‘Why are people always pointing the finger at furries?’: inside the wild world of the furry fandom
A joyful and inclusive subculture where people express their true selves or an example of unchecked wokery? The furry fandom has always been a polarising lightning rod for extreme opinions
October 2023
The top Halloween costumes of 2023, modelled by Matilda Boseley – video
What will you dress up as this Halloween? Here's some inspiration
October 2022
Truss or treat … offbeat Halloween costume ideas – in pictures
From Daisy May Cooper’s sheepskin antihero to a can of tomato soup – or even a prime-ministerial horror show. Here are 11 tips for a fashionable last-minute Halloween party splash
August 2022
Pandemic life changes haven’t just meant moving and quitting, there’s also been spontaneous tattoos and silly parties
Bridie Jabour
Almost all of us have been fundamentally changed by the past few years
October 2021
‘Trump costumes are not popular’: what’s big for Halloween 2021
What is flying off the fancy-dress shelves? Outfits inspired by Kim Kardashian’s at the Met Gala, the QAnon ‘shaman’ and Christina Aguilera are in demand
May 2021
Elvis never left: how Britain kept the king of rock’n’roll alive – in pictures
Over five years, Gavan Goulder explored Britons’ fascination with Elvis Presley – photographing fans and portrayals of the singer in the media. Now the images are collected in a book, Thank God for Elvis
June 2019
Adult learner
I tried to see the fun in fancy dress parties – all I felt was pain and panic
Real friends won’t leave you out in the cold for turning down an invitation
April 2019
Shortcuts
Brexit Halloween? Start planning your costume
The new deadline for the UK leaving the EU is 31 October. Why not dress up as Theresa May, Donald Tusk or some gammon?
December 2017
Boxing Day fancy dress in Wigan – in pictures
On the evening of 26 December, young people come out on the streets dressed as dinosaurs, unicorns, teddy bears – and Marge Simpson
October 2017
It’s Halloween – time to bring out the ‘cultural appropriation’ scare stories
Nesrine Malik
Stories about Christmas being lost to Winterval are no longer enough. Fake outrage is being stirred up into a ‘cultural appropriation gone mad’ row for Halloween
July 2017
Comic-Con International 2017 – in pictures
A cosplay gallery that is nearly as much fun as being at the celebration of comics at a convention centre in San Diego
March 2017
I’m a furry. And I’m finally at home with my wild side
Brian Switek
We’ve been stigmatised, but choosing a wolf, bear or jaguar ‘fursona’ isn’t a fetish. It’s just a playful expression of the animal nature we all share
October 2016
Children's fancy dress costumes still a danger, say British fire chiefs
Shortcuts
Kim Kardashian robbery Halloween costume, sexy Ebola nurse – and more
September 2016
Students in a postcolonial world
Freshers: is your fancy dress costume racist?
IMHO ...
Any ideas for fancy dress themed around the letter P?
February 2016
Costume & culture
From Star Wars to Downton Abbey: the oldest costume house in the world – in pictures
It's not about sex, it's about identity: why furries are unique among fan cultures
November 2015
Celebrity Halloween costumes – in pictures
From Tyra Banks as Richard Branson to Dwayne Johnson as Popeye, here are some of our favourite Halloween transformations.
October 2015
Guardian Students
Halloween makeup and prosthetics by students – in pictures
Makeup and prosthetics students showcase their ghoulish work for us this Halloween. From blood and gore to just plain ugly, these photos aren’t for the faint-hearted
