Costumes

Costumes are special garments worn on specific occasions and used to disguise or alter one's identity. Costumes are traditionally used during holidays such as Halloween and Mardi Gras, but are also a common facet of cultural holidays during which people dress up and celebrate tradition. While the idea of costumes is primordial, the Victorian age helped in preserving the idea of costumes and dressing up, with the parties and fancy dress balls of the time.http://www.fashion-era.com/early_victorian_fashion.htm#Early_Victorian_Fashion_Overview_ Today not only children and teenagers dress in costume, but adults and even pets are dressing up for parties and events. Some masqueraders choose costumes specifically designed to mimic and imitate specific actors, celebrities and famous individuals. Others prefer to create a character or costume all their own. Regardless, of their basis, costumes can be extremely elaborate or consist of merely a hat.

Costumes which are available for commercial sale may be purchased or rented at costume shops. They can also be sewn from patterns available at fabric stores. Some costumes make the wearer look like a specific person. Others mimic uniforms of various vocations such as police officer, waitress, pirate, fireman, doctor, cowboy and king.http://www.catholichomeandgarden.com/catholic_religious_costumes_saints_who_were_kings_.htm Costumes are also associated with theatrical and musical performances. Cultural performers from every know country don costumes before taking part in songs, dances and reenactments of ancestral times.http://www.earthlydelights.com.au/links.htm These costumes may be made of animal skins and furs, feathers, shells, leaves, dyes and textiles.http://patmoore.org/Bunads.htm