So, you want to have a fancy dress party but are struggling to come up with a theme?

This is a common problem, as choosing the right theme for your fancy dress party can make all the difference to how the party goes.

The first thing you have to ask yourself is, "Do I really want to have a fancy dress party at all?" While this may seen like a silly point, some people see dressing up as more bother than it's worth. Of course, we all know that a well-executed dressing up party can be a fantastic experience for all involved, but this is dependent on everyone putting a reasonable amount of effort into finding the right costume.

Some people suggest that the best kind of fancy dress party is a topical one. This usually means a glut of santa costumes around Christmas time, for example, or an overabundance of Star Wars costumes whenever another cash cow from that particular franchise is unleashed upon international film goers. These themes are less difficult to arrange than more obscure ones as all costume shops are sure to be full of the appropriate stock. You can get your inspiration from popular events (a major sporting event such as the Olympics or World Cup is great) or trends, such as whatever decade happens to be in fashion at any particular time (usually 20 years ago).

If you are against the idea of something topical, the simple themes are often the best. A hat party, for example, is a great theme because everyone owns a hat, while many people own at least one hat which could be considered silly enough for a fancy dress party. Another option is to have a wig party, where everyone comes in different wigs. This is another great one because a wig can completely change someone's appearance and therefore the way they interact with others. This shift in social habits can be the perfect catalyst for a great party.

The most popular time to have a fancy dress party is at Halloween. Most people will have found themselves desperately trying to assemble a last-minute Halloween costume at some point. Favourites for the terminally uncreative include the ghost (a white sheet with two holes cut out for eyes) and the invisible man, ie. not turning up at all. If that's your attitude, the party is better off without you! At least make the effort to pick up a scream mask from the local supermarket. You won't win any prizes for originality, but it shows that you've given it at least the most simple of consideration.