Masquerade Dresses 2012
What are masquerade parties? Sometime in the fifteenth century in Italy people started organizing parties wherein guests were asked to wear formal dress costumes with masks. Sometime in the early 1990s these parties came back into vogue and people started hosting masquerade themed parties, and guests were asked to dress in costumes that would take them back to the era in which these parties were first made popular. Today masquerade parties are very popular as themes for proms or even sweet sixteen parties.
Many women often choose to rent dresses for these parties or convert the prom dress that they have into a masquerade dress by teaming it up with a mask and great accessories. The trends for masquerade costumes depends greatly on what the theme of the party is. But if you are looking for some trends that are popular as of today, then the images given here should give you an idea. While most women tend to stick to the time and tested traditional costumes, there are others who prefer giving their dresses a more modern touch.
Masquerade dresses are available in a variety of styles and designs and the style that you choose depends on what your aesthetic sense is and what theme seems attractive to you. It is possible for you to pick out something from the more contemporary styles of dresses or choose something that is more in line with traditional dresses.
Masquerade Dress Trends for 2012
If you are still unsure of how to pick out a dress for the party you are attending, there are some basic ideas that you can use to create an authentic look for your masquerade party.
Medieval Themed Dresses
One of the best themes that any woman can opt for is a medieval themed dress or a dress that takes you back to the times of the Renaissance. It is easy to find a dress that mimics the look of the era at a local costume shop. Opt for clothes that the queens or princesses of the era would have worn. The accessories that you can use for a more authentic touch include a golden crown or a tiara, and gold mask.
Victorian Themed Dresses
Masquerade parties in the Victorian era was such that there was a lot of allegorical and symbolic meanings attached to the clothing that women wore. If you wore a pink dress with a crown of pink roses, then you would be considered a depiction of the Rose Garden. A completely black outfit with a black hat or even a veil would be symbolic of night. Try to depict these allegorical imagery in your clothing if this theme catches your attention. Match the color and design of your mask to the theme of your costume.
Dresses from the 18th Century
Another era to depict in your clothing would be the eighteenth century. You can choose to wear ornate, full, jewel toned clothing that was extremely popular in the period. You can buy a prom dress or even a bridesmaid dress and add many different layers to the skirt by wearing petticoats or adding layers of crinoline. Combine the dress with a mask that is extremely ornate in nature, embellished with jewels or feathers. These masks are available at most costume shops.
A Modern Twist
While it is easy to wear a gown for a masquerade party, it may be fun to stand out by wearing a more contemporary outfit to mix it up. Wear a mini dress or a long dress in a contemporary cut to give the outfit a little edge and team it up with more authentic jewelry and accessories. You are sure to get a lot of attention as you strut your stuff at the ball.
The thrill of masquerade parties lies in the fancy, intriguing costumes that people don. Choose one of the options for dresses that has been mentioned in this article and dance the night away as the belle of the ball.
