The Masquerade Ball Costuming

Choosing Masquerade Ball Costumes


In Venice during the Italian Renaissance, a masquerade costume was an important decision. Women spent months determining what sort of gown they would wear and no expense was spared in having the outfit and matching mask made. It was traditional for couples to have matching costumes. Many modern couples still choose to match, or set off each other’s costume in a striking manner. This is important not only for making a memorable entrance, but also so that whomever you are with is recognizable, even though they are hidden by a mask. Masquerades were always a safe arena for a lot of flirting, even among married couples, but if anything seemed to be going too far, an approach by the person who was clearly the mate of whomever was being flirted with too excess would nip the trouble in the bud.



Presuming these are not problems you need to worry about if going as a couple, you should still put extra care into your costume. Bear in mind that “couple” does not have to mean a romantic couple – women or men who are only friends go in pairs as such varied types as Harlequins, sprites, musketeers, rogues or muses. Think about what most appeals to you and what’s most practical to accomplish.



Fantasy Costumes

The fantasy aspect of masquerade ball costumes dates back to the beginning of the balls. In this sense, the costume could be a period outfit, such as a Victorian dress, but might suggest a theme, like a nighttime sky or a deck of cards. It could be a fantastical creature like a fairy or leprechaun, or an animal like a unicorn. Look at examples of Cosplay costumes to inspire you as you decide upon your costume. Remember too that you can take a basic period costume and use your mask to bring more to it. That way, if you rent an Elizabethan dress, you can add fabric or accessories to your mask and jewelry to tie an outfit together.



Buying Costumes

If you’re going to an event like the Venice Carnival, you should go all out and get a high-end costume. The costumes seen there are breathtaking. However, for most people, budget is an issue and unless you will be using the costume many more times or can easily sell it, you probably want to acquire something less expensive.



Besides rentals, there are some more affordable options when buying masquerade costumes. Center Stage Star has a few good choices, although only for women. They only sell one mask and it doesn’t match any of the costumes, but there are many outlets for buying excellent masquerade masks. You can also get a base for a mask and then design it yourself, although this requires some artistic ability and a lot of patience