The eleventh of the eleventh: how to get your group's carnival outfits ready on time
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by Verpakkingdeals.nl
6 min reading time
On November 11th, the carnival season opens. This is how you inventory your costume wardrobe, choose one recognizable element for your entire group, and order on time without size and stock hassle.
On November 11 at 11 minutes past 11, the carnival season kicks off in large parts of Brabant and Limburg. For most associations, this is not just a single evening: it's the start of a series of gatherings that continue until the carnival days themselves. Those who only start looking in early November will find that common sizes and popular colors are already gone — and that a group of fifteen people cannot order the same item all at once. Late August is therefore an excellent time to inventory what's still in the closet and what needs to be replenished.
Start with the closet, not the order list
Before you order anything: get the box of dress-up clothes from the attic and lay everything out on the table. You're looking for three things. Broken fasteners and elastic, because you only notice those when you put something on. Stains and odors, which often worsen after a year in a closed box. And the quantities: how many items do you still have enough of for the group participating this year?
Then make two lists: what everyone needs individually (headwear, something for the face, something in your group's colors) and what you use together and therefore only need to buy once (makeup, spare items, a bag to transport everything in).
One recognizable element works better than fifteen complete suits
Groups that are recognizable rarely have fifteen identical costumes. They have one element that recurs in everyone: the same cap, the same suspenders, the same color glove. Everyone else supplements the rest with what's in the closet. That's cheaper, it saves sizing hassle, and it looks better in a photo than fifteen people in the exact same outfit.
Caps and hats are easiest for this, as they often come in one size. The German Police Cap (€ 4.95) and the Neon Orange Police Cap (€ 4.95) are in the same price range and are widely available, which is handy if you need ten at once. If you want something less standard, you can look at the Felt French Flag Cowboy Hat with Cord (€ 4.95, one size with cord) or the Marine Sailor's Cap (€ 9.95).
Suspenders do the same work at eye level and fit over almost any outfit. The Leopard Print Suspenders and the Red Suspenders with Bow Tie both cost € 9.95. Be aware of the stock: there are often only a few of these types of items on the shelf, so for a large group, you need to be on time or choose a second color.
What you need per person, and what once
The distribution below works for most groups. The amounts are indicative and based on the items above and below.
Makeup is cheap and flexible, but takes time on the evening itself and comes off in a warm room. The French or Dutch Flag Red White Blue Makeup (€ 4.95) is a block stick that can be used for multiple people. A mask is more expensive per person but quicker: put it on and you're done. The Gold Steampunk Mask Aaric (€ 14.95) and the Rabbit Mask - 5 colors (€ 19.95) are two very different directions; choose one and stick with it, otherwise your group will visually fall apart.
Practical point: someone wearing a mask will find it harder to drink and talk. For an evening with a lot of conversations, makeup or headwear works better than a full-face mask.
Choosing a theme you can still use in February
The eleventh of the eleventh is the opening, not the end point. If your theme only works for that one evening, you'll buy everything again in February. Themes that last all season are usually built from separate components that you can expand. Steampunk is an example of this: start with the Steampunk Top Hat with Goggles (€ 18.00) or the Steampunk Hat Deluxe Multi-colored (€ 19.95) and later add suspenders, gloves, and a mask in the same color family.
If you want something pronounced for one evening, individual eye-catchers are more practical: the Mohawk Iroquois Wig (€ 4.95), the Inflatable Crown (€ 5.95) or the Black Pilot's Cap (€ 14.95). Expect a cheap wig to be severely tangled after an evening; treat it as a seasonal item, not an investment.
Storage between November and February
There are over three months between the opening and the carnival days. During that period, more things break in the closet than on an evening out. Three things that help:
Let everything dry first before storing it. Sweat and beer in a sealed bag will create an odor after a week that you won't be able to remove.
Don't store hats and caps at the bottom. Felt and cardboard deform under weight and won't return to their original shape.
Keep small accessories together per person, for example in separate bags with a name on them. That saves half an hour of searching for a single glove in February.
Immediately note what has broken and what is missing. That list will be exactly your order list in January, and then you won't have to go through the entire closet again.
When do you order what?
Roughly: anything you need in quantity, you order in September or early October. Think of caps, suspenders, and gloves for the whole group — that's precisely where you run into empty stock. Individual items that you only need once, like makeup or a single mask, can be ordered later. For large quantities, consider the stock displayed on the product page: if there are ten in stock and you need fifteen, choose two variants or consult beforehand.
If you want your group to still look the same in February, it's better to buy a few extra of the same item now than to have to buy a slightly different version later. Seasonal items rarely return in the exact same design.
Get started
Go through your closet this week, count your group, and write down the numbers. Then you can specifically look in the Carnival collection, at the Fancy Dress Accessories, the Hats & Wigs, the Masks, and the Makeup. If you doubt whether there is enough stock of one item for your entire association, or want to know what else can be ordered? Email your quantities to info@verpakkingdeals.nl, and we'll help you before you order.
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