Choosing a role-play costume: size, what's in the set, and how to wash it
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by Verpakkingdeals.nl
5 min reading time
Ordering a role-play costume depends entirely on the size and what exactly is included in the set. This is how you read a product description and keep the costume intact afterwards.
The classic mistake with costumes: you order your normal clothing size, the package arrives, and it fits either like a sausage skin or a tent. With costumes, the size indication means something different than with your regular wardrobe, and the set often doesn't contain all the parts you see in the picture.
With autumn just around the corner — themed parties, Halloween at the end of October, company parties in November — this is the time when most costumes are sold. Below are four things to pay attention to before clicking "order."
1. Sizes S, M, and L mean something different here
Fancy dress costumes are often sold in broad size categories: S/M, M/L, or one-size-fits-all. This is because the fabric usually stretches and the garment only needs to be worn for a few hours. Three practical rules:
If you are between two sizes, take the larger one. A costume that is a bit loose can be adjusted with a belt or a pin. The reverse doesn't work.
Pay attention to the longest measurement, not the widest. With dresses and suits, length is usually where things go wrong: sleeves that are too short, pants that stop halfway up your ankle. If you are taller than average, choose a model with a loose fit.
Product photos often show a completely styled person: costume, headwear, shoes, bag, makeup. Of all that, usually only the costume plus one or two accessories are included in the package. Shoes are almost never included.
Fortunately, this is easy to check, as it is stated in the title or description. A few examples from our assortment:
If you're going with several people in theme, make a list beforehand of who is wearing what and which loose parts are still missing. This prevents three people from showing up with a cap and no one with matching shoes.
3. Fabric: how it feels after two hours
Costumes are made for an evening, not for daily use. Most costumes are made of light, stretchy synthetic fabric. This has advantages — it fits a wide range of sizes, it wrinkles little in the packaging, and it's affordable — but also a downside: it doesn't breathe well.
Practically, this means:
Wear thin clothing underneath. A seamless camisole or thin leggings makes a tight costume much more comfortable to wear and protects the fabric from sweat.
For a long evening, choose a model with separate pieces. A set with a separate blouse and skirt is easier to adjust than a closed one-piece.
Consider the temperature. If you're going from indoors to outdoors in October, a cape or a long coat over your costume is not an unnecessary luxury — and it often just fits the theme.
4. Washing and storing so you can use it again next year
Most costumes survive the party just fine, but then perish in the washing machine or at the bottom of a box. A few rules of thumb that almost always apply to synthetic fancy dress:
Wash at a low temperature or by hand, and do not use bleach. Sequins, shiny fabric, and printed designs cannot withstand a hot program.
Put the costume in a laundry bag. Loose hooks, zippers, and tails will otherwise get caught on other laundry.
Air dry it. A dryer distorts elastic fabric and can dull shiny layers.
Store accessories separately in a box, not loose in the costume bag. Headbands and caps deform if something is placed on top of them.
Completing the look with small accessories
The difference between a nice costume and a great costume is usually one accessory. A Black Venetian Mask (€5.95) turns a plain dress into a masked ball, and the Luxury Cat Mask Cosplay (€10.00) does the same for an animal theme. Small sets like the 3-piece Role Play Cat Set (€12.95) or the Role Play Mouse Set with ears (€4.95) also work on their own if you don't feel like a full costume. And for the opposite route: with the complete Tuxedo Set (€7.95) you're instantly ready.
Order on time
Costumes in popular sizes are the first to sell out in October — and that's precisely when most parties occur. If you order a week beforehand, you'll choose from what's left rather than what you want. Two to three weeks in advance is comfortable: you have time to try on and, if necessary, exchange.
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