Dressing a group for a theme party: one size, budget and reuse
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by Verpakkingdeals.nl
6 min reading time
Dressing a group for a theme party works well with accessories instead of costumes. This way, you choose the theme, consider sizes, and calculate a realistic budget per person.
Three weeks before the company party, the theme is set, and everyone is excited. On the night itself, half of the attendees show up in regular clothes, with the same explanations: no time, couldn't find anything, or the costume turned out to cost forty euros. That's a shame, because a group that looks cohesive makes the party — not the individual outfit.
The solution is almost always the same: choose accessories instead of costumes, buy centrally, and ensure everything fits one size. Below, you'll find out how to do this for a group of ten to fifty people, with a realistic price per person.
Choose a theme that people understand without explanation
A theme works if someone can figure out what to wear within ten seconds. "1920s Berlin" sounds nice but raises questions; "uniforms," "countries," "steampunk," or "rock" do not. The more recognizable the theme, the fewer people will drop out.
Practically speaking, good group themes fall into three categories:
Styles — steampunk, punk, glitter. Here, one person can go all out, and the rest can join in with a small detail: the Steampunk Top Hat with Goggles (€ 18.00) alongside a Mohawk Iroquois Wig (€ 4.95).
One size fits most: what almost always fits
The biggest risk with group purchasing is sizing. If you buy costumes, you're stuck with S/M and L/XL, and you're guaranteed to have two people who don't fit their outfit. Accessories that don't close around the body don't have that problem.
Be careful with wigs: they usually sit on an elastic cap and fit broadly, but they are warm. For an evening of five hours in a heated room, people often take them off halfway through. Expect some wigs to end up on the table.
Calculate per person, not per order
A group budget becomes manageable once you divide it by the number of people. Three practical levels:
Level
Per person
What you get
Basic
€ 2 to € 5
One identifier: headband, bracelet, glasses, or lei
Complete
€ 8 to € 15
Headwear plus one accessory, e.g., cap and glasses
Highlighted
€ 18 to € 25
For two or three people carrying the theme, such as a deluxe hat
The ratio that works well: everyone basic, half complete, and three people highlighted. For thirty guests, this comes out to around € 200 in total — less than what three rented costumes would cost.
What is often forgotten: buy fifteen percent extra of the inexpensive items. There are always more people than registered, something always breaks, and a spare pair of glasses for € 1.95 is cheaper than having one guest who is the only one not in theme.
What do you buy centrally and what do you leave to people themselves?
The rule is simple: everything that makes the theme recognizable you buy yourself; everything that has to do with body size you leave to the guest. So you arrange the caps, glasses, and headbands; they provide a black shirt, jeans, or a white blouse.
Also state this in the invitation: "Come in black; you'll receive the rest upon arrival." This lowers the threshold enormously, and you immediately have a moment at the door where someone hands out the items. Place a box next to it with the spares.
Some items will last for a second and third party, provided you don't throw them in a bag in the shed. What's worth keeping:
Felt hats and caps. Stuff them with paper to maintain their shape; flat storage is not possible.
Glasses. Loose in a box, not with the lenses touching each other — plastic scratches easily.
Headbands. Almost indestructible. The only risk is that the band stretches if you stack them.
Wigs. Shake them out, let them dry, and pack them separately. If compressed, the hair gets flattened and cannot be untangled.
What you DO throw away: everything that has come into contact with face paint and is not washable, and inflatable items that are already losing air. Treat these as consumables and buy them again next time.
Store the items per theme in one sealable box with a list of its contents. Next time, you'll know within two minutes whether you need to reorder — and that saves a rush order.
Get started
Do you already know the theme? Start with the headwear, as it determines the look, and supplement with glasses and small accessories until you reach your budget per person. For the complete range, see Fancy Dress Accessories, Hats & Wigs, Glasses, and Countries. If you want a complete overview, you'll find everything together in Party & Fancy Dress.
If you're unsure about quantities for a larger group, or want to know if something is in stock in the color you need? Feel free to email info@verpakkingdeals.nl — we'll be happy to assist.
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