Your dress-up box ready for the festive season: check, refresh and replenish
,
by Verpakkingdeals.nl
5 min reading time
Combing out wigs, checking masks, shaping hats, and strategically replenishing: in four steps, your costume box is ready for autumn.
Somewhere in the house, there's a box of dress-up clothes. A wig flattened since last year, a mask with a snapped elastic, a dented hat, and three gloves, two of which belong together. As long as that box stays closed, everything still seems fine. Two days before a themed party, it turns out that's not the case – and then ordering is often just too late.
Late August and September are the quiet times to sort it out properly. The party season is just beginning: themed parties, Halloween at the end of October, company parties in November and December, and Carnival in the spring. An hour of sorting now will save you hassle and bad purchases later. Below is a four-step guide.
Step 1: Take everything out and sort by material
Lay everything out on a table and make four piles: textiles (costumes, capes, gloves), hair (wigs, beards), hard materials (masks, hats, glasses), and small items (pins, jewelry, make-up). Sorting by material is more practical than sorting by costume, as the cleaning and storage methods differ for each material.
During this step, immediately throw away anything that's worn out: elastic that has lost its tension, make-up pots that have been open for years, latex that feels sticky or shows tears. Latex and thin rubber also degrade even when not in use; if a mask becomes sticky or cracks when stretched, it's done for.
Step 2: Clean by material type
Costumes and textiles: first check the care label. Many fancy dress items are polyester with glued-on details and can only be hand-washed or machine-washed on a cold, short cycle; glued details will come off at high temperatures. After washing, hang clothes to dry instead of using a tumble dryer.
Hard plastic or papier-mâché masks: wipe with a lightly damp cloth. For the inside — the part that touches your face — a 150 ml surface cleaner and disinfectant (€3.95) works perfectly. Always let a mask dry completely before storing it.
Neoprene and fabric: shake out, hand wash in lukewarm water and lay flat to dry, not in direct sunlight.
Wigs: comb synthetic hair with a wide-tooth comb, working from the ends upwards, and never pull dry tangles. A hair comb specifically for tangles costs €5.95. Use a 100 ml spray bottle (€0.95) with lukewarm water: a slightly damp wig is easier to comb and frizzes less.
Hats: felt and cardboard should not get wet. A dent in a felt brim can usually be removed by placing the hat on a round shape (a bowl, a rolled-up towel) and leaving it overnight.
Step 3: Try on and list the gaps in your chest
Do try on the items you're unsure about. Fancy dress often states "one size" or "S/M and L/XL," and this sizing for party wear is intended to be more generous than for regular clothing: it needs to fit over a T-shirt or leggings. Furthermore, elastic that has been in a box for a year won't be what it once was.
Then make a list of what's missing. In practice, these are almost always the same categories:
Buy individual accessories rather than a complete costume you'll only wear once. Five interchangeable accessories will create more looks than two full suits.
Step 4: Store it so it's still good next year
Most damage doesn't occur during the party, but in the closet. Three rules help:
Dry and dark. Moisture is the enemy of felt, cardboard, and synthetic hair; direct sunlight fades colors. A closed box in an indoor closet is better than an open crate in the attic. A moving box measuring 480 x 430 x 330 mm costs €3.50 and fits under most beds.
Do not stack items with form. Hats, masks, and wigs on top, textiles on the bottom. Stuff a hat with crumpled paper so the crown doesn't collapse.
Hang what wrinkles. Capes, dresses, and jackets last longer on a hanger than folded. If you have little closet space, a multi-functional foldable reusable hanger (€4.95) is a solution for multiple items on one hook.
Finally, write on the outside of the box what's inside. "Dress-up" is too vague; "masks, hats, wigs" will save you ten minutes of searching next year. And store makeup separately, not among textiles: if a tube opens, you'll lose a costume.
Add your own
What's missing from your box can be found in a few collections: masks for eye masks, Venetian and animal masks, hats and wigs for your headwear, dress-up accessories and fancy dress costumes for the rest of the outfit, and make-up for the finishing touches. For autumn, also check Halloween and, looking ahead to spring, Carnival. Are you dressing up an entire group or are you unsure about sizes and quantities? Send your question to info@verpakkingdeals.nl, and we'll help you figure out what you need and what you can skip.
Choosing a USB hub for working from home: 2.0 or 3.0, how many ports, and with switches
· 3 min reading time
Choosing a USB hub for working from home: 2.0 or 3.0, how many ports and with switchesYour desk needs three USB devices, but your laptop only has two ports. Or...
Power outages in autumn: emergency supplies you'll actually use
· 2 min reading time
Autumn Power Outages: Emergency Supplies You'll Actually Use October to December. Heating isn't in full swing yet, but the nights are getting long and cold. If a power outage strikes...
Choosing a power bank: capacity, charging speed, and weight compared
· 2 min reading time
Choosing a Power Bank: Capacity, Charging Speed, and Weight Compared Your phone dies when you're out and about. The classic emergency solution is a power bank. But what capacity do...
