St. Patrick's Day Costumes and Fancy Dress Ideas and Events
24 February, 2010
by: Spoonfed Holidays
Spoonfed has rather helpfully compiled an expert list of places to grab your leprechaun garb and ideas for Irish costumes and fancy dress.
London St. Patrick's Day would not be the shamrock shindig we all know without its merry sea of leprechaun green, Guinness hats, flags, Celtic calligraphy, and fancy dress. The St Patrick’s Day “Wearing of the Green” is in fact a ballad about repression composed around the Irish Rebellion of 1798. The wearing of the shamrock was a sign of revolt against the British, hence the event’s spirit of raucous revelry.
Spoonfed has rather helpfully compiled an expert list of places to grab your leprechaun garb and ideas for Irish costumes and fancy dress. This should allow you to avoid getting pinched (an ‘affectionate’ punishment for not making the effort - just holding a pint of Guinness will not suffice) and celebrate London St. Patrick's Day in style.
Girls St. Patrick's Day Fancy Dress
Leprechaun Ladies and Sexy Shamrockers
Far and away the most popular women’s St Patrick’s Day fancy dress is a sexy fusion of the shamrock leprechaun and the traditional Irish dancing dress. Think thigh-high white stockings, ringlet hair, black Mary-Janes or ballet pumps (ghillies), a layered tulle mini-skirt, top hat, bodice and/or bolero, adorned with ribbons and all in clover green.
Perfect for: Trannyshack, or Cosmopolitan Ladies Night at Po Na Na.
Madam Munchkin
Ladies could follow Emerald City Fashion Week and don a curved half-moon hat, ruffled peplums, puffed sleeves, accompanied by a striped full skirt with matching tights.
Sexy Stepdancer
Alternatively you could go for Michael Flatley’s protégée in a Riverdance ensemble and sport a sequinned mini-dress embroidered with Celtic designs, white knee socks and corkscrew ringlets.
Perfect for: Live Folk Music at the Irish Cultural Centre and Mecca Bingo in Camden
Guys St. Patrick's Day Fancy Dress
Leaping Leprechauns
The miniature mischief-maker of Irish folklore is a safe bet for any London St. Patrick's Day reveller in need of outfit inspiration. There have been many takes on Irish legends and depictions of the Irish faerie’s appearance and nature. The popular modern image is of a small tinker with ginger hair and a beard, wearing an emerald green frock coat, knee breeches, and a cocked hat with buckled shoes and belt. Think Ron Weasley with a beard trying to impress Seamus Finnigan’s muggle sister.
Perfect for: St Patrick’s Day Parade and Game On
The All-In-One Guinness Suit
A life-size replica of Ireland’s most famous export is sure to go down a treat with fellow revellers and might just score you a few free pints as a walking sponsor. We do warn that such a suit is hard to find and may require some determination to source it.
Perfect for : Knock2Bag and Tir Na Nog Irish Music
Where to Get St Patrick’s Day Fancy Dress and Costumes
http://lovefancydress.com/
http://www.fancydress.com/
http://www.partypacks.co.uk/st-patricks-day-cid12511.html
Looking for more St. Patrick's Day events and festivities? Check out the Spoonfed Guide to London St. Patrick's Day.
Add an event