Butlin's Big Weekenders launched Fancy Dress Fashion Week at their Minehead location, an event described as 'Britain's answer to the Met Gala'. The inaugural celebration showcased homegrown creativity, with celebrity stylist Mark Heyes hailing it as a place where real people have fun, unlike the designer-driven Met Gala.
National Obsession with Fancy Dress
A poll of 2,000 adults revealed that 43% of Brits claim to have significantly more fun when in fancy dress, while 38% believe the UK has become obsessed with dressing up. Stylist Mark Heyes shared his top tips on recreating trending fancy dress looks affordably, as research indicates dressing up has become a national pastime.
According to Heyes, this year's standout fancy dress looks are shaped by cultural moments from screens and social media, with references to film, TV, and music booming. These range from '90s-inspired throwbacks to viral fashion moments like Lily Allen's 'receipt dress', demonstrating pop culture's role in driving instantly recognisable costumes.
Why Brits Love Dressing Up
More than one in five use fancy dress to showcase their interests, from musical acts to film characters. Gothic romance is surging, inspired by the blockbuster film Wuthering Heights, bringing dramatic silhouettes and darker aesthetics. Group looks are also booming, inspired by hit TV shows like I'm A Celebrity and Gavin and Stacey, as dressing up becomes a shared social experience.
Fancy dress boosts confidence: a third (32%) feel more confident in costume, a quarter (25%) feel less judged, and another third (33%) say it creates a more relaxed, playful atmosphere. Mark Heyes added: 'That's the magic of fancy dress. It gives people permission to step outside themselves. Suddenly it's not about how you look, it's about the character you've created.'
Millennials enjoy showing off creativity (30%), while Gen X love adopting the persona of their character (29%). Interestingly, men have a stronger love of fancy dress than women, attending more themed events and spending more on outfits (£46 vs £34). Across the board, 22% say dressing up helps them let go of inhibitions, and 20% say it allows them to express personal style more freely.
Mark Heyes' Top DIY Fancy Dress Tips
- Go all out on humour: Use humour as much as possible, whether jumping on a viral moment or turning something serious into something silly. For example, become the Mona Lisa by wearing a black dress and getting a large frame from a charity shop.
- It's all about the accessories: A simple outfit can be transformed with affordable accessories. Add a feather boa for a Harry Styles costume, double denim with a cowboy hat for Cowboy Core, or a black plaited wig for Wednesday Addams.
- More is more: Over-accessorise and go bold. Include props like broomsticks or inflatables for memorable photos. Pair multiple leopard print items to lean into maximalism.
- Set a budget and be creative: Challenge friends to a £10 limit per person. Raid charity shops, friends' wardrobes, and forgotten items in storage.
- Team up with your mates: Group looks elevate a theme. Picture a wall of security guards in black suits or characters from Clueless, Shrek, or Stranger Things.
Mike Godolphin, Butlin's entertainment director, said: 'Every year, hundreds of thousands of Big Weekender guests arrive in incredible fancy dress. It's a defining part of the experience – a chance to escape, dress up and fully embrace the moment.'
