Costume Ideas
Not much for dressing up? We feel you. However, having everyone in costume really helps to pull off the theme. Check out the easy DIY costume tips below:
How to Powder Your Hair (For Everyone, Because We’re All Trying to Give 18th Century Vibes)
The goal: look elegantly powdered, not like you lost a fistfight with a bakery. Start by styling your hair however you like it - high, low, teased, or “I tried my best.” Dip a fluffy makeup brush into cornstarch, tap off the excess like you're about to do something suspicious, and lightly dust it over your hair. Keep adding until you reach the level of aristocratic pallor your heart desires. For extra drama, use a fine-mesh strainer to snowfall cornstarch over your head. Avoid sneezing unless you want the full “flour bomb” aesthetic.
Ladies
Want to look like you might gossip with Marie Antoinette but still own practical shoes? Grab a long skirt (maxi, A-line, or “whatever was clean”), pair it with a white blouse, and add a vest or corset top to fake that 1700s shape. Toss on a lace shawl or pearls and you’re basically ready to manage court intrigue. Tease your freshly powdered hair a bit higher so it whispers, “I read poetry and also judge people.” Add a ribbon choker, a feather, fake jewels or faux flowers for fabulous excess.
Gents
DIY Founding Father Fabulous: To become Benjamin Franklin, or at least someone who looks like they keep bifocals in every coat pocket, roll modern pants to mid-calf and add tall socks. Pair with a white shirt and a vest or long coat for that Founding Father silhouette. Make a cravat by tying a white scarf, napkin, or random scrap of fabric around your neck like you're about to negotiate a treaty. With your hair already powdered, you now give the impression of someone who both writes almanacs and flirts shamelessly with French nobility.
Tricorn Hat
Take any wide-brimmed felt hat and fold the brim up in three spots to form a jaunty triangle. Secure the edges with glue, a few stitches, or a prayer whispered to the spirit of Paul Revere. Add ribbon, buttons, or a feather if you're feeling particularly French. The result: a hat that proudly declares, “I am here to party AND debate philosophy.”
Easy Extras
• Lace cuffs, gloves, pearls, or anything frilly
• A beauty mark drawn on with eyeliner. Subtle, saucy, or dramatically villainous
• A fan, quill, tiny book, or scroll for theatrical flair
• Pastels, golds, silvers, creams, and shiny fabrics to say “Versailles”