Masquerade themed parties are one of those rarer events that can be a real treat when you have the opportunity to attend one. Having the chance to wear beautifully decorated dresses and masks is simply exciting. The popularity of masquerade dresses started around the 17th century. These parties became common in Italy and other parts of Europe in this time period as well. Mostly, these balls were attended by the upper class and weren’t widespread among the general population.
Common themes
These dresses don’t come in any particular style and there are many different masquerade ball dresses that you will be able to choose from.
- Gothic themed dresses are those that are black or crimson colored. They are common for Halloween parties as well considering their dark nature. If you choose this for your dress, you can accessorize with silver or white jewelry. You can also use other accessories like hats and red or black roses.
- Victorian themed gowns are the ones that were popular during the Victorian period. Women wore long gowns that commonly had high collars and featured veils and the like. If you want to try this out, you can simply wear a nice pink girly gown that is ballooned at the bottom and then carefully accessorize with a veil or hat.
- The Medieval ones are usually those that royalty wore during the Renaissance period. You can easily find something that resembles a queen or princess dress or some other royal persona. Then complete your look with a scepter, fan or even a crown as your accessory.
- The original 17th- 18th century gowns are those that have the petticoats and ornate masks to go with. If you are planning this kind of dress, you should make sure to really complete your look with a feathered mask and a full balloon styled dress.
Modern Usage Tips
These days, balls aren’t really held anymore and you can usually find the masquerade theme more in play at high school proms and the like. Here are a few tips for picking out such a masquerade dress for the prom.
Since masquerade prom dresses most likely aren’t something you’re familiar with wearing, make sure that you familiarize yourself with the four different types listed above. You can choose from any of these, but you have to take into consideration the event that you are attending. Commonly, proms with the masquerade theme are a lot more modern so find something that looks stylish and edgy rather than aged.
The design is another important thing to keep in mind. Remember that you all have the same theme so you should really find something that is totally unique to wear. The key is to find the right fabric and cut that would suit your body best. Be careful not to go for something too extravagant though.
The accessories you choose to wear will be another critical thing to pay attention to. Depending on the style of dress you have, you can make use of silver, white or red as your accessories. The mask being the highlight of the event should also be unique. The trick here is to make sure that your mask and your dress go together well. If you can’t find a matching mask, you may create your own.
Remember too that just because the theme is masquerade, it doesn’t mean you have to find a dark colored dress. In fact, you might even attract more attention if you go for something lighter but striking. Magenta, gold, turquoise and other bright colors are a good choice for prom dresses.
Though masquerade dresses have been in usage for a hundreds of years now, being able to wear them in this modern age can make any occasion memorable. Whether you are attending a themed party or are planning to throw one yourself, the masquerade theme will add excitement to any event.
