Posted on 17th Mar 2011 @ 6:46 AM

In Australia Costume Parties are typically referred to as Fancy Dress Parties, following the lines of Britain. The Australian costume market typically follows the styles of the United States Costume market and this is reflected in the growth of Halloween Costumes and Parties in Australia since the early 90s, even though Halloween has not historically been a celebrated event in Australia. Typical events for Australians that involve dressing up are the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, the staff Christmas party and funnily enough the Cricket. In 2011 Cricket Australia celebrated 40 years of One Day Internationals, and everyone from the cricket commentators to a large portion of the crowd dressed up in their retro outfits for this celebration.

A Mardi Gras Costume party with friends,Queensland 2011.

One of the oldest examples of Fancy Dress being worn in Australia is on display at the Western Australia Museum. It was a Child's Fancy Dress worn by Miss Rita Lloyd aged nine years to the ‘Lord Mayor’s Juvenile Fancy Dress Ball’ at Mansion House in Perth on 8 January 1909.

Susan Grima the owner of Glamcostume, one of Australia's largest fancy dress costumes stores, identified the top 5 selling fancy dress costumes(and themes) in Australia for 2010. They were 1.Alice in Wonderland Costumes 2. Superhero Costumes 3. Toga Costumes 4. 1960s Costumes and 5. Sailor Costumes.