Best Dress Up Party Themes for Adults

Looking for the best dress up party themes for adults? If so, read on! I have so many fun ideas below for all types of parties. Whether it be for a birthday or anniversary or a work celebration – the fun party themes below will get the party started.

This article is not just a list of party themes but also includes lots of photos and examples as well.

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Dress Up Party Themes for Adults

An adult dress up party theme is a great way to celebrate any special occasion. From a Halloween party to throwing a surprise 40th birthday; dressing up as different characters can make an ordinary event extraordinary and definitely more memorable for the party guests.

In no particular order, please enjoy these fun dress up party themes for adults. It’s time to channel your inner party planner and get started!

 

Team Colors Party

A team colors party is a great way to show support for a favorite team. It’s also an easier dress up party theme as most people can find clothes in the same colors as their favorite team.

Color Party

Another fun idea is to theme a party in your favorite color. For instance, white party themes have become extremely popular for parties and events. This is the perfect theme if undecided on what kind of party theme to use for the next fun event…just choose a color!

I have a full guide to color party themes – decorations, food ideas and more – if you are planning a color themed event, don’t miss this!

Great Gatsby Party

Costumes for a Gatsby party should look like it’s the 1920’s with flapper dresses, feather boas, jeweled headbands, and gold accessories. Men could wear suits and bow ties.

Popular drinks that you can serve at your Great Gatsby dress up party are martinis, champagne, and the popular ‘Gatsby cocktail’.

Mardi Gras Party

Throw a Mardi Gras dress up party theme with lots of beads, masks, face paint, feather boas, drink stirrers and drink umbrellas.

The colors to go with for decorating and costumes for this theme are traditionally gold, purple, green and white. Costume ideas include revealing costumes or masquerade Venetian style masks.

 

Black Light / Glow in the Dark Party

Check out our full article on black light party ideas. Find everything you need for the perfect glow in the dark party, including easy and fun decorations and food ideas that all glow under black light.

For costume ideas: wear materials that are fluorescent, neon or white.

Favorite Character Party

This is the chance to dress up as favorite Disney characters or a TV series character. A favorite character party is not only a great idea for a children’s party but can also be used for adult dress up theme. From Snow White to the Incredibles, there are so many fun options.

Beach Party

A beach party doesn’t have to be at the beach, as long as there are fun decorations it can be anywhere. Beach party dress up ideas include sarongs, flower accessories, sunglasses, sandals and beach bags. Bright colors are perfect for a tropical beach theme.

Mad Hatter Party

A Mad Hatter party is perfect for a tea party dress up theme and includes Alice in Wonderland themed food, drinks and decorations. But it doesn’t have to be tea-party themed, instead make some fun crazy cocktails to suit the age of the party guests.

Another fun idea is to make some finger food like ‘eat me’ cookies and ‘drink me’ potions (mocktails) or serve cakes decorated as clocks and flowers. 

Costume ideas include hats, fancy dresses, suits, jewelry and hair accessories!

Check out this stunning Mad Hatter mini hat (pictured below). See all the details right here.

Image credit: Mad4Hats

Masquerade Ball Party

A masquerade ball is an elegant dress up party theme idea. Always a great excuse to go glam.

The masquerade ball dress up ideas are endless but include masks, feathers, sequins, makeup and dresses. Feather boas and long gloves are also great additions.

Alphabet Party

Alphabet parties are becoming increasingly popular as are dress up as the first letter of my name parties.

I’ve got you covered what to wear with lots of fun ideas for alphabet letter costumes.

Mexican Party

Mexican parties are my favorite type of parties to throw with Mexican food and bright decorations. A Mexican party is a great dress up theme idea for adult dinner parties or get togethers.

Mexican food ideas include tacos, chips and salsa, nachos and burritos. Mexican themed drinks include margaritas, sangria or tequila shots.

For some easy Mexican decorations, simply hang up streamers in the colors of the Mexican flag (green, white and red). Or even better check out these absolutely stunning mexican decorations below.

Mexican party dress up ideas include sombreros, maracas, ponchos and flowers.

 

Ancient Egypt Party

Dress up for an ancient Egypt party like a Mummy or an Egyptian Queen with Cleopatra style clothing and jewellery. Ancient Egypt party dress up ideas include Egyptian head dresses, feathers, stones, jewels, kohl makeup around eyes and cat-eye makeup.

Or dress up as a Pharaoh or Sphinx.

 

Vampire Party

A vampire party is a great dress up theme for Halloween, but it doesn’t have to only be for Halloween.

Vampires are everywhere in popular culture right now. The vampire dress up ideas include black, red and pale looking costumes with gothic accessories.

Vampire costume ideas are simple to find. There are so many Halloween stores that have pre-made costumes available. 

James Bond Party

A James Bond party is a fun dress up idea for adults. Bond girl, tuxedo suit, casinos are all other great components of a party James Bond style.

This dress up theme includes fancy clothes, tuxedos, spy gadgets, martini cocktail glasses and bow ties. Why not have a casino room set up to add to the fun of the party!

 

Eighties Party

An eighties party is a fun dress up theme idea for adults. Make sure that there is 80s dance music playing in the background from that decade, and ask people to bring any 80s themed memorabilia they might be holding onto.

Dress up ideas include neon leggings for girls, ripped jeans with band t-shirts, big hoop earrings, hair crimping and lots of hairspray! Bright pinks, greens, and purples are popular as well as blue and yellow.

Olympics Party

Come dressed in your country’s colors and / or dressed up as a favorite Olympic athlete or sport. This is a great party theme to have while the Olympics is on – you can have the sport playing on the TV in the background.

 

Cowboy Party / Wild West Party

Cowboy or Western dress up ideas include cowboy hats, leather boots, jeans/cowboy pants and plaid shirts. To go for more of a saloon girl look, then wear dresses that are corseted at the waist.

The party area could be decorated like a saloon, or with poker tables, whiskey bottles and other elements from the Wild West era. Make sure to have some wild western themed food to go with the theme!

 

Harry Potter Party

A Harry Potter party is a great, easy dress up theme idea for adults. 

Serve butter beer – it’s a spiced alcoholic (or non-alcoholic) drink that can be served hot or cold. Also have some Harry Potter themed food for the guests – try to make it as magical as possible!

A Harry Potter party dress up theme includes robes, wands, spells and magic potions. Also decorate the house with a lot of candles and Hogwarts symbols for a fully immersive experience.

Golden Girls Party

A Golden Girls party is a great idea for a dress up themed event, especially for big fans of the TV show. It’s a fun dress up theme which will require some good quality costumes and accessories to pull it off!

Decorate with lots of posters and stickers from the show, along with some bright colored flowers to add a splash of color and don’t forget to serve cheesecake.

 

For a Golden Girls themed dress up party, wear pink dresses with geometric patterns, along with pearls, big hair and fake nails. Don’t forget the blue eye shadow, red lipstick and accessories such as glasses.

 

Golden Birthday Party

Find out when your special golden birthday is and exactly what it means. (Hint: it’s not a 50th birthday party!) Best of all, there are lots of ways to celebrate it as an adult…and have a gold party to celebrate you!

Dress Up Themes for Parties

There are heaps more adult dress up party ideas below. Read on for some more great themes for dress up parties for adults.

Star Trek Party

A Star Trek party is a fun dress up event for adults. Dress up party ideas include sparkling jumpsuits with pointed ears or plastic antennae. Also have Starfleet emblem badges for people to wear, as well as plastic goggles and dark-colored sunglasses.

For a Star Trek themed dress up party, serve alien food such as jello shooters with green-colored liquids, candy sticks and popcorn. Another fun idea is a Star Trek movie marathon before the event if your guests want to brush up on their knowledge of all things Star Trek!

Star Wars Party

A Star Wars party requires good costumes and fun accessories such as a green lightsaber, Jedi robes and Storm Trooper outfits. Other ideas include Princess Leia hair buns, Jedi belts and Star Wars logo printed t-shirts.

Have a Star Wars themed dress up party by decorating with lots of colorful balloons, banners and glow sticks or flashing lightsabers. Don’t miss my full guide on how to style an amazing Star Wars themed party.

 

Coachella Party

Coachella is an annual music and arts festival that happens in California. It’s a favorite among celebrities who attend the event each year, dressed to the nines in trendy clothes.

Decorate with succulents and cacti and colorful pompoms and greenery backdrops. Succulents are perfect to have at Coachella themed parties because of their desert feel.

Coachella party dress up ideas include over-sized round sunglasses, hats made of braided straws or flowers, bandannas, bohemian dresses and fringed bags and glitter makeup.

Rockstar Party

A rockstar party requires some good costumes and accessories to pull it off, along with music that people can dance or sing along to!

Have lots of fun with the photo booth or karaoke – don’t forget the big hair wigs and band t-shirts.

Game of Thrones Party

A Game of Thrones party is a great idea for adults. You can have lots of fun with dress up ideas such as painting your face white, wearing colored contacts and wrapping yourself in fur.

Dress up ideas include wearing big furry hats, crowns, armor around your waist and swords. Also plan a GOT themed menu including some medieval dishes such as chicken, veal and pork.

Zombie Apocalypse Party

Have lots of fun with zombie makeup and red-stained clothing. Also serve some brain themed food such as spaghetti in a mold or Jell-O brains which can be decorated with pink, white and red icing.

Pool Party

A pool party dress up themed event is one of the best ideas for a summer themed party. Have lots of fun with pool party games to get everyone interacting and having fun.

Serve some light cocktails with umbrellas and beer and healthy fruit snacks or iceblocks for a summer feel.

Don’t miss these super fun pool party games for adults.

Casino Night Party

Dress up in your favorite casino outfit or luxury designer dress – or why not get dressed up as Lady Luck herself? Or ask your guests to wear either red or black.

Boho Party

Have lots of fun decorating with lots of brightly colored rugs, patterned pillows and a disco ball!

Decorate with lots of flowers, candles and a string of fairy lights along with some brightly colored cushions to sit on – perfect for a garden party.

 

Pirate Party

 Pirate costumes include everything from full-on outfits to accessories such as hats, eye patches and bandanas. Or why not go full Captain Jack Sparrow?

 

Superhero Party

Superhero costumes can range from the full-on outfit to just some superhero accessories, so everyone has something they can wear! Dress up as your favorite superhero for a super fun and memorable night.

Oscars Party

Roll out the red carpet for an Oscars party theme. Dress up as an Oscar-winning celebrity or host. Why not plan to have an award for best and worst dressed!

Wizard of Oz Party

For the perfect Wizard of Oz party there needs to be some Dorothy, Toto and Scarecrow outfits! Don’t forget a yellow brick road mat for the perfect party decoration.

Disco Party

For a disco themed dress up party, get everyone dancing with some bright lights and music and a disco ball.

Dress up as a disco star from the 70’s with afros, flares and bell-bottoms. Get on the dance floor and have a great time.

 

Gangster Party

For a gangster dress up themed party, have lots of fun dressing up as a mobster. Wear fedoras, pinstripes for a perfect gangster look.

Toga Party

A toga party is a great idea for adults. Dress up in sheets and you’re good to go! Don’t forget the gold leaf headband and the laurel wreath crown to complete the look. Or check out these awesome costumes below.

 

Medieval Party

For a medieval party you could dress up as a king or queen, or a knight or peasant. This party theme is also a fun way to explore the culture of the Middle Ages. Why not plan to have jousting tournaments, archery competitions and dancing around a bonfire?

 

Murder Mystery Party

A murder mystery party is a fun and immersive party theme that can be at home or at a venue. Each guest takes on a role of a different character complete with costumes, props and even scripted dialogue in an attempt to solve a mysterious crime. As players investigate and interrogate suspects the plot will thicken leaving everyone guessing right up until the end.

Find some awesome selection of murder mystery party games right here.

Rocky Horror Picture Show Party

A Rocky Horror themed party is a great opportunity to dress up, act out and dance to some of the iconic music from the late 70’s. To get into full character, find inspiration in fishnet stockings, corsets, sequin tops and jackets with tails – all idea pieces to create a unique Rocky Horror look.

Seven Deadly Sins Party

 The seven deadly sins include pride, envy, gluttony, wrath, lust, greed and sloth are all great sources of inspiration when it comes to finding the right outfit. With just a few simple items from your closet or the local thrift store it’s easy to create an impressive costume that will have everyone guessing which sin you embody.

 

I hope this article has inspired some fun party theme ideas for the best fancy dress theme party. Let me know in the comments if there are any other party themes I should include to complete the list.

Don’t miss these other fun ideas for creative party themes for adults dress up.

Looking for some party favors for adults. Don’t miss this handy guide.

Needing some costumes for big guys? We’ve got the goods!

Dress up party themes for adults can be a great way to celebrate with friends and family. All the fun ideas are listed below.

I hope you have enjoyed this dress up theme party ideas for adults guide.

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