When Fancy Dress Goes Wrong: Dodgy Costumes That Made the Headlines
Many a wannabe princess swooned last month as Prince Harry made a rather handsome best man at his brother’s high profile nuptials. However, while the young Prince cut quite a dash in his military uniform, he hasn’t always come across as so patriotic.
Scandalous pictures of him at a student fancy dress party dressed as a Nazi cemented Harry’s rebel reputation, and caused the palace embarrassment that they could have done without.
Third in line to the throne Harry, who was photographed with drink and cigarette in hand (shock horror), had been in yet another scrape the previous month, when he got into a bit of a kerfuffle with a photographer outside a posh London nightclub.
The perpetually red-faced Harry issued an apology through a palace spokesperson, and admitted that it was a poor choice of costume; that’s putting it somewhat mildly, but, hey, we’ve all been there, right? Right?
Harry’s Nazi getup is just one in a long list of infamous fancy dress faux pas. Let’s take a look at who else holds the dubious title of ‘dodgiest costume’ at the party:
Police Officer as Osama Bin Laden
On the 11th September 2008, anti-terror police officer Colin Terry decided that it would be most fitting to dress up as Osama Bin Laden for a village carnival. Whether it was the timing, the uncanny likeness, or the fact that Terry saw no problem with his ‘comedy’ costume that got people’s backs up the most is hard to determine.
Reports that George Bush was left red-faced when his heat seeking missiles honed in on a Cornish village fete are unconfirmed.
Jack Tweed’s wedding day don’t
Few could fail to be touched when, in February 2009, former eternal bachelor Jack Tweed wed the terminally ill Jade Goody. The cheeky young groom looked stylish and striking in a beautifully cut navy blue suit worn with a matching white shirt and silk tie.
Yet only a few hours earlier Jack and his ushers were snapped leaving his mum’s house in a very bizarre attire of ladies’ pants and bras. As well as Jack’s matching white set, Mark Wright (now starring in surprise TV hit The Only Way is Essex) was pictured in a classy taupe bra and French knickers.
Quite why Jack felt the need to set off to his wedding dressed in lady’s underwear is still a mystery, but, to be fair, the look quite suited his skinny, tanned frame. Perhaps he should consider an alternative career as a drag artist when the interest from Heat magazine wanes.
Kelly Osbourne as a fried egg
Despite the fact that it was before she lost all the weight, you’d still have thought that Kelly, coming from such a dramatic household, would have been able to dream up something a little less, well, pointless.
Apparently not, as she and her then beau, model Luke Worrell, went to one of Heidi Klum and Seal’s infamous Halloween fancy dress parties as a fried egg and streaky bacon.
Perhaps she was making a statement that they went together like bacon and eggs; which would have been quite cute had he not been exposed as a cheating scoundrel shortly afterwards, leaving Kelly with egg on her face.
Mariah Carey as an angel
There are just two words that can be used to sum up Mariah’s attempt to come across ‘all angelic’ in fancy dress; they are ‘oh’ and ‘dear’. A tight, cheap bridal bustier, which looked suspiciously like one you’d find hung up at a dubious market stall, wings and a halo were the extent of Mariah’s costume; although lets not forget the pearlescent tights which completed the flammable ensemble.
Instead of a clutch bag (which she could have used to conceal her exposed, ample behind), Mariah chose to accessorise with her husband Nick Cannon who appeared to be dressed up as God Almighty. Clearly neither of them can be described as modest individuals.
Fancy dress can be a bit of a tough nut to crack if you’re over the age of eight and outgrown all your Disney princess costumes. Yet, it can be done well with a bit of thought and attention to detail.
Avoid dressing as war criminals, terror suspects, women with dubious taste in undies, breakfast items or near naked angels, and you’ve already done a better job than some of the richest and most high profile party goers in the world; result.
