23 Uni Fancy Dress Ideas: Group Fancy Dress Ideas & Uni Social Ideas
We’ve got the best fancy dress ideas for your time at uni.
Need some fancy dress ideas? Fancy dress outfits are a key part of university culture.
If you’re starting uni, be prepared because you will most definitely be dressing up in fancy dress at least 3 times during your freshers’ week. Dressing up is a fun part of uni, but it can sometimes be hard to think up the perfect fancy dress ideas, especially as you’re going to need a few and you won’t want to repeat your idea twice!
If you’re looking for the best fancy dress ideas, check out our ideas for couples, groups, people on a budget and more fun ideas below.
P.S. Check out the best Ken costumes and outfits to channel Kenergy.
Jump to:
- Best cheap fancy dress ideas
- Best couples fancy dress ideas
- Group fancy dress ideas
- Best last-minute fancy dress costumes
- Uni social themes
- Fancy dress themes
Best cheap fancy dress ideas
1. Vampire
A vampire is a tried and tested fancy dress costume that won’t break the bank if you’re on a budget. You can DIY this by doing some spooky makeup, or you can buy a costume from your local fancy dress store. If you’re on a budget you can simply buy accessories, such as vampire teeth and fake blood to really elevate your look and take it to the next level.
Moon Terror Pro FX Fake Blood- Amazon
Get a student discount at Amazon Prime
Vampire Teeth- Amazon
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2. Lara Croft
Lara Croft is one of the easiest on a budget/last-minute fancy dress ideas. Several fancy dress shops will sell costumes, but this is easy to DIY with items you already have in your wardrobe. You’ll need cargo or tight shorts, combat boots and a chunky belt to complete your look.
Double Thigh Holster- Amazon
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Best couples fancy dress ideas
3. Mario & Luigi
Mario & Luigi is a fun and easy couples fancy dress costume to wear and find. For an instantly recognisable, fairly comfortable and easy-to-put-together look, all you’ll have to do is decide who is going to be Mario and who is going to be Luigi.
Super Mario Luigi Bros Fancy Dress Outfit Costume Unisex- Amazon
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4. Britney Spears & Justin Timberlake
Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake’s iconic VMAs look is one that has been recreated for fancy dress outfits for years since. For an instantly recognisable couples costume, you’re going to want to get your hands on as much denim as possible. Denim jeans, jackets, hats, dresses bags…whatever you can find will complete this iconic look.
PrettyLittleThing Mid Blue Wash Oversized Boyfriend Pocket Detail Denim Jacket- PrettyLittleThing
Get a student discount at PrettyLittleThing
Denim Patchwork Bucket Hat- PrettyLittleThing
Get a student discount at PrettyLittleThing
Denim Shoulder Bag – ASOS
Get a student discount at ASOS
Group fancy dress ideas
5. The Plastics from Mean Girls
The Plastics are an easy and iconic group costume idea because all you’ll really need is some pink! Each of the plastics has their own individual style that you can draw inspo from, Gretchin tends to wear checked mini skirts while Cady is known for her iconic oversized pink polo top. Whatever outfit you decide on, the 4 characters have some great fancy dress potential for you and your friends to try out.
Pink polo – ASOS
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Pink Cardigan- Nasty Gal
Get a student discount at Nasty Gal
Check mini Skirt- Nasty Gal
Get a student discount at Nasty Gal
6. The Cheetah Girls
For the ultimate 2000s throwback, The Cheetah Girls are an iconic Disney Channel trio with a whole bunch of iconic looks to try out. Obviously, the key to nailing this look is you’ll need to get your hands on some cheetah print. However, The Cheetah Girls are also well known for wearing matching velour tracksuits, chunky headbands and sparkly scarves and a host of other 2000s throwback trends that you can explore.
Jersey Headband 2 Pack- ASOS
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Juicy Couture co-ord – ASOS
Get a student discount at ASOS
Leopard print tee – ASOS
Get a student discount at ASOS
7. Peaky Blinders
Peaky Blinders is an easy fancy dress outfit to recreate for a group of 4 or more. To pull off the perfect Tommy Shelby look you’ll need to get a flat cap to really look the part and a waistcoat, bow tie or braces for the most put-together look.
Peaky Blinder Costume Fancy Dress Accessories Set- Amazon
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8. The Powerpuff Girls
The Powerpuff Girls wear costumes that are instantly recognisable, so if you’re looking for fancy dress outfits for you and 2 of your other friends this will be perfect. This is a pretty easy costume to DIY as Bubbles, Buttercup and Blossom each have their own colour, blue, green and orange. You can get a tutu from your local fancy dress store and wear bold tights with a t-shirt correlating to your colour, or if you’re lazy you can just buy a costume too.
Powerpuff Girls Blossom Costume- Amazon
Get a student discount at Amazon Prime
Best last-minute fancy dress costumes
9. Pirate
A pirate costume is very easy to put together last minute. Most fancy dress stores will carry a pirate outfit or accessories, but if you can’t get to one because you’ve left it until literally the day of the event you can DIY one too!
Pirate Lady Costume- Smiffys
Get a student discount at Smiffys
Deluxe Swashbuckler Pirate Costume- Smiffys
Get a student discount at Smiffys
10. Any era (20s/60s/70s/80s/90s)
If in doubt, eras remain a firm choice for fancy dress outfits. With a revival in both 60s, 80s and 90s fashion trends over the last year, you’ll be able to easily find some pieces that fit into this era in a lot of high street shops or fast fashion websites. The 20s Great Gatsby-esque costumes have always been very popular fancy dress outfits, so you’ll be able to find something that will fit in at most fancy dress stores.
20s Flapper Costume- Smiffys
Get a student discount at Smiffys
Collared white shirt – ASOS
Get a student discount at ASOS
Jumpsuit- ASOS
Get a student discount at ASOS
Uni social themes
Start of uni means the start of socials — and that’s where the magic happens. And by magic we mean some outrageous fancy dress ideas.
University is all about embracing the weird and wacky side of life, and if that means dressing up as a banana, then you dress up as a banana.
Arguably the most fun thing about socials is coming up with fancy dress ideas and thinking of uni social themes, which can be hard when lots of things have been overdone.
Luckily, we’ve got some uni social themes to help inspire you.
- Anything But Clothes: no clothes allowed, get creative! i.e. bin bags
- Baywatch
- Dress as your degree: you know, like a sperm if you’re in Biology or a baguette if you study French.
- Pyjama party: nothing more comfy TBH.
- Sims
- Shrek
- Child version of yourself
Fancy dress themes
Fancy dress doesn’t have to be so specific. Fancy dress themes are more broad, lets say sea-life rather than pirates; see what I mean?
If you’re stuck for fancy dress themes for your next uni social or party, here are some of our ideas:
- Farmyard: animals, farmers, tractors, hay bales
- Garden: grass, trees, flowers, plants, insects, birds, animal
- Wigs: everyone wears a different wig
- Medieval: Knights in shining armour, princesses, jesters, Robin Hood
- Hollywood: glamour, red carpet, celebrities
- Futuristic/Sci-Fi: space, aliens, metallics
Find amazing deals and offers with our fancy dress student discounts.
