The origins of fancy dress costumes and that of a fancy dress party can be traced right back to the fifteenth century in Italy. This is when the first masquerade balls or masked balls were held. These masquerade balls then developed into public festivities where elaborate dances were performed in fancy dress clothes. The fancy dress party is mostly organized and held for the upper class. Eventually, the fancy dress party became especially popular in Venice, Italy.
On the other hand, here in the United Kingdom, masquerade fancy dress balls only started to gain popularity during the eighteenth century and it was only by the Victorian era that the fancy dress parties were held similar to todays’ fancy dress parties.
Also Fancy dress comes from the fact that people would tend to wear quite plain and ordinary clothes, however when it came to a formal occasion they would dress up just like the upper classes, and this dress was called 'fancy' because literally it was.
And hence fancy dress is one of those phrases that actually has quite a sensible origin.
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before.
Edgar Allen Poe
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