Way back in the 15th century, masquerade balls were all the rage, and everyone who was anyone hoped for an invitation and arrived dressed to the nines. Today, masquerade balls are still popular, and not just at Halloween, when people traditionally dress up in costumes. At one time, masquerade balls were held for formal occasions. Today, they are often held just because someone wants an excuse to have a fun party.

So, what exactly do you wear to a formal masquerade ball? Well, it will actually depend on the occasion. For instance, if it is burlesque themed, you may want to have a fancy costume with a bit of sexiness. Here are some ideas that you can use to have the best costume at your next formal masquerade ball.

Your Dress

Unless you are going to a super-formal event, a semi-formal dress will do the trick nicely, and it will be perfect for the dress code. There are certain things that you need to consider when choosing your dress. The most important is your mask. If you have a really fancy mask, you want it to stand out, so make sure that your dress a bit more on the subdued side. On the other hand, if your mask is plain, you will want to have an extra-fancy dress. You can never go wrong with a lot of bling, and ruffles and lace are always a great choice. Another option is a dress with a corset top, which is good and fancy, and also a bit on the sexy side. Timeless Trends has some great options for high quality corsets.

Your Mask

One of the first things you need to find is a great mask. There are so many options. You can easily make your own, and there are all kinds of really cool patterns online. Or, you can even draw your mask on with makeup. This is a great alternative rather than having the mask with a handle that you need to hold onto all night. When it comes to masks, your options are virtually limitless. You can order venetian masks online at VIVO Masks, or buy them from your nearest party supply store. Dollar stores even carry them around Halloween.

Accessories

When it comes to accessories, you can go one of two ways. You can wear minimal accessories so your mask and dress stand out, or you can go all out and completely bling your costume out. One thing to keep in mind is to not wear any jewelry that will get in the way of your mask. This is particularly important if you use a mask with a handle. Make sure that you don’t wear a bracelet that the handle will get caught up in. Labyrinth Masquerade is a great resource for some more costume ideas.

Your Shoes

Make sure that the shoes you wear match your dress. They should be a neutral color, such as black or white, so they will go with your costume as well as other outfits. After all, if you’re going to spend money on shoes, you may as well be able to wear them as much as possible, and not just to one party. Heels are a good choice, but if you plan on doing a lot of dancing, you may want to consider wedges or flats that are more comfortable and will still look great.

Makeup

Last but not least, we’ll discuss makeup. Your makeup will depend on your costume, and your mask. If you are using makeup as a mask, you are going to want to go all out. If you are using a mask, you will want to go lightly on the makeup because the mask is what you really want people to see. Also, the mask may brush against your makeup and smudge it. Check out Tumblr for some more makeup techniques.