Dress Code
The 2026 theme and dress code is The Court of the Pumpkin King; a fictional setting created for the Ball.
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"In the distance, the grand palace of the Pumpkin King rises through the mist like a twisted monument to autumnal opulence; its towering spires draped in curling vines and garlands of withered autumn leaves.
Candlelight casts long shadows across the ballroom where this evening’s grand Halloween Ball is to be held. The air is thick with the scent of cinnamon and cloves.
At the end of the hall, upon his throne, sits the Pumpkin King. A massive, ornately carved pumpkin rests on his shoulders where his decapitated head once did. His courtiers dance before him, the lively music of the band casting a spell over them.
They are dressed in extravagant costumes that mirror the Autumn harvest—gowns and frock coats in shades of pumpkin orange and forest green, with some cloaked in the black of the night sky. Some wear crowns of autumn leaves, whilst others don bewitching masks of glittering cobwebs and creeping vines.
The Court of the Pumpkin King is a realm where Halloween reigns, and tonight, its festivities will be like no other."​
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Attendees should dress as courtiers of the fictional 'Pumpkin King', wearing historical attire (pre-1910) in shades of orange, black, or green, or any combination of those three colours. Small amounts of other colours are permitted, but should not dominate your costume - see full rules under the 'Colour' section below. Pumpkin, leaf, and vine motifs and decoration are highly encouraged.
Dos
Think of the Historical Halloween Ball primarily as a historical costuming event; the theme is important and it matters, but historical costume is what we are celebrating. Your costume has two elements, like ice skating scores - the historical element is ‘technical merit’ and the theme is ‘artistic impression’.
HISTORICAL ACCURACY & TECHNIQUE​
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Silhouette:
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Wear attire based on historically accurate styles, Medieval to 1910. This should be evening or ball attire.
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Wear proper undergarments – corsets/stays and petticoats contribute a lot to having a historically accurate silhouette.
Finish:
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Make your costume to a good standard - neat sewing and finishes, correct structure, ironed and pressed.
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'Weathering' and tattered edges can be thematically appropriate, but please make it look intentional.​
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Comfort & Safety:
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Make sure your costume is comfortable and manoeuvrable if you plan on dancing - ceilidhs can involve fast-paced dancing in tight spaces.
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If you are planning on coming in a hoop skirt, keep it modest in size. We've suggested no larger than about 126" in circumference,
e.g. TV141 – 1858 Round Cage Crinoline / TV103 – 1865 Elliptical Cage. -
Corded petticoats are a great alternative as they are much more 'squishable' and allow you to move past other dancers with ease.​​
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Hems should be clear of the floor and not pose a trip hazard. Trains should be bustled up or removed for dancing. No exceptions.
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THEME & ARTISTRY
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Colour:
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Costumes should be in shades of orange, black or green. These include, but are not limited to the following:
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Small amounts of other colours, in addition to orange, black and green, can be used as accent colours. These should not dominate your outfit, and should be limited to white, cream, or other autumnal colours such as gold, brown and burgundy.​​​​​​
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These accent colours can feature as:
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​✔ Stripes or in patterns on fabrics (again, in small amounts only).
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✔ Trim, collars, cuffs, bowties, cravats, shoes.
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✔ Shirts, blouses, chemises.
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✔ Waistcoats or stomachers partially obscured under jackets or dresses
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✔ Gentlemen may wear white, cream, brown, or tan breeches or trousers.​​​​​​
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Accent colours should not feature as:
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✘ The main colour of petticoats, skirts, or bodices.
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Be Creative:
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Use fabric, embellishments, props, hair, makeup and SFX to meet the theme - The Court of the Pumpkin King.
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We encourage using pumpkin, leaf, and vine motifs and decorations to adorn your costume.​
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Be creative - there will be some small prizes for Best Individual Costume, Best Couple/Duo, and Best Hair, Makeup or SFX.
Don'ts
Don't Forget the Spirit of the Event - Keep it Historical!
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No short hem lengths / bare legs or ankles.
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No modern prom dresses, steampunk, or generic goth costumes - all costumes should display an attempt at historically accurate attire with the theme secondary to this.
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No bought “ready-out-the-bag” Halloween costumes from a Fancy Dress Shop – attendees should make, buy or hire good quality costumes. Gentlemen who are purchasing suits should stick to classic cuts suitable for Victorian/Edwardian era attire.
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​Don't Go Off Theme
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No costumes which are predominantly of a colour other than orange, black or green.
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No 'monster' costumes - no Frankenstein’s monsters, vampires, or werewolves.
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Avoid schlock, cheese or anything a bit too ‘Hollywood’. If your costume is giving Universal monster movie or Hammer horror vibes, then you may need to rethink your design choices.
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Avoid straying into modernised pop-culture or cosplay; we want to stay true to the spirit of historical authenticity.​
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Don't Be Inconsiderate To Others
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No cheap grease/face paint, or anything that could transfer to another attendee's costume. Makeup and SFX are very much encouraged, but should be executed to a high standard using materials not easily 'sweated-off'.
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Please wear gloves instead of painting your hands or arms.​
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No long trains. You are welcome to arrive with the train down for photos, but this must be removed, pinned up, or held with a wrist loop, for dancing. There were some offenders at the last Ball, and they posed a serious trip hazard for other attendees - this will not be tolerated.
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No large crinolines if you are planning to dance - keep your hoops to about 126" in circumference or below.
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No offensive costumes – scary makeup and SFX is encouraged, but please no costumes depicting harmful racial/ethnic stereotypes.
In Summary
✔ Dress in historical attire, Medieval to 1910. No later eras.
✔ Be inspired by autumn, harvest, pumpkins, and nature.
✔ Stick to the colour code; orange, black or green. Use other colours sparingly.
✔ Use pumpkin, leaf, and vine motifs and decoration to adorn your costume.
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✘ 'Monster' costumes; e.g. Frankenstein, vampires, werewolves, etc.
✘ Historical interpretations of modern films; no 'historical' takes on Freddy Krueger, Michael Myers, Beetlejuice, Nightmare Before Christmas, etc.
✘ No modern prom dresses, steampunk, generic goth costumes, or high-street bought Halloween costumes.
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​Failure to comply with the dress code may result in admittance to the event being denied. We want to help our attendees as much as we can, so if you have any questions, or want to run an idea past us, our email inbox is always open: halloween@historicalcostumemakers.co.uk
Word Inspiration
Acorn, Amber, Autumnal, Bonfire​, Bramble, Butternut, Candlelit, Caramel, Chestnut, Cider, Cobweb, Cornfield, Cornucopia, Ember​, Fog, Forest, Gourds, Harvest, Hayride, Hearth, Ivy, Lantern, Leaves, Maple, Marigold​, Moss, Mulled​, Oak, Orchard, Pumpkins, Scarecrow, Silhouette, Spiced, Squash, Twilight, Wheat, Willow
