Dress up box

When I was a little girl I can remember how much i LOVED to dress up in mum's clothes - wear her fur coat and high heels- totter around with sequined evening bag....

So when we had a daughter of our own I decided a dress-up box was a top priority.

An ongoing thing
I started this for her when she was a year old. One of her Christmas presents was a cardboard box full of a few op shop finds and cheap plastic jewelery.

That was 12 years ago, while she was young, each Christmas would see a new box of goodies to add to the dress up box. One year she even got a beautiful big cane toy box to keep it all in (an extra super find in the op-shop ;-)

The boys use it as much as she has and even now DD13 and her friends will dress up and have 'photo shoots'. Occasionally all the kids will get together with friends- dress up and stage impromptu plays - it really is a brilliant resource.
We still add to it occasionally and especially with the boys we have added swords and cowboy things and various dress up outfits they may have been given as presents or came across by chance.

Keep an eye out for the opportune moment
Most op-shops have special days when they sell off a bag of clothes for $5. These are often to clear out the items no-one seems to want - get in there and grab the funny coloured jackets and silky trousers, the polka dot bloomers and striped dressing gowns. Stock up on silver dancing shoes and an assortment of hats. Go for gloves, scarves and bright socks - anything thats eyecatching and interesting. Fake fur, sequins, leather-look......

Cheap Jewels and accessories
The best thing about dressing up is ANYTHING goes and the more layers the better. Make sure there are plenty of necklaces and bangles and assorted sunglasses are fabulous too!
Make sure there are 'boy' and 'girl' items (boys and girls will dress up in both!). As I mentioned our box also contains guns in holsters, swords and breastplates and other warrior/cowboy type delights.

Bargain shops
The 'cheap' shops like Go-lo and $2 shop, Bargain basement and the likes often have cheap dress ups - you may be able to add to your collection such delights as pirate eye patch and hook,  princess tiara, angel wings and halo and fairy wands.

Be creative in sourcing your supplies
Not only are op-shops and bargain shops treasure troves for the dress-up box ;You may have friends who wear uniforms to work who can pass on their old items. Let people know you are on the look out and they may have old items they are planning to send to the op-shop anyway. You may be able to put a free ad in your school or kinder newsletter - or a note in your supermarket window or noticeboard.

Your Dressup box/ Dress-up corner is as big or small as you have room for and as diverse as you would like to make it- but remember it needn't be something which is put together in a weekend and then static - have fun adding to it as the years go by and the kids will revel in the fantasy and imaginary world of make believe.

Enjoy! x