COSTUMIERS, OUTFITTERS
AND FANCY DRESS COSTUME HIRE
Dressing up and stepping out is one of life's great pleasures - whether you're putting on the Ritz,
treading the boards or simply trying on a new you for size!
Masquerade - Brighton's premier costumiers and fancy dress hire - delights in putting
some grown-up glamour back into the art of make-believe … for showtime or playtime!
Corporate events, masked balls, office parties, stage shows, musicals, cabaret, burlesque or photo
shoot … When you make an appointment with Masquerade, we'll find a look that's fit to flaunt.
Off-the-peg or custom made, we'll deck you out, kit you up and make your fantasy a reality.
So for quality costumes and stylish accessories with that personal touch, step inside and join the masquerade …
SO TURN OVER THE CARDS TO BEGIN...
P.S. Visit our
P.S. blog
for our very latest updates and new services.
Masquerade - Where make-believe comes made-to-measure
About Us
Masquerade - Behind the Mask
"I dress for the image. Not for myself. Not for the public. Not for fashion. Not for men." Marlene Dietrich
Who are we?
Brighton's premier costumiers, outfitters and fancy dress hire.
What's our story?
Masquerade is a Brighton institution. In various guises we've been
dressing and finessing the UK's party capital for over a
quarter of a century. Behind the new look, 21st-century Masquerade is professional
stylist and renowned costumier Jackie Crier.
What do we do?
Give your flights of fancy - wings…
In other words?
Source, design, create and accessorize quality bespoke costumes and fancy dress for every occasion at affordable prices.
Visit our
Wardrobe
and
Stage Door
for costumes galore…
Every occasion?
Try this on for size - burlesque to Bollywood, catwalk to carnival, murder mystery to masquerade ball, office party to Oliver Twist…
Okay. Not just fancy dress then?
That too, of course! But don't just think off-the-peg. Think: You need the look; we've got the vision to make it happen…
So what makes Masquerade stand out from the crowd?
It's all in the experience - a tailor-made mix of know-how, personal service, attention to detail and a real passion for what we do all adds up to the ultimate costume call…
"I promise to tell the world about this magical shop that cares and transforms you into whatever you dream to be."
Jaqui Dolton, Sparkles & Surprises, Chairperson
Party Pieces
Cutting a dash for the party season
"The only rule is don't be shy and dress cute wherever you go …
life is too short to blend in." Paris Hilton
You've got the invite - fancy dress… What do you do? Slip on a waistcoat, slap on an
eye-patch and hope for the best? Only to find a roomful of poor- man Johnny Depps!
The office party season is approaching. You've got crazy deadlines, expectant staff, nothing
organised... One thing you do know - another year of party poppers and secret Santa just
won't cut the mustard!
The solution? Make an appointment with Masquerade and we'll help you make the right
impression - without paying a ship’s ransom! Masked ball, corporate sales conference, office
party, best friend's 40th - whatever the occasion, we'll work a look, then send you off
party-bound and dressed to kill...
And we won't just stop at styling. With our extended family of caterers, cabaret artists,
MCs and entertainers - all at the end of a phone line - if you need the works, we’ll make sure
you've got all the angles covered…
"From the harpist to the waitresses and the 'Lady of the Night', the costumes were perfect
… Thank you all for helping my dream party become a reality!"
Tina Stiles, A Regency Romp, The Royal Pavilion, Brighton, March 2008
Stage Door
Dressing for stage and screen
"Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society!" Mark Twain
The magic of all great drama lies in its power to transport us - to new worlds and new
experience. Costume is an essential part of this journey, providing that special spark that
ignites our imagination.
At Masquerade our team draws on over 30 years experience in stage and screen work. So whatever
your need - theatre, film or photo shoot - we can create the style that suits. Of course, the
secret is all in the detail and at Masquerade we go the extra mile for that all-important
finishing touch. With a little love and attention, we'll add period panache to your Oscar
Wilde, camp up your festive panto, ensure your burlesque is suitably under-dressed and be fully
on song for your Mama Mia spectacular.
So when the lights go down and the curtain goes up, you’re on cue for a pitch-perfect
performance.
If you would like to put your own show together come and be creative in our warehouse. We'll provide
an empty rail and clip board and leave you to do the rest.
Alternatively, our designers can put the principles
and chorus costumes together, for a fee.
Click here for a list of show and pantomime costume sets available
"I have enormous confidence in their ability to costume major musical productions -
in fact I would go nowhere else. Recommended without reserve…"
Keith S. Shepherd, Brighton Theatre Group, Chairman
Jackie Crier - Costume Queen
"I married a German. Every night I dress up as Poland and he invades me." Bette Midler
Where costume is concerned, Jackie Crier has been it, seen it, styled it, stitched it.
In a 35 year career, she's styled the Beatles, the Kinks, the Hollies, the Stones.
She's worked with leading photographers from David Bailey and Terence Donovan
to Barry Lategan and Richard Avedon - including shoots for the famous Pirelli calendar series.
She's also worked on a number of award-winning advertising campaigns. She took the reins
of Brighton-based costumiers Masquerade in 2007. Her professional team includes Penny
Rollinson (ex BBC costume department), Siobhan O'Leary (ex film props), and
Robert James (costume designer and cabaret artiste).
"Masquerade provide us with costumes for every occasion. Any topic, theme, character, style …
Masquerade can help."
Jason Fox, Acting Out Casting and Promotion, Director
Feedback
Masquerade provide us with costumes for every occasion. Any topic, theme, character, style … Masquerade can help.
Everything from Father Christmas's glasses to the Easter Bunny's tail; from a medieval peasant to Henry VIII's wives,
they never cease to amaze me. I would like to thank Jackie, Katie and the Masquerade team for their fantastic service
and support and I look forward to working with them on future projects.
Jason Fox, Acting Out Casting and Promotion, Director
The entire team at Masquerade - under the leadership of Jackie Crier - are continuously engaged in providing
costume sets for the productions I stage at Brighton's Theatre Royal. With standards required at professional
levels, the knowledge and expertise is unsurpassed and I have enormous confidence in their ability to costume
major musical productions - in fact I would go nowhere else. A fully professional service offering value for
money, expertise and full guidance in all that is considered costume. Recommended without reserve…
Keith S. Shepherd, Brighton Theatre Group, Chairman
I would like to thank you and all the staff at Masquerade for helping to make my Regency Romp at the
Royal Pavilion such a success. When I first came in to discuss costumes I had no idea of the excellent
service you provide and the immense amount of time and trouble you are prepared to go to in order
to make any event the best it can possibly be.
As the costumes played such a large role in the evening, I was particularly thrilled to know of your
dressmaker Caz who made exactly the dress I wanted for the evening - I could not have been happier.
From the harpist to the waitresses and the 'Lady of the Night', the costumes were perfect. I also
know I speak for many of my guests who you fitted for the evening all of whom turned up looking just amazing.
Thank you all for helping my dream party become a reality!
Tina Stiles, A Regency Romp, The Royal Pavilion, Brighton, March 2008
Masquerade are the most professional and helpful costume people in the south if not the whole of the UK.
A superb selection of superior threads! A staff that puts the customer first.
Many thanks for your continued good work. Excellent service!
Marc Sinclair, Brighton City Sightseeing/Brighton & Hove Bus Company
I've happily used Masquerade for years now as there really isn't anything they haven't got!
Running an entertainment agency is stressful enough so to be able to turn to the great team
at Masquerade, for all of our theme costume needs, really does make my job so much easier!
Incredibly helpful and inventive in getting together the different looks we require … it's
always fun and a great success! Long may we continue to work with Masquerade and their
treasure trove of costumes and props!
Angela Newman, Angel Entertainment, Director
It's not often we meet special people, and it's even more rare to find those special people
working in the same business, and in Masquerade, our charity has discovered a wonderful mix of
creativity, kindness and generosity.
You always have time for us and take care to understand what is needed, and we really trust your
creativity and suggestions, which are always perfect and beyond expectations.
When we hired outfits for the Prince Regent Ball at the Royal Pavilion you made us feel like
royalty. I nearly cried after you had a surprise Regency style dress made for me, I was so moved!
Last year Sparkles organised a charity St George's Day parade, and last minute I needed actors
and costumes to perform a street play of St George and the Dragon. Again you jumped to the
rescue, found actors, a wonderful narrator and perfect costumes.
I can never thank you enough for all you have done for the charity and for those complex special
needs children. May our association continue and I promise to tell the world about this magical
shop that cares and transforms you into whatever you dream to be.
Jaqui Dolton, Sparkles & Surprises, Chairperson
