Hollywood Fancy Dress

Spring is starting to emerge and chocolate eggs and bunnies fill the supermarket shelves, this can only mean it is Easter time! Most people nowadays see Easter as a time to eat lots of chocolaty treats and look at cute pictures of fluffy baby animals, but we can do that any time! Easter is more of a spiritual event than we give it credit for these days. What Is Easter About? Easter is traditionally a celebration of Jesus’ resurrection after he was put to death on a crucifix. He was thought to be the son of God by the Christian religion and as such, this was a miracle to behold. Churches and schools across the country hold ceremonies to remember all that Jesus did for them in dying for their sins. In the leading up to Easter Christian also celebrate Holy week in which they celebrate the last weeks of Jesus’ life before re-birth and tell the stories from the Bible about his last supper and his betrayal from Judas. Long before Jesus’ time some European countries worshiped the Goddess of Spring, whose name was Eostre. Their belief was that the sun died in the winter and was born again in spring time and that this was the goddesses doing. Some believe that is was after her that Easter was named. Continue reading →

If you’ve visited Hollywood Fancy Dress on Castle Lane recently, you will have seen that we’re selling off some of our hire costumes and accessories to make way for shiny new ones! This of course means huge discounts on some really high quality pieces, who can say no? Well now it’s Hollywood ‘Just For Fun’s turn as all of the ex-rental is moving to our Southampton branch. If you’re looking for something unique and hard wearing for your next fancy dress party, then pop in to see the Southampton team, who will be able to kit you out for bargain prices! What Is Up For Grabs? Now I know what you’re thinking, if we’re getting rid of it, it can’t be any good! But you’d be wrong! We were simply full to the brim with great costumes and needed to make way for some exciting new ones. There is also seasonal hire up for grabs such as Halloween and Christmas costumes if you’re thinking ahead. There is a huge selection of authentic Army and Navy uniforms available for those of you who like to look distinguished in your fancy dress costumes. There are also plenty of tailored jackets and suits to choose from, ideal for murder mysteries and James Bond themed parties. Continue reading →

Nerds of the south coast unite! This year will see the second in what we hope will be a very long line of conventions. On Saturday 28th March the Empire Hall in Totton will play host to Southampton Comic Con 2! With the first year’s cartoon and comic con being such a success, how could you refuse another? What’s It All About? In 2012 Dave Penny and Wayne Streak met at Def Con 1, a Star Wars themed convention that is now held annually in Southampton. They shared a love for conventions and joined forces between Def Con, the SO16 Troopers and Nerdagedddon.net and became Nerdageddon.co.uk. In 2014 they hosted Southampton’s first ever comic con which was a roaring success. Not only are the conventions great fun for all of the family, but they also help local charities such as Clic Sargent which is a charity that helps provide accommodation for families of children fighting cancer so that they can always be nearby. They also donate to the Piam Brown unit in Southampton General hospital which is a paediatric oncology and haematology centre. Continue reading →

We all feel that ache in our legs at the end of a long night out. Too much dancing, too much walking and maybe a little too much drinking... Don’t you just wish you had someone there to take away the burden? Now you can, just say “Carry Me!” Here at Hollywood we have the most hilarious new range of...

Top of the morning to you all! We hope you’ll be joining us to raise a pint of Guinness to St Patrick on Tuesday 17th March. Who is St Patrick? St Patrick is one of Ireland’s patron saints, best known for having converted thousands of Irish Pagans over to Christianity. It is believed that at the age of 16 he...

Sunday 15th March is Mother's Day so show your mum just how much you really care about her! She’s the woman that gave you life and nurtured you from a baby to the person you are now. It’s time to give something back, a day to say thank you for all her hard work and make her feel special. What...

It’s Red Nose Day on Friday 13th March, so how will you be making your face funny for money? People all across the country are getting geared up to have fun and raise money for a great cause, whether it’s having a bake sale, getting sponsored to give up your favourite thing or simply sending in a donation. What's Red Nose Day All About? Red Nose Day first launched in 1988 and has since become a staple event in Britain. Every two years people find new and exciting ways to raise money for a charity that not only helps those in need here in the UK, but in Africa too. Since the last Red Nose Day, Comic Relief has spent £99 million helping over 12 million people with money raised through Red Nose Day and Sport Relief as well as other fundraising. Continue reading →

There is a child in us all pining for play and aching for adventure... an inner glow that longs to laugh and be lost in a fantasy world where anything is possible and parties walk hand in hand with the games of the young at heart. With the right costumes you can create a place where time happens outside and...

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On the 5th March it will be time to celebrate World Book Day. What a great opportunity to dress up as your favourite literary characters and bring the books you love to life. World Book Day is a partnership of publishers, booksellers, schools, charities and more. It is a great opportunity to encourage children to read more and let them...

Here at Hollywood we could not be more excited to be opening the doors of our brand new Weymouth branch! On Friday 27th February Hollywood will be re-launching “The Party Shop” and you’re invited! Weymouth thought the party was over when their beloved Party Shop closed its doors at the start of the year, but the Hollywood team are here...

This February we’re off to see the wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz at Bournemouth Pavilion! From the 19th-21st February Swish of the Curtain are showing off their stunning adaptation of The Wizard of Oz and we cannot wait. Join Dorothy and her adorable companion Toto in their fantastical journey home! What's The Wizard Of Oz About? After dropping her house on a witch, young Dorothy finds herself quite lost in a magical world. She sets off to meet a famous wizard that may be able to get here safely back to Kansas. On her way down the yellow brick road she encounters some very mysterious characters and makes friends with some unlikely fellows. A Scarecrow in need of a brain is first to join her followed by a Tin Man who wants a heart more than anything and of course, the lion that needs to find some courage. Put on your ruby slippers and come and be part of their stunning musical adventure, where danger is never far away. Prepare to be blow away by this sing-a-long classic! Continue reading →

Here in the UK our year is already off to a flying start, but for the Chinese, their New Year is just about to begin! Chinese New Year is the biggest of all Chinese festivals and a public holiday in many parts of the world where there are Chinese communities. Celebrations often last for 15 days, but traditionally they would begin on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month and end on the 15th of the first lunar month. Modern society makes it much harder to hold such long festivities, but both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are always alive with celebrations. Thursday 19th February marks the start of the year of the goat on the Chinese lunar calendar; it may also be viewed as the year of the ram or sheep due to different readings of the Zodiac animals. While China adopted the Georgian calendar in 1911, traditions have always remained. After switching calendars “New Year” did not seem a fitting name for the celebration so it became known as Spring Festival. Continue reading →

Children all across the country will be getting into costume on Thursday 5th March to celebrate World Book Day! This year will mark the 18th anniversary of World Book Day here in the UK and as always it is set to be more exciting than the last. What Is World Book Day? World Book Day is an annual event celebrating...

The day of love is nearly upon us, have you got anything special for your valentine yet? What is Valentine's Day? Valentine's Day is an annual celebration of love that takes place on 14th February. It is an entire day set aside for us to show appreciation for that special someone in our lives. Flowers will be sent from secret admirers, cards filled with romantic poems and beautiful gifts exchanged between partners. The origins of Valentine's Day are largely unknown as there were many Saints named Valentine, but none with a connection to romance. The closest link that can be made is to a St Valentine who was a Roman priest, martyred on February 14th of the year 270 CE. The connection to love was thought to have been made much later by English writer, Geoffrey Chaucer with his poem “Valentines” written in the 14th Century. Whatever the connection, the 14th February has been celebrated for centuries across the world with feasts and rituals relating to love and romance. Continue reading →

Burns Night is a celebration held on the 25th January, that honours the life and works of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns. Even though his life was tragically cut short, he was able to leave behind a legacy that would immortalise him for centuries. History Robert Burns was born in 1759 to a less than wealthy farming couple living off the Ayrshire coast in Scotland. He was to be the oldest of seven children and even with times of hardship always upon them his parents were keen to educate their offspring. Robert was able to group together with other families to share a tutor called John Murdoch, who taught him English grammar, giving him the tools he needed to become the poet we know and remember today. All that is, except the gift of singing it would seem as, ironically, a man who went on to write the most beautiful love songs had an “untuneable” voice according to his tutor. Career While Burns was becoming an educated man, he was still doing a full day’s work on the family farm to try and keep food on their table, but that would not keep him from his books. By the time Robert was 21 he had read the works of Shakespeare, David Hume, Adam Smith and nearly everything in between. This love of books fuelled his passion for literature and broadened his imagination. Books however were not his only passion in life. He had a love for women and celebrated them in songs and poetry. The legacy of Robert Burns includes many affairs which led to him fathering over a dozen children to various women! But it wasn’t just lust he saw for women; he also acknowledged them for their minds and opinions, believing them to have valuable insight. Continue reading →

On the 21st January one of the greatest musicals of all time, The Sound of Music returns in an all new magnificent production to The Mayflower Southampton. The Performance Playing the role of Maria von Trapp is Danielle Hope, who captured the hearts of the country when she won BBC Television’s Over the Rainbow and made her professional debut as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium. Danielle has since played Eponine in Les Misérables in London’s West End and Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Based on Baroness Maria von Trapp’s 1949 autobiography, this production tells the story of the Von Trapp family’s flight across the mountains and works its magic for all ages. The unforgettable score features some of the most memorable songs ever performed on the musical stage, including Edelweiss, My Favorite Things, Do-Re-Mi, Climb Ev’ry Mountain, and of course, the title song The Sound of Music. Continue reading →

On 12th February Bournemouth Pavilion is once again opening their doors to one of the scariest acts you will see this side of a Marilyn Manson concert. Oh yes, we’re bringing out The Circus of Horrors! What is The Circus of Horrors? Born from a conception at the 1995 Glastonbury Festival, The Circus of Horrors has become a roaring success. Most of you will know of the act after seeing it reach the finals of Britain’s Got Talent, still remaining the only circus act to ever to do so. Since then they have stormed the world performing across Europe and Asia and they have also taken to the West End, being the first circus to do so for 100 years! And now they’re back and the act is bigger and better than ever to mark its 20th anniversary in gory style! Continue reading →

From the 6th to the 10th of January 2015, Saturday Night Fever comes to The Mayflower Theatre in Southampton. Based on the smash hit film featuring songs by the Bee Gees, the production is based in the 1970's the prime time of disco! The Storyline Brooklyn teen Tony Manero lives for Saturday nights at the local club, where he's king of the disco, thanks to his stylish moves on the dance floor. But outside of the club, things aren’t all fun and games. At home, Tony fights with his father all the time and has to compete with his family's idealistic view of his older brother who is a priest. To make matters worse he’s stuck in a dead-end job at a paint store. However, things begin to change when he meets the beautiful Stephanie at the disco and starts training with her for the club's dance competition. Stephanie dreams of a world beyond little old Brooklyn, and her plans to move to the big city will change Tony's life forever. Continue reading →

Here are the 10 most common New Year Resolutions to help you chose yours - or maybe pick something a little bit different! Every year, we promise ourselves that we will change. We will acquire new virtues and dispense with our stubborn vices. However well-intentioned, these plans rarely come to fruition, with polling data estimating the time of failure before...