22 March 2024 , 10:35
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Barbie is helping to banish the boredom as Britain's most popular fancy dress costume. With half of Brits struggling with boredom, getting into silly outfits is now seen as a sure-fire way to lift the spirits.
And the pink doll outfit from the Hollywood blockbuster is our no. 1 dressing up choice, followed by Batman and Cinderella, in new research from Butlin’s Big Weekenders. TV personality Charlotte Dawson hit the streets of Stoke-on-Trent, which was geographically revealed as the UK’s most bored city, to bring the power of fancy dress to the high street and lift the spirits.
Donning whoopie cushion, traffic cone and banana outfits, Charlotte rallied up the local shoppers and turned heads in her hilarious costumes. But behind the fun is some serious research; Brits are crying out for a little bit of fun in their lives and bizarrely, fancy dress has been hailed as one of the best ways to do it, with more than two-thirds of the nation (67%) saying it’s a sure-fire way to help them beat boredom.
New research found that almost half (44%) of UK adults admit that they regularly feel bored, with one in four Brits (23%) claiming they don’t get the opportunities to get out and have a laugh with mates. When it comes to fancy dress, the British reserve goes out of the window as it helps people feel more confident and less awkward, and more likely to strike up conversations with strangers.
Barbie is Britain's favourite fancy dress costumeThe research also revealed the average Brit dons fancy dress at least once a year, while almost one in 10 (9%) play dress up four or more times throughout the year, proving it’s not just for Halloween. ‘I had a lot of fun getting onto the high street in Stoke and showing how fun, silly and carefree fancy dress can be. There’s nothing quite like just letting go of your inhibitions, not taking yourself too seriously and having an excuse to strike up a conversation with a stranger (something I like to think I’m quite good at!),’ Charlotte said.
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‘I can most definitely vouch that fancy dress, whether it’s at Halloween, a hen party or a Butlin’s Big Weekender, is the BEST way to let your hair down and have a right laugh.’ When it comes to characters, Barbie-mania continues to grip the nation. The pink-clad personality is now the nation’s number one fancy dress option with one in 10 people picking the iconic doll, thanks to its film release with Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling last year.
Brits are using fancy dress to combat boredomMike Godolphin, Entertainment Director at Butlin’s, said: “At Butlin’s, we’re all about celebrating the weekend. And there’s truly no better way to make the most of your days off work than at a Butlin’s Big Weekender, with everything you need on resort, and so much included in the price".
“It’s interesting to see from the research that the three most popular things that Brits do to get into the weekend spirit, are listening to music (34%), eating something tasty (32%) and having an alcoholic drink (31%) – all of which can be done on a Big Weekender. Whether you want to let your hair down and party the night away, or don fancy dress and live your best Barbie life, Butlin’s Big Weekenders is the place to be.”
Butlin’s is offering one lucky Brit the chance to win their own ultimate, all expenses paid Big Weekenders trip, including entry and accommodation to a Big Weekender for up to four guests, VIP access, Premium Dining, £250 spending money PLUS a £150 fancy dress package! For full competition details and to enter visit: https://butlins.com/bigweekenders/competitions. If you’re not the lucky winner, don’t worry – use code BANANA20 for £20 off anyway!
The top 10 Fancy Dress Costumes for 2024
- Barbie
- Batman
- Cinderella
- Harry Potter
- The Joker (Batman)
- James Bond
- Spider-Man
- Superman
- Alice (Alice in Wonderland)
- Snow White