Animal-themed fancy-dress party: comfy costume ideas and games for your guests

An animal-themed fancy-dress party has a huge advantage over other themes: everyone has an idea, and nobody needs a complicated costume. The secret is to choose an outfit that's recognisable at first glance and that you can wear all evening, from the first drink to the dance floor. Here are costume ideas, duos to team up in, a simple activity, and the mistakes that spoil a party.

The right costume: recognisable from afar, comfortable up close

A successful animal costume comes down to two things: a silhouette and a signature detail. The silhouette is the main colour and the overall shape; the detail is what names the animal: a fin, a mane, a long tail, spots.

The third rule is the one most often forgotten: you need to be able to sit down, eat, drink and go to the toilet in it. A rigid costume, a foam head that blocks your view or wings that knock over glasses end up abandoned in the hallway before midnight.

That's why the hooded one-piece, the kigurumi, has become the outfit of choice for this theme: hood up for effect, down for chatting, and a roomy cut you wear over a T-shirt. To find out all about this garment, read our article kigurumi: what it is and how to choose one.

6 animal costume ideas that always work

1. The shark

The most effective way to get a laugh as you walk in. The Shark Kigurumi, in blue flannel, has a hood shaped like a jaw lined with fabric teeth: pulled up, it looks as if you're being swallowed. The padded dorsal fin and tail fin finish the job.

2. The crocodile

The costume that plays along all evening. The Crocodile Onesie in olive-green flannel has a yellow belly, scales stitched all the way down the back and a tail at the rear. The toothy hood drops back onto your neck once you've finished scaring everyone.

3. The giraffe

The easiest animal to recognise, thanks to its spots. The Giraffe Kigurumi, in light fleece printed with orange spots on a cream background, has a hood with two little round horns and a tail with a pompom. It fastens with press studs all the way down the front, handy for slipping it on in a hurry.

4. The monkey

Ideal for those who want a role to play. The Monkey Kigurumi, in brown fleece with a beige front panel, has a long tail stitched on the back and two big round ears on the hood. Add a banana as a prop, and the character is complete.

5. The teddy bear

For those who feel the cold and lovers of all things soft. The Cable Knit Teddy Bear Onesie, in fleece knitted in chunky ribs, has two little ears on the hood and a teddy bear embroidered on the back. More understated, it suits those who want to play along with the theme without being the centre of attention.

6. The monster, for imaginary animals

If your theme allows made-up creatures, the hooded Monster Pyjamas, with their horns and embroidered eyes, or the Monster Bunny Faux Fur Pyjamas in thick faux fur, with a single eye and a mouth full of teeth, cause a sensation. The Monster Bunny is made to order: check your size carefully before ordering.

For all these onesies, our guide to choosing the right adult onesie size helps you avoid legs that are too short or sleeves that trail in your plate.

Teaming up in duos and groups

An animal theme becomes memorable when the costumes play off each other:

• Predator and prey: a shark and a fish, a crocodile and an explorer in shorts and a hat.
• The zoo with friends: everyone a different animal, for a Noah's Ark-style group photo.
• The savannah: giraffe, lion, zebra, and a friend in beige playing the safari guide.
• The unlikely duo: a monkey and a shark, just for the photo.

Agree on it in advance in the party group chat: it's the best way to avoid three sharks and zero giraffes.

A simple activity, in three highlights

1. The parade. Everyone enters the living room with their animal's walk and call. A show of hands votes for the funniest, the best and the most unexpected.
2. The “guess the animal” quiz. One guest mimes or imitates a call, the others guess. Keep score with corks or peanuts.
3. The group photo. Group everyone by habitat: savannah, ocean, forest. It's the photo everyone will want the next day.

In between the three, let the party flow. For buffet, playlist and planning ideas, our guide to a grown-up pyjama party adapts very well.

Decorations and safety: keep flames at a distance

An animal theme calls for jungle or savannah decorations: green plants, foliage garlands, dim lighting. For the lighting, choose LED candles and fairy lights over real candles. The London Fire Brigade points out that any costume should be kept away from naked flames, that materials such as cotton, tulle, felt or synthetic fabrics can be highly flammable, and recommends battery-operated candles or glow sticks instead (London Fire Brigade, fancy dress costumes). A crocodile tail brushing against a candle on a coffee table is the scenario to avoid.

And if the party is open to children too, check that their onesie is the right size, with no legs trailing on the stairs.

The mistakes that spoil the party

• The costume you can't take off. Wear a T-shirt underneath: when it gets warm, you can unzip the onesie or roll it down to your waist.
• The full head. It blocks your view and is stifling. The hood is enough.
• Fragile props. Wings, cardboard horns and glued-on tails don't survive the dance floor.
• The guest without a costume. Keep a pair of ears on a headband in reserve, or send them our list of last-minute costumes.

The morning after

A fleece or flannel costume is easy to wash, as long as you follow a few rules: low temperature, delicate cycle, no tumble dryer. Our guide to washing and caring for fleece pyjamas explains everything. And the bonus of a kigurumi is that it doesn't end up at the back of the wardrobe: it goes back to being pyjamas the very next evening.

In a nutshell

For a successful animal-themed fancy-dress party: a recognisable silhouette and a signature detail, a costume you can sit down and dance in, duos decided in advance, three activity highlights and flame-free decorations. The hooded onesie ticks every box, and you'll wear it long after the party. To find your animal, browse the whole shop.

Cover photo: Daniel Lloyd Blunk-Fernández / Unsplash