Incorporating classic dress-up accessories like masks, hats and feather boas into your party decorations adds both a festive and practical touch to your costume theme party.

Hang ornate face masks and sparkly top hats on your walls, and drape colourful boas and leis over floor lamps and doorknobs and around banisters. Not only will these costume accessories lend atmosphere to your party, but you can also tell guests that they can borrow them in case they forgot to wear a costume or want to add some finishing touches to what they're wearing.

Setting up a vanity table in the bathroom with costume makeup and some crazy wigs will also help your guests get in the spirit of the party. And be sure to leave out bowls filled with disposable cameras in the party room so your guests can commemorate the occasion with photos.

Instead of a traditional costume party where guests wear whatever they like, try hosting a theme costume party, where you pick a theme and then tell your guests the type of costume you’d like them to wear.

Some costume party tips for themes:

• dead celebrities • heaven & hell

• vicars & tarts • wild west

Pick a theme that you think will appeal to your guests and keep it flexible enough that your creative friends can do it up right while your more conservative guests can find something fun to wear that they feel comfortable in.

A costume contest is the standard activity at a costume party. You can spice yours up by setting up a stage (or just a rug, if you're on a budget) and having your guests walk the runway to be judged for the contest.

Before they strut their stuff, have your guests write down a description of themselves and their costume. Have one person act as the announcer, who introduces each guest as they work it on the runway. Come up with lots of crazy categories for prizes so you can award as tons of prizes. Some ideas: Best Use of Glitter, Most Difficult Costume to Figure Out, Costume Most Likely to Get You Arrested, Cheapest Costume.

If you're planning a costume theme party, serve food that matches the theme — BBQ at a wild West party or jelly moulds at a retro '50s party.

Whatever your theme, make your food easy to eat: Cut cheese and crudités into small pieces so guests wearing masks can nibble them easily, and stay away from messy foods like dip that can ruin an expensive costume.

Purple Fantasy (serves 1) • juice of 1/2 lime, freshly squeezed • 1/2 oz. vodka • 1/2 oz. rum • to taste grape soda • to taste lemon/lime soda Fill a highball glass with ice, then add vodka and rum. Top with grape soda and finish with a splash of lemon-lime soda.

Non-Alcoholic - Dress up sodas and water with ice cubes dyed with food coloring.

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