Unlike some clubs, White Mischief does not enforce a strict dress code. We’ve seen guests at White Mischief wearing everything from t-shirts and jeans to nu-rave looks to suits and cocktail dresses to facepaint, Adam Ant outfits and even badger suits. In terms of era, Mischief-Makers have represented every age from the 1890s through to the 1990s. So while we make a point of being inclusive – we don’t turn anyone away – we do encourage everyone to get into the spirit of things by dressing up in whatever way they feel is appropriate. And there are prizes for the most sensationally dressed. So here are a few inspirations for those who plan to get their glad rags on.

Dressup inspirations

Retro:

Any era from the 1890s through to the 1950s. Pick any year from fashion’s history and try it on for size!

Victoriana:

Dresses, bustles, corsets, hats, dress shirts, waistcoats, ties, walking canes

Literary influences:

This is your chance to raid the bookshelves for inspiration: particularly any Jules Verne book (eg From The Earth To The Moon, Journey To The Centre Of The Earth, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea), or anything by HG Wells (The Time Machine, The First Men In The Moon, The War of The Worlds…and full marks to anyone who manages to come up with an Invisible Man costume!)

Film influences:

The combination of Victoriana and sci-fi that we are referenced with the forthcoming White Mischief night is richly evoked throughout the history of film. Start with Georges Meliés’ terrific A Trip To The Moon (1902); then try Metropolis (1927); 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea (1954); The Fabulous World of Jules Verne (1958); Journey To The Centre Of The Earth (1959); Return To Oz (1985); Brazil (1985); The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988); The City of Lost Children (1995); Wild Wild West (1999); Sleepy Hollow (1999); Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001); The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003); Steamboy (2004); Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004); The Prestige (2006); and more recently Stardust (2007).

Steampunk:

The fusion of sci-fi with the rivets-and-brass mechanics of the industrial revolution. For more general reading, check this Wikipedia article on steampunk. For a visual feast check out our collection of videos and photos on steampunk.

Steampunk websites include the UK-based BrassGoggles; Anachrotech; the SteamFashion community; Steampunkopedia; and Aether Emporium.

Characters:

Cosmonauts and astronauts’ widows; Martians, moon men, and blue-skinned extra-terrestrial beauties; space pirates and intergalactic princesses; mad scientists; rocketeers; deep sea divers and creatures from the deep; people from the centre of the earth; time travellers, space pirates, sky pilots…

Feel like dressing up but wondering where you might find an outfit? Visit our guide to costume rental and vintage stores which contains our recommendations for the best outfitters in London. In particular we recommend Prangsta which can construct you a perfect high-end steampunk look in minutes for a price that’s right.