over 2 years her

There have been times when I've been invited to an impromptu fancy dress party and thought "Oh no...what can I wear?" Hopefully the next four outfits might give you some hope. Read on...

Serial Killer

Buy a small variety pack of breakfast cereal. These usually come in packs of eight and are readily available from most supermarkets. Open the individual boxes carefully and remove the inner, sleeved contents containing the cereal. You can keep these to eat later. Now make a small slit in the front of the box, this should be small enough to slide a plastic knife through. Continue by pushing plastic knives through the cereal boxes.

Take a plastic refuse sack and cut out a semi-circle at the enclosed end (with the straight part of the semi-circle following the top seam of the sack). This will be where your head will fit through. Similarly cut holes either side of the sack, this will allow your arms to be pushed through.

Lay the sack flat, now take a hot glue gun and randomly stick the small boxes to the front of the makeshift garment. Let the glue dry completely. You now have an exceptionally simple costume which could take you roughly fifteen minutes to pull together.

The theme is obviously a play on words and rather than a "Serial Killer" you're only a "Cereal Killer".

Snorkeler

This outfit does assume you already have the necessary equipment available although you can purchase a cheap snorkel and mask from most large retail stores.

Wearing either swimming shorts or a wetsuit adorn your snorkel, mask and flippers (if you have them) and this should complete another easy costume for an adult party. Much hilarity will ensue as you walk around whilst wearing flippers. Not easy and it may become more awkward as the evening unfolds, for obvious reasons.

Priest

You will need a black, or dark suit and a black shirt. Turn the shirt around and cut out a notch, about two inches wide, from the centre of the collar. You can now slip a piece of white cardboard under the collar. You will have to wear the shirt with the buttons to the back. A friend may have to assist you with fastening the shirt fully to the top button. Now put on your suit, otherwise you'll have some very strange looks.

You could finish it off by carrying a bible or a small bottle of water to bless people with.

Goth

This look is easier to pull together for vergleichen guy. Black clothing is a must. You will have to purchase black lipstick and eyeshadow.

Ornate, large jewellery, such as a chunky cross would help carry the look. This could be fashioned from cardboard, painted silver, or covered with aluminium foil. It could be secured around the neck with black ribbon.