Fancy dress ideas?

I would stay away from South America as to me that reeks of cultural appropriation waiting to happen! (I'm waiting for the fallout in the thread over on WP by someone wanting a sugar skull theme, in which I politely pointed out that they are sacred cultural artefacts and not just a pretty decoration.) But surely for North America you could go as literally anyone from there? Ooh, what about a retro diner uniform?...

Wellingtons and a duffel coat, and if you feel peckish, a marmalade sandwich = Paddington bear, he was from Peru!

My first thought was cowgirl! I hate fancy dress too so I feel your pain.

Oh man, I LOVE fancy dress! But last Halloween I had the horrible feeling that I'm too old for it now. I fear my days of dressing up may be over. This is why it's a good thing that I don't have children - I would just dress them up like dolls all the time.

I travelled around South America ...

These were in Peru, around (or on) Lake Titicaca

This is what traditional Bolivian women wear ..

I hate fancy dress. Literally hate it.

However for ideas I'd be tempted to try American footballer or a cheerleader.

See, the thought of white people wearing that as fancy dress seems kind of, well, icky to me. Is it just me? (This is obviously an assumption on my part that the OP isn't of that heritage - I'm guessing she wouldn't need to ask for ideas if she was!)

Would it be more OK for an English person who has blood ties to Bolivia to wear the hat and shawl than it would for an English person with no known blood ties?

I'm another fancy dress hater! But if absolutely forced to, I'd go for something that was quite ordinary clothing-wise so head down the North American route and look at famous Americans for example.

As to the possibility of offence - I think we worry too much about stuff like this. Anyone likely to be offended by South American fancy dress is unlikely to attend the party aren't they?

I think so...if a style or symbol or whatever is part of your heritage then it isn't just randomly taking something from another culture for decorative purposes...is it? I really don't know. I feel like cultural appropriation is a minefield.

But by that logic, would we say blackface is still okay as long as no black people are there? What about using the N word if no people of colour are listening? You see where I'm headed...

Thanks guys - this is what I needed to get my imagination going a bit!

I hate fancy dress so much so I really can't be faffed with going OTT. If it wasn't a close friend I probably wouldn't even go.

I liked the american footballer thing a lot, but I know another friend is going as that so I don't want to p*ss on her parade. I like the idea of the retro waitress - I love that kitsch-y style although it's not at all what I would wear IRL so something in that vein would be quite fun.

Your photos are fab SW, thanks for sharing them. My knowledge of South American style would have been limited to a poncho with a sombrero!

I think you can go a bit over the top when worried about offending people. Emulation is a form of flattery after all

I hate fancy dress, too! I'd hire something. For this party though I'd just get a poncho and large hat, Ugly Betty style.

What about Che Guevera? Black beret with red star, khaki combats and big black boots, moustache and a big cigar.

I would be tempted to go down the road of American cultural icons -people like Marilyn Monroe, Kathryn Hepburn, Jackie O, Audrey Hepburn etc.

What about a Brazilian carnival queen - like a samba dress or a flamenco dancer (or is that spanish)?) I quite liked the Paddington bear idea.

SW - I have photos me dressed up like that too

I've also thought of:

A mounty

Ice hockey player

Robin sparkles from How I met your mother

Mexican wrestler

Bit of a stretch may be but an explorer searching the amazon

Something out of the cartoon Fern gully