The Fancy Dress Shop on Clifton Street is, as far as I know, the largest shop of its kind in…read moreCardiff. I know of a coupe of others but they are only half the size. There may be one in the city centre that is larger, but I don't like shopping at chain stores and so I tend to give the main shopping streets a pretty wide birth if I can help it. I don't go a bundle on fancy dress parties, and tend not to bother unless I'm under some pretty heavy-duty duress to comply. I have only ever hired a costume once, and considered the whole episode to be a stress-inducing exercise. At least I didn't have to contend with the problem of choosing what kind of outfit to wear... the dress code was pretty strict, and so I was obliged to wear what I was told, (how much fun is that!?) Anyway, what I found stressful was the fact that I had to collect the darn thing and then not spill anything on it when I wore it and return it in mint condition to the hire shop... all very tiresome when you are working full time! I have had cause to use the Fancy Dress Shop however. I used to live and work at a visitor centre near St Hilary where we would regularly host weekend events that often involved performances of differing kinds. For one particular event I was tasked with delivering a number of costumes to the Fancy Dress Shop to be altered as I was one of the few people there that had a car. Once inside, curiosity got the better of me, and I couldn't resist having a good look round. I was really impressed by the stock and would definitely use this shop if I was ever invited to a fancy dress party again... although, if my friends get round to reading this review, I'm sure that the chances of this happening would be pretty slim!

Fancy dress party? Masked ball? Skirt shortened? Nettie will sort it for you…read more Netties fancy dress shop is a second home to circus people, musicians, artists and Cardiff's alternative scene. At night elves work and play here, lights flicker, laughter and music can be heard. Nettie is also the mother of Club Love. As well as being a seamstress she puts on club nights with her 'Spiral brothers' DJ lover in venues around Cardiff and beyond. The recent Clifton street renovations whilst causing a lot of upset seems to have really benefited some businesses and this is one of them. The new Fancy dress shop front looks sparkly and inviting and you can instantly see what's on offer - wigs, novelty, off-the-rail stuff, retro items, alterations and the custom made.

i Claudius is a vintage clothing and fancy dress shop, so you can go there to pick up a pair of…read morebell-bottomed flares, a full body bee costume, or accessories such as masks and wigs. When I last walked past the shop, the mannequin outside appeared to be a cross between a terrorist and a clown, with a sign strung around its neck saying 'Make peace not war'. Inside the window the mannequins were modelling a range of the shop's animal costumes. The staff are on the ball, and offer an alterations service if items on display don't fit you - but they can be a bit pushy at times. The shop's emphasis definitely seems to be on fancy dress over vintage, nowadays, whereas in the past (I think) it was the other way around.

Fantastic. First of all; a good fancy dress shop is hard to come by these days, and secondly; this…read moreis a brilliant one. I must offer a warning to start with; the models outside are terrifying. Honestly. They change from time to time, depending on the mood of the shop owner, but were sinister, nasty, horrifying models the last time I went. A peculiar, pale butler holding a tray with a model of a heart on it stood on the right hand side. On the left there was a freakish monster, all guts and entrails, that looked like a cross between Frankenstein's monster and Predator. I found it worrying that kids weren't at all bothered by these terrifying objects while I needed medical attention. If you do make it inside, the shop is brilliant. Not going for such a mainstream audience, the costumes are original and novel here. The Wolf costume particularly impressed me. This is what costume shops should be, quirky and original with a dose of the weird.

Party World is a small party shop supplying all the instant blow up, pop up accessories you need to…read morehost a colourful party. The walls are lined with decorations, cards, balloons, fancy dress wear, face paint, wigs and jokes. My resent visit brought me in for something specific. Party World fits a lot into a small space, but on this occasion they were missing engagement cards. This didn't dash my expectations or lessen my opinion of the place, I had just popped in on the off chance and for a nose. Fun shop and as Arnie said "I will be back".

From the owner: We are Cardiff's longest established party and balloon shop…read more Specialising in Balloons for all occasions both large and small.

They wouldn't let me walk on my own, the woman followed me. she asked me to find another Jesus…read morecostume for cheaper and then squirted me with water.

I'm probably too old to find some of the stuff on sale as amusing as I do, and I'm slightly ashamed…read moreto admit that I have on occasion even purchased some items (trust me they're incredibly funny at a house party after a few drinks). They sell all the usual items such as whoopee cushions, itching powder, candles that won't blow out, but my personal favourite has to be the boiled sweets which taste of garlic (you should have seen the look on my flatmates face). To be honest though, there's far more fancy dress outfits available than actual jokes. The selection is rather good, they have your usual outfits such as nuns, super heroes, policeman etc. but there's nothing really original (I've seen the same products elsewhere. But great for a student party or night out.

I went in a lady and I came out a werewolf…read more.. I had the paws, the claws, the mask (soft rubber and realistic fur), the body suit and last of all I slipped on the attitude. Script to screen sells quality costumes, the kind of stuff you see on the tv and stage, in fact if you're a pro company in South Wales and you're not getting it done in-house then this is THE place to come. Luckily enough for us lay folk they sell to the general public also. The Script to Screen warehouse is just off Colchester Avenue - it's huuuuge, it has to house all their outfits. Their stock includes famous couples, horror and ghouls, pop stars, masks, wigs and accessories. Tip: Schools and armed forces get special discount rates.

What does a dog, Elvis and 50's pimp and Count Dracula have in common?…read more At different points in my life I have been all of them thanks to Script to Screen. If you have a fancy dress party to go to and want to make a real splash then nobody will top your costume if you hire it from Script to Screen. They have a colossal warehouse of costume that will suit you for any occasion. By warned though it will cost you as they are professional costumiers so if you're not going to a proper fancy dress party then think twice, check out their website. Having said that they also have lots of accessories (mustaches, plastic cigars, fake blood, silly sunglasses etc) to add to a home made costume that cost next to nothing.

Toys N Things is a great little independent toyshop on the Wellfield Road. It's not quite as big as…read moreits competitor, Stepping Stones, a few doors down, which acts as a distribution centre as well as a retail outlet, but Toys N Things is, in many ways, just as good. It seems that they both share a similar ethos, with Toys N Things supplying educational games and toys for children of all ages, just like its counterpart. Stepping Stones is not as colourful as Toys N Things, but that's mainly due to the fact that the latter cashes in on all of the ultra-popular big brand names like Barbie and does a fine line in fancy dress with all of the usual suspects covered. It is also a joke and novelty shop that supplies fireworks. I'm not so keen on fireworks but I am rather partial to whoopee cushions and things of that ilk... perhaps with exception of stink bombs and bangers. Toys N Things is not a Stepping Stones copycat. It is very much doing its own thing. I think the latter is more commendable in many respects, but there is definitely a place for what Toys N Things is doing.

Great to see that Wellfield Road has such a good independent Toy Store! The toys on offer are…read moregenerally rather modern, and most are brands such as Barbie, Playmobile, and Doctor Who are on offer. What I really like about this place is that the prices range from the very cheap (ideal for pocket money) to the more expensive, so if you need to buy a toy for someone, you're bound to find something suitable. I think the items in this store would mainly be suitable for 3-12 year olds, however older children (and adults) may enjoy the board games on offer. They do have a small fancy dress selection (mainly wigs), but unless it's an emergency and you need something quick, I would recommend you go to one of Cardiff's excellent fancy dress stores instead!

Where on earth can you get fireworks out of season? Here of course at the Four Seasons. There are…read morealso outfits galore "over 4000" according to their website. These include halloween costumes, kids fancy dress, masks, funky accessories, jokes, wigs, hen party paraphernalia and giggleables, scary stuff, sexy stuff...oh and they also sell cards for all occasions. Not the friendliest of staff, but then they're perhaps too used to dealing with virtual sales I suspect (the majority of their sales are online), however their huge selection of costumes for every occasion well makes up for this. Four Seasons are always adding on weird and wonderful extras to their store, they used to also sell fresh flowers and they are soon to be offering military-ware where the flowers used to be (rather like tarmacking paradise I fancy). The outfits are not cheap, but they are reasonable. The slightly incongruous rack of cards however, contain not the most attractive or modern cards you've ever seen, but very cheap ones. Bargain.

I will admit, the window display left me a bit underwhelmed, but once inside, you'll find pretty…read moremuch anything you need to create the fancy dress outfit of your choice. Four Seasons stocks everything from kids' party favours and fireworks to postcards and helium balloons, establishing itself as a party superstore that may even be the largest of its kind in Cardiff. They also carry some of the widest range of military fatigues I've seen, perfect for paintball excursions, hunting, or hen nights out. The store set-up reminded me a bit of a pound shop, with its dim lighting and cheap shelving units, but the wide selection of stock more than makes up for the lack of atmosphere. And yes, I know it's an overblown-useless-American holiday, but nevertheless, I was excited to see a range of Halloween items on display for those festive souls who buy into the enjoyable consumerism. I know I do.

Good selection of items, always find what I'm looking for. Staff nice and helpful. Can get single…read moreitems when needed and not have to buy in bulk.

Crafty Sew and Sew has the dubious pleasure of being located directly next to the ultra pink adult…read moreshop Passion Online at the Newport Road end of City Road. Whilst this business has opted to carry a cheeky little name that may occasionally raise an eyebrow or two, they have definitely been upstaged, in the controversy stakes, by their immediate neighbours! In many other ways this is the ideal location for this old-style craft shop. It is surrounded by fabric stores, many of which are within a minutes walk from Crafty Sew and Sew, and with companies like Calico selling sewing machines, and Butterfly Fabrics carrying some fabulous materials, as well as some really large fabric stores with phenomenally extensive stock ranges like Fusion, Crafty Sew and Sew couldn't be in better company. All of these businesses support the fundamental drive behind Crafty Sew and Sew, offering patrons of the shop plentiful choice where fabrics are concerned. Crafty Sew and Sew offer a good range of craft items and ready-to-make kits of all descriptions. A visit to the shop is an inspiring experience, and the people that work there are only willing to help. If you are looking to take up a hobby, but are not sure of which direction to go in, I advise a trip to this little Pandora's Box of delights. The advice you will get will be invaluable, and the choices available are impressive, and cater to everyone's budgets.