costume contest

Best-dressed showdown event

A costume contest is a competition where participants dress in costumes and are judged on creativity, craftsmanship, or how well they embody a character or theme.

Common at Halloween parties, conventions, and fan gatherings: She spent months on her costume contest entry.

Winners are typically chosen by judges or audience vote.

Opposites
authenticity/pretense

costume contesteveryday attire

Ordinary clothing worn routinely

street clothes · everyday wear · plain clothes · business casual

formality/structure of clothing evaluation

costume contestfashion show

Clothing exhibition with models

runway show · beauty pageant · red carpet event · fashion week · debutante ball

competitive vs. non-competitive display

costume contestcostume party

Event with themed attire

costume parade · masquerade ball · trick-or-treating · Halloween party · Halloween parade

Family

costume, contest, costumes, costumed, costuming, contests, contested, contesting, contestant

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Positive · Everyday, not technical · Rated G