One of the main drivers of this increase has been the creation of the many fancy dress outfits to copy characters in movies. In some ways this is not new. I am of the age to remember owning a pretty fancy (at least I thought it was) Spiderman costume. In fact own does not really tell the full story. Wore to death would be more accurate.

Nowadays Spiderman oufits have web shooting attachments and advanced muscle definition and, for all I know, are made from space age materials, a far cry from the all in one nylon catsuit style of my youth.

Recent films such as the Lord of the Rings and the culmination of the preposterous Star Wars Trilogy (something else that was definitely much better when I was a kid) have led to a massive upsurge in the number of costumes available and the demand for them. And interestingly this demand is being led as much by adults as children.

Fancy dress shops are booming and online searches for fancy dress top 10,000 daily. Wigs, accessories and masks are among the top sellers as well as period fancy dress.

For example 70s fancy dress is a massive market, influenced no doubt by the many 70s nights that people go to at various tacky, sticky-carpeted discos throughout the UK. Although why anyone thinks that wearing an afro wig and flares will disguise their obvious ugliness and lack of style is beyone me. Also the afro wig makes you sweat heavily in a hot and busy nightclub.... So I was told be an ugly unstylsih person once.

No doubt 80s fancy dress will be growing in popularity soon. Which for me would mean dusting down the Spiderman costume, but for others I guess its espadrilles and shoulder pads all the way!

How is it that every generation before us looks ridiculous but we are convinced that at any given time we are riding the crest of a timeless fashion wave? It would seem that today's trends are tomorrow's fancy dress costumes. So remember that when you think you are looking fancy with your three quarter length jeans and mullet hairdo.