dressing-up
noun1
The act or practice of putting on fancy clothes or a costume.
- “But since then I’ve remembered what the young gentlemen”—John and Lawrence were still the “young gentlemen” to Dorcas—“call the ‘dressing-up box.’ It’s up in the front attic, sir. A great chest, full of old clothes and fancy dresses, and what not.”1920, Agatha Christie, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, London: Pan Books, published 1954, page 113:
- It is a very good idea to have a large box of discarded clothes and brightly coloured pieces of material handy during Christmas for the youngsters to use for "dressing-up."1927 December 22, The Brisbane Courier, page 17, column 4:
1 more example
- The dressing-up in corsets, mesh-stockings and frilly aprons which has become a hallmark of Rocky Horror productions quite transformed the tasteful grey atmosphere of the Canberra Theatre[.]1988 August 3, The Canberra Times, page 22, column 6: