Fans go to great lengths with their costumes in the Sevens parade yesterday. Photo / Mark Mitchell
The Borat thong may be banned, but it's not likely to stop people at this weekend's Wellington Sevens tournament showing plenty of flesh.
In fact, the much-publicised crackdown on revealing costumes at the annual rugby tournament - as much a carnival as a sports event - may have
provoked some spectators into getting as undressed as possible for the event.
"I think that most people this year are prepared to do just about anything: they're not so prudish," said Jenny Bain, from costume hire firm Totally Frocked.
"We have put a lot of [cowboy] chaps out this year, so it will be interesting to see what happens with that. But you have to do it for the girls as well, it can't just be for the guys. Some of the girls who have come in here to get dressed up have put on some pretty risque costumes."
The Costume Cave said its Borat costume was still on the shelf, but it had supplied several outlandish outfits for the sevens and the usual range of Elvises, gorillas, superheroes and Marilyn Monroes.
"The most different one we've had is a guy who is going in a full-length burka with fishnets and suspenders underneath."
Sevens weekend is one of the busiest for the capital's costume hire companies, rivalled only by Halloween and Christmas. It is also a major operation for the police, with extra staff from Hawkes Bay, Gisborne and Palmerston North to cope with a sell-out crowd.
"We do want fans to enjoy themselves, but to do so safely and without causing problems for others," said Inspector Kevin Riordan, police operations manager for the event.
"Alcohol-related issues are a concern especially after two long hot days in the sun. We encourage people to drink plenty of water, to moderate their alcohol intake and look after their mates. Take your friends home or back to their hotel if they have had too much to drink, otherwise they could be spending the night at our place."
Around 100 extra police will be keeping order at the Westpac Stadium and in the CBD today and tomorrow. Last year, police made 25 arrests and evicted close to 100 people from the stadium.
Sevens festivities kicked off in Wellington yesterday with a parade. The tournament proper starts today.
Crazy costumes from 2007