Bestival fancy-dress outfits – in pictures

King Kong and his love interest
Dan Smith and Kent Mathews set up a photography studio on site at Bestival in 2009 and 2010, capturing the best “outer space”- and “fantasy”-themed outfits against a white backdrop Photograph: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith

A mime artist
The results, says festival organiser Rob Da Bank, “look like a fashion shoot. You wouldn’t think these people were stepping back outside into a festival” Photograph: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith

Florence Welch of Florence + the Machine Photograph: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith

The Lion, the Witch and… this Wardrobe?
For Kent Mathews, dressing up is about “being part of something. Many of the outfits are hilarious and designed to make people smile… it creates an alternative reality. Everyone enters into it, and it’s fantastic escapism" Photograph: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith

A "fashion" photographer Photograph: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith

Orbital, pictured at the festival Photograph: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith

A centaur Photograph: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith

The Cat in the Hat from Dr Seuss Photograph: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith

Mother and baby Photograph: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith

Jack Skeleton, from The Nightmare Before Christmas Photograph: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith

Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips Photograph: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith

An ent, a character who appears in the film The Lord of the Rings as an ancient shepherd of the forest Photograph: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith

Lily Allen in a Barbarella-inspired outfit Photograph: Kent Mathews and Dan Smith