Creating 1950’s Costumes

Halloween is coming up again, and like everyone else, I am thinking about what costumes I might want to get for the holiday this year. Halloween costumes are something I take pretty seriously, despite the fun nature of dressing up as someone (or something) else for a night. I know it’s supposed to be all fun and games, but I believe that the more effort you put into it, the more fun it will be for everyone. Lately, I’ve been thinking more and more about period costumes from some point in human history. More specifically, I’m thinking about great 1950’s costumes. If you are stuck with what to dress up as for Halloween, perhaps some of my ideas for 1950’s costumes will do the trick (no Halloween pun intended).

First of all, when going for a period look like 1950’s costumes, I try to be careful not to do what is too easy or expected. In fact, the appeal of 1950’s costumes is that it is a little something different. For that reason, I try to avoid the most popular of 1950’s costumes; the 1950’s teenager look. Teenagers and pop culture or youth culture first emerged in the 1950’s and the subsequent poodle shirts and the leather-jacket, gelled-haired greasers are the result. These costumes are classic and time-honored and, frankly, a good choice. But they are a little too easy in my book. Let’s dig deeper.

I like to think about the time period I’m working with and think about getting more specific. There were lots of people wearing poodle skirts and saddle shoes, but there was only one James Dean, for instance. Trying to model a specific celebrity or character is a great approach to 1950’s costumes.

In that spirit, I like thinking about some of the celebrities, and not just Marilyn Monroe or Elvis Presley. For instance, why not take Audrey Hepburn’s iconic look in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”? That is easily understood and seldom seen in costume parties these days. Also, for whatever reason, James Dean is remembered as the 1950’s heart-throb, but Marlon Brando was just as big. And if you can pull off dressing as one of the Rat Pack, you should win your costume party contests, as far as I’m concerned.

Working on 1950’s costumes that are a little different or unique is not as hard as it looks. And, as far as I’m concerned, the extra effort is worth the awesome and unique costume for this Halloween.