How to Create a 70s Costume
Seventies costumes sold in Halloween stores tend to be unrealistic. '70s clothing is easy to find in attics, thrift stores, vintage clothing shops and online, and a complete outfit may cost even less than an artificial, premade costume. Strange '70s trends in business, casual and disco attire offer a bounty of mix-and-match costume options.
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Things You'll Need
- Platform shoes
- Canvas basketball sneakers
- Bell-bottomed jeans or trousers
- Mini skirt
- Fitted, button-down top with large, angled collar
- T-shirt
- Velvet jacket
- Trouser suit
- Chunky knit tank top
- Flowy blouse
- Heated rollers
- Eye shadow
- Roller skates
- Hot pants
- Tube socks
Instructions
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1
Grow your hair long or wear a long-hair wig. Part it in the middle and leave it as-is, or use heated rollers or a curling iron to achieve a feathered "Farrah Fawcett" style. Many young women in the '70s dyed their hair platinum blond, but natural is fine. Alternately, big bushy perms for men were also popular during this time period.
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2
Choose a '70s top. For a casual look, choose a fitted, button-down top -- a fitted, ringer T-shirt with a popular '70s slogan or band or a flowy blouse topped with a knit tank top. For a business look, try a polyester or jersey trouser suit with a hip-length tunic in a then-fashionable style such as apple green. For a disco style, put on a spandex gold, sequined or white bandeau top or halter jumpsuit.
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3
Choose the appropriate pants, shorts or skirt to wear, unless you chose a one-piece garment or suit in Step 2. Polyester bell-bottom trousers, miniskirts or denim bell-bottom jeans work well for a casual look, and stretchy hot pants (short shorts) were common at discos.
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4
Put on a pair of basketball sneakers for a casual look. If wearing a skirt, wear platform shoes. One-inch platform shoes also match with business attire, as do black patent shoes. For a disco look, wear 2-inch or higher platforms or roller skates with tube socks.
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5
Wear a piece of 1970s outerwear, such as a quilted or velvet jacket, if you plan to go out in cold weather.
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6
Accessorize with '70s jewelry such as friendship bracelets and mood rings. Wear heavy, sparkling eyeshadow to complete a disco costume.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit disco image by Francis Lempérière from Fotolia.com
