How to Make a Fifties Costume
Classic movies and TV shows such as "Grease," "Happy Days" and "American Graffiti" romanticize the 1950s as an idyllic, carefree era. To capture the fun spirit of the '50s, men and women of all ages can dress up as 1950s characters for Halloween, theme parties and theatrical performances. You can make a recognizable 1950s ensemble with simple, classic clothes readily available at thrift stores, costume shops or in your closet.
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Things You'll Need
- Hair gel
- Straight-legged blue jeans
- Military boots
- White T-shirt
- Canvas sneakers
- Leather jacket
- Horn rimmed glasses
- Polo shirt
- Bow tie
- Letterman's jacket
- Cat's eye glasses
- Tight jeans or leather pants
- Curling iron
- Black high heels
- Black choker
- Tight black off-the-shoulder T-shirt
- Poodle skirt
- Bobby socks
- Saddle shoes or Mary Janes
- Fitted short-sleeve sweater
Instructions
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Greaser Male
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1
Slick back your hair with gel and comb the sides up and back to make a duck tail hairdo.
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2
Put on a pair of classic, straight legged blue jeans and roll the cuffs up to your ankles. Put on a plain white T-shirt and tuck it into the jeans. The shirt should be fitted but not super tight.
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3
Put a leather jacket on over the T-shirt and leave it unzipped. The ideal leather jacket should be black or brown, and should hit at the hip.
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4
Wear a pair of simple, classic black canvas basketball sneakers or military-style boots.
Preppy/Nerdy Male
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5
Style your hair neatly with gel. Part it on the side for a preppy male and in the middle for a nerd.
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6
Tuck a plain polo shirt into the pants. Nerds can add a bow tie to the polo shirt.
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7
Wear simple, black or white canvas sneakers or black or brown oxford shoes.
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8
Put on a letterman's jacket to complete the preppy look. If you don't have a letterman's jacket, sew a felt cut-out initial onto the front of a plain jacket or blazer.
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9
Put on horn-rimmed glasses for a nerdy or Buddy Holly look.
Greaser Female
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10
Curl and tease your hair and use heavy hair spray to make your hair look big and thick.
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11
Wear a tight pair of black skinny jeans or leather pants.
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12
Put on a tight black shirt, off-the-shoulder if possible.
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13
Wear black high heeled shoes, preferably open-toed or with pointed toes.
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14
Apply red lip stick and heavy black mascara and wear a black choker to complete the look.
Bobby Soxer
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15
Curl your hair and tie it back into a tight, neat ponytail or pigtails.
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16
Find a poodle skirt at a costume store or online. Authentic poodle skirts are difficult to find, but you can make your own with felt. Poodle skirts should hit at or below the knees.
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17
Wear a tight, short sleeved sweater, preferably button-down and collared.
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18
Put on a pair of bobby socks -- these are short socks with lace trim at the top.
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19
Wear saddle shoes over the bobby socks. If saddle shoes are too hard to find, Mary Janes are also appropriate.
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20
Wear cat's eye glasses for a nerdy look.
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1
Tips & Warnings
For a preppy look, stick to a white, black and pastel color palate. For a greaser look, stay with a black and white palate (blue jeans are fine).
Resources
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
