Create nostalgia for 1950s America with an iconic 1950s-girl costume.
Use the silhouette of the iconic 1950s circle skirt to your advantage for great costume ideas that will be a hit at any party. You can easily pick up a 1950s-themed party outfit for women from a costume shop, but as an extra challenge for your creativity, try assembling your own costume using garments you already have in your closet.
Sock Hopper
A sock hopper costume is inspired by the bubbly energy and youthful appeal of 1950s teenage pop culture. You will need a modest T-shirt blouse with a collar, a flared poodle skirt -- so called because of the common poodle appliqu -- that hits below the knee, white ankle socks and black patent flats. Pull your hair back into a neat bun or high ponytail and finish with a bow. Add cat-eye glasses or a head scarf for the finishing touches.
Housewife
Perhaps the most controversial symbol of the 1950s was the housewife who evoked the post-war boom that established a new standard for domestic ideal. For your 1950s housewife costume you will need a flared A-line dress in a floral pattern that hits below the knee. Make sure you wear nude hose and high heels and finish with an apron neatly tied over the dress. Style your hair in the popular 1950s soft curls, parted on the side and finished with hairspray to keep it in place. Keep your makeup classic and simple -- think red lipstick, rouge, liner on your eyelids only and unrestrained use of mascara.
Beatnik
The beatnik costume, a stereotype based on the beat culture of the 1950s as envisioned by rebels like Jack Kerouac, the American novelist who wrote such famous works as "On The Road." A beatnik costume can easily be pulled together using items from your closet and a few thrift store finds. Dress all in black -- black shirt, pants, skirt or dress, leggings, black boots or shoes and a black vest or waistcoat for a finishing touch. You'll need a black beret-style hat to cover hair that you wear long and straight and small, dark, round sunglasses if you can find them. For bonus points, carry a set of bongos -- to evoke the stereotypical beatnik performance at open mic nights -- so that there's little doubt about who you are.
Greaser
Popularized in the 1971 hit musical Grease, "greaser" culture was characterized by rebellious high school teens who got involved with fast cars, drugs, alcohol and gangs. Take a cue from Sandy Dumbrowski, the good-girl-gone-bad female lead made famous by Australian actress Olivia Newton-John in the 1978 film version of Grease, for this costume. Cropped black leather or pleather pants, an off-the-shoulders black blouse, red high heels and a bouffant hairdo will properly evoke this risqu but fun 1950s character.
Related Posts:
Fifties Themed Anniversary Party Invitations Ideas
From blank invites to inspirationWhen party lovers mention the 1950s, the first idea that usually comes to mind is a sock hop. Let's stay in that rock 'n' roll mindset and come up with some ideas...
Fifties Party Decorations
Serve hamburgers and French fries at your 1950s theme party.Encourage guests to your 1950s theme party to wear poodle skirts, tight sweaters, leather jackets, bobby socks, s...
Fifties Party Centerpieces
Enhance your 50s-themed party decor with specialty centerpieces.The 1950s were a time when diners, poodle skirts, television shows such as "I Love Lucy" and, of course, rock-n-roll music...
Fabulous Fifties Rock & Roll Party Ideas
People often look to the past for entertainment inspiration. If you have a party coming up, you can get plenty of ideas from the 1950s era. After all, the 1950s period is known as the era of rock...
Fifties Theme Party Table Arrangements
Decade-themed parties have been popular in the United States for decades. Every decade of the 20h century offered its own unique, memorable events and trends. For example, the 1950s was the decade...
