# Need ideas for an easy 1950's or 60's costume **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 3, 2005, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-ideas-for-an-easy-1950s-or-60s-costume/292707 "2005-03-03T04:20:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-ideas-for-an-easy-1950s-or-60s-costume/292707/1 "2005-03-03T04:20:34Z")
Hello, y’all. I’ve been invited to a 1950’s- or 60’s-themed costume party this weekend, and I need to come up with a costume. Due to the time constraints, I’ll need something that’s easy to prepare. The obvious choice would be to go as James Dean, Tony Zucco or Arthur Fonzarelli, but I’m pretty sure that a lot of guys will be dressing up that way. Elvis would be another obvious choice, but I don’t have any sequined jumpsuits in storage. Any clever ideas? ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-ideas-for-an-easy-1950s-or-60s-costume/292707/2 "2005-03-03T04:35:10Z")
BTW, I would love to go as John Steed – but only if I can find a suitable bowler. (Presumably, I can also find a properly sized brolly somewhere.) ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-ideas-for-an-easy-1950s-or-60s-costume/292707/3 "2005-03-03T04:37:22Z")
Maybe a Gene Vincent look, black leather jacket, turned up shirt collar, tight black jeans, and lots of grease. Here his is with a couple other characters you might recognize. [![](https://www.electricscotland.com/music/genevincent/DDgene_beatles.JPG) ](https://www.electricscotland.com/music/genevincent/DDgene_beatles.JPG) But you never know, you might be mistaken for the Fonze. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-ideas-for-an-easy-1950s-or-60s-costume/292707/4 "2005-03-03T05:24:29Z")
Well, like I said, the Fonz look is likely to be overdone. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-ideas-for-an-easy-1950s-or-60s-costume/292707/5 "2005-03-03T05:36:47Z")
Liberace? ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-ideas-for-an-easy-1950s-or-60s-costume/292707/6 "2005-03-03T06:47:40Z")
There’s always the Richie-Potsie-Ralph Malph look. Cardigan sweater, plaid shirt, rolled up bluejeans, white sox, penny loafers. Or Ed Norton. T shirt, suit vest, felt hat with the brim up in the front. 60s is easy. Tie dye a T shirt. Put a bandanna around you head. Maybe add teeny tiny sun glasses or an Army field jacket. Or buttons with sayings on 'em. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-ideas-for-an-easy-1950s-or-60s-costume/292707/7 "2005-03-03T13:32:20Z")
Black sweater. Black shades. Pipe (you don’t have to smoke it, just keep it in your mouth) black beret. toy bongos (if possible) TA-DA! You’re a [Beatnik](http://www7.tamu-commerce.edu/libref/writers-read/beatnik.jpg) . ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-ideas-for-an-easy-1950s-or-60s-costume/292707/8 "2005-03-03T14:32:03Z")
Buckskins and a coonskin cap - you can be Davy Crockett. Freckled cheeks, red hair, plaid shirt - you could be Howdy Doody. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-ideas-for-an-easy-1950s-or-60s-costume/292707/9 "2005-03-03T14:59:15Z")
Damn! **Bosda** took my costume! Okay, here’s one. Beat up straight-leg blue jeans. Cheap denim workshirt. Lace-up work boots. Straw field hat. You’re a migrant farm worker. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Violaceous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Miss\_Violaceous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Violaceous)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-ideas-for-an-easy-1950s-or-60s-costume/292707/10 "2005-03-03T16:55:13Z")
Long white lab coat, glasses, funky hair, very shiny black dress shoes, dark pants… you’re an atomic age scientist! Optional accessory: beaker, test tube, or flask with something glowy inside (maybe cut open a glowstick?) or dry ice if you’re bold. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-ideas-for-an-easy-1950s-or-60s-costume/292707/11 "2005-03-03T17:42:34Z")
Wear a red and white checkered shirt, a tight pair of blue jeans belted with a piece of rope, and a pair of workboots. Voila. You are Jethro Bodine. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-ideas-for-an-easy-1950s-or-60s-costume/292707/12 "2005-03-03T18:09:13Z")
Dress as an Officer in the USAF. Take a blue note book. Ask people if they ever saw a UFO. Tell them what they saw was a weather balloon. You are Project Blue Book. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-ideas-for-an-easy-1950s-or-60s-costume/292707/13 "2005-03-04T02:50:32Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > Black sweater. > Black shades. > Pipe (you don’t have to smoke it, just keep it in your mouth) > black beret. > toy bongos (if possible) > > TA-DA! You’re a [Beatnik](http://www7.tamu-commerce.edu/libref/writers-read/beatnik.jpg) . I love this idea! It’s true to the time frame, and I bet no one else thinks of it! ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-ideas-for-an-easy-1950s-or-60s-costume/292707/14 "2005-03-04T03:03:11Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > Elvis would be another obvious choice, but I don’t have any sequined jumpsuits in storage. I wouldn’t recommend it even if you had a wardrobe full of sequined jumpsuits. That wasn’t Elvis’ look in the '60s and certainly not the '50s. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-ideas-for-an-easy-1950s-or-60s-costume/292707/15 "2005-03-04T03:03:36Z")
I had considered the beatnik idea. Sorry, but I’m pretty sure that others will think of it as well. Anyway, my John Steed outfit is nearly complete. The hard part is finding a hat that looks close enough to the real thing, without breaking my wallet. Oh, and I’ll need a slinky female companion who looks good in a catsuit. Any takers? ---
**Author:** ![Rodd\_Hill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@Rodd\_Hill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodd_Hill)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-ideas-for-an-easy-1950s-or-60s-costume/292707/16 "2005-03-04T03:44:58Z")
Easy Peasy. Your bowler, or coker, to give it the correct name, can be simulated easily this time of year by the cheapass green bowlers on sale everywhere now in anticipation of St Paddy’s day. Some poster paint, or semigloss black spray, and hey presto! Now all you need to complete your costume is this: [http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.madle.org/ben45vdp29.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.madle.org/eec03j1.htm&h=353&w=450&sz=46&tbnid=QX8inwGwNwMJ:&tbnh=97&tbnw=124&start=8&prev=/images%3Fq%3D1928%2Bbentley%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26c2coff%3D1%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN](http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.madle.org/ben45vdp29.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.madle.org/eec03j1.htm&h=353&w=450&sz=46&tbnid=QX8inwGwNwMJ:&tbnh=97&tbnw=124&start=8&prev=/images%3Fq%3D1928%2Bbentley%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26c2coff%3D1%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN) ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-ideas-for-an-easy-1950s-or-60s-costume/292707/17 "2005-03-04T05:17:31Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > Black sweater. > Black shades. > Pipe (you don’t have to smoke it, just keep it in your mouth) > black beret. > toy bongos (if possible) > > TA-DA! You’re a [Beatnik](http://www7.tamu-commerce.edu/libref/writers-read/beatnik.jpg) . Hey, that’s the logo of the student poetry club at **Gunslinger** ’s college. If you had more time, you could get a sharkskin suit on eBay - they’re really cheap and look awesome. (Woven with different colors on warp and weft, one wool and one silk, so they end up being really strange and shimmery. No actual sharks are harmed.) Sucks trying to match the fabric to make a vest, though. Still, you could go as a character from the original Italian Job if you had one. You _don’t_ just happen to own a slim-legged, tightly-tailored suit, I suppose? Punch it up with a dubiously-coloured shirt and let some sock show at your ankle? Pull off a heist? ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-ideas-for-an-easy-1950s-or-60s-costume/292707/18 "2005-03-04T11:31:02Z")
\*\*Rod Hill,\*\*I’m going to waste the rest of the day looking at that web site and I’m going to fall victim to the sin of envy and it’s all your fault. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-ideas-for-an-easy-1950s-or-60s-costume/292707/19 "2005-03-04T13:11:54Z")
Why limit yourself to dressing as a person? For our millennium costume party, we encouraged people to dress as 20th-century inventions, fads, catchphrases, etc. You could certainly limit that train of thought to the 50s and 60s. I’m still disappointed that one guy didn’t follow through on his threat to show up as the grassy knoll (wrapped in Astroturf, little gun sticking out). ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-ideas-for-an-easy-1950s-or-60s-costume/292707/20 "2005-03-04T13:16:23Z")
The boyfriend and I did a great one for Halloween last year. We went as sitcom dads. Cardigans, white shirts, skinny black ties, dark wool pants, wingtip shoes, folded newspapers in our hands and for fun, we found pipes that blew bubbles. We went around all night calling everybody Wally, Beaver, Kitten, Princess and Bud. We dispensed “fatherly advice.” Fatherly Advice: “Let this be a lesson to you.” “It’s important to finish something when you start it.” “Don’t worry about what others think of you, just be yourself.” “Your mother and I are very disappointed in you.” " I oughta ship your ass off to military school." (You just know Ward thought that about Beaver more than a few times) Any overgeneralization you can think of makes good “fatherly advice.” Anyways, we had a blast with it and we were the hit of the party.