The 50s Costume Ideas
Blast from the past? So you've made it to the end of the page, and by now, we're sure that you know our selection of 50s costumes for men and women are truly a gas! But if you can't quite make up your mind on how to make the most of your 1950s era costume, don't fret, because we are all too happy to include some tips and tricks from our own throwback costume experts. We've poured over the looks, curated our favorite 50s costumes, and we've even included some jive slang so that you'll have a little help in making the era relevant again. Our love your look section will give you the tips, tricks, and ideas to help add a finishing touch to your costume, and our 50s couples costume combinations and accessories will give you some advice on how to make your costume just right. So, keep scrolling to check out all of our tip-top, bestest, and outright 18 karat 50's costumes and ideas. It might be exactly what you need for the little extra inspiration to have the best—and most retro—Halloween ever!
Grease: 50s Halloween Costumes
You LOVE Grease. We get that! It's probably the most iconic movie to capture the 50s, and with the hindsight view of 1978 looking at the era with rose-colored glasses, director Randal Kleiser brought the world of Grease to life in a fun and over-the-top style. That's probably one of the key reasons it has stayed so relevant, well, that and all of the music too! With Danny, Sandy, and the whole gang singing the tunes that would be anthems for generations of teenage girls to come, this flick really had it all. And, of course, if you'd like to bring the movie to life, we are the premier spot online to get all of your Grease costumes for men, women, and kids! Officially licensed by Paramount Pictures, these Grease movie costumes have the quality details that matter to fans.
But sometimes just having the signature look isn't quite enough to bring the characters to life. And it's nothing to worry about...because we have the how-to knowledge to help! And that's why we're going to lead off with our favorite tips, all combined into one glorious section that we like to call, drumroll here, Love Your Look! When it takes just a little bit of extra effort to achieve your desired costume level, we're standing there right beside you with the ideas you need to bring your vision together. Check out these images from our Grease photo session. We got just the right models and locations to achieve our own version of Rydell High and its cast of characters, but it won't matter who and where you want to practice your "You're the one that I want", because when you use some of these love your look ideas you're going to be "Rama lama lama ka dinga da dinga dong!"
50s Outfits for the Whole Gang
Yeah, so we might have had to pull a few strings to get our hands on a cherry red drop-top, but once we had our gang assembled, all we had to do was stop by our local high school for the perfect backdrop. Danny and Sandy can be romantic as adults, or more casual as young friends, but when you combine the grown-ups and the kids, everyone's going to be instantly transported into their high school years! Having just the right facial expressions of braggadocio and uncertainty will convey the feelings that all people go through in high school. And, of course, rockin' an' rollin' an' what not!
T-Birds Jacket for Boys
There was only one clique at Rydell High School that would insure you'd always be in the "it" crowd, and it helped to have just a little bit of horsepower too! The T-Birds ruled the strip and parking lot at the football game, and all your little guy will have to do to show his colors is rock this signature Grease jacket for boys. With the detailed graphic screen printed on the back of the faux leather jacket, all he'll have to do is grease his pompadour wig for kids and point with a thumb towards his back to let everyone know which guys he rolls with.
Pink Ladies Outfit for Girls
She's cool. She's hip. Popular. And sassy! Yup she's a Pink Lady all right—strutting her stuff with confidence and just the right amount of sass is key to let her become one of the Pink Ladies of Grease, and you can make her signature style stand out with one of our authentic Pink Ladies costumes. High gloss flats, black tights, and signature 50s throwback glasses will be the key accessories to achieve her look. Give her a funky throwback pigtail or hairdo, and our signature Pink Ladies jacket for girls will take care of the rest. Don't forget to show off the text on the back of her child Pink Ladies costume!
Women's Pink Ladies Jacket
When you're a little bit older, you can add the signature touches that are sure to drive any T-Bird wild. Matte faux leather ankle tights bring the retro style to life, and high gloss heels are a super style upgrade from flats. We're sure you won't have to practice looking cool, since you've got our authentic Pink Ladies jacket, but you should practice a pose that shows off your Rydell High social status. Striking an elegant gaze with just the right posture will you make you stand out while you find your seat at the big game. And of course, showing off the signature stitching on the back of your costume Pink Ladies jacket will show off exactly which clique you roll with!
50s Style Costume for Women
Even the boldest greasers might have a hard time striking up a conversation with you if you take your social status just a little too seriously. So make sure you have the right air about you while you stand out in the stands. Your faux leather leggings and shiny heels are the perfect complement to your authentic Pink Ladies jacket, and you use the included scarf to complete your signature movie look. Put your hair in just the right pigtail or 'do, and you'll be the most stunning lady at the big Rydell High football game. Just put your arm on your hip, and practice the right pose. Your Grease Instagram shots are going to be perfect!
Men's 50s Costume
You already know that you're the coolest cat in school- that much you've always known. But, it's also going to be all about matching your suave ways with the signature style of the T-Birds. Rydell High is never going to be the same after you make an appearance, so use other 50s details to complete your Grease costume for men. Converse style canvas shoes will look best with black socks, and make sure there's enough length in your jeans to a sturdy double cuff on your pant leg. A simple white tee will look perfect underneath the signature T-Bird faux leather jacket, and a slick pair of aviator shades will complete the movie inspired look. Grease your hair with just the right amount of pomade, and all you'll have to do is strike a relaxed pose when you seat yourself in the stands. A cool stare is going to let everyone know that you're a T-Bird.
Greased Lightning: 50s Costume Ideas for Guys
You might be watching the big game, or you might just be trying to look electrifying hanging out after school, but when you strike a seated pose, you're going to want to let everyone know that you're one of the coolest guys at school. Of course, the screen printed "T" Birds logo on the back of our costume Grease jacket for men will convey that message for you! Lean forward a little bit so that everyone gets a glimpse of your clique affiliation, and make sure you have the matching look of a 50s greaser. Slicked hair and aviator shades will have you looking cool, and calm facial expressions are going to let everyone know that you've already got social status. With our officially licensed Grease costumes, you are assuredly going to be lightning!
50's Couple Costume Ideas
So you convinced your partner, friend or significant other to team up with you for a retro blast from the past for Halloween this year. But if you can't quite decide on how to complement each others' 50s costumes, why not just go as an iconic couple from the era? Whether from pop culture of the day or from movies or the music scene, there's lots of great 50s couples costume combinations that will have you feeling downright retro together!
Marilyn and Joe DiMaggio
Two of the most iconic pop culture figures of the 50s collided when Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio eloped in 1954. Each holding superstar status in films and the sporting world respectively, their worlds seemingly couldn't mesh when the pair divorced a short 9 months later. However, this celeb super pairing just couldn't stay apart, as they reunited until Marilyn's tragic death in 1962. If you'd like to be this forever memorable celebrity duo, it would be the perfect choice for a 50s couple costume. Just coordinate a Marilyn Monroe costume like Marilyn's iconic dress from the skirt-blowing scene in The Seven Year Itch with our Adult Vintage Baseball costume. A Hollywood superstar and a star slugger for the New York Yankees? It's certainly one of the best 50s couple costumes ideas!
Danny and Sandy
"You are the one that I want!" No matter what kind of relationship you have with your costume partner, you can bring back the fifties when you go as the on-again-off-again lovebirds Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson. You might be doing your best to try and get some "summer loving" or you might be looking to keep things strictly platonic, but either way this throwback movie couples costume idea is going to be a hit. Our exclusive line of Grease costumes have all of the signature details that fans know and love, and they're ready for romance.
Lucy and Ricky
If 50s couples costumes from the movie screen aren't quite your thing, how about trying one from the TV screen? Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz made millions laugh as Lucy and Ricky Ricardo on I Love Lucy, and this hit 50s Television series left its mark on American comedy for years to come. You can become the zany housewife and bandleader sitcom duo when you combine our I Love Lucy costumes and Desi costumes for a 50s couple's costume. The perfect choice for a married couple, this fifties costume also works for a couple in any kind of relationship. Because, as Lucy would say, "Ever since we said "I do", there have been so many things that we don't!"
Rockabilly Girl and Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly was well known for rocking the 50s with some good tunes, and if either member of your couple is musically inclined, this tandem would be the perfect 50s couples costume for you! Just pair our Buddy Holly costume with a rockabilly costume dress, and you'll be the retro couple who's ready to make their mark on rock and roll! Just make sure you pick up some black frame glasses for your Buddy. (Or for both of you. Too cute!) If you're really committed, you could even bring an imitation Stratocaster guitar and some drumsticks as accessories to complete the look, and well, we wouldn't be surprised if you get invited up on stage to perform at your 50s costume party!
50's Costume Accessories
As much as the big personalities defined the era, the fashions and trends that became mainstream during the 1950s helped to make the decade forever memorable. Greasers, preps, and jocks all defined the fashions for men, and women wouldn't have been caught without a big poodle skirt and a pair of bobby socks. We have all the 50s costume accessories to transform your appearance. Props and costumes shoes, along with men's wigs and women's wigs will add just the right touch. Check out all of these accessories to make sure your 1950s costume is on point!
Shoes
Saddle shoes became one of the iconic shoe styles of the 50s. And with every man, woman, and child wearing them, how could they not be? Guys would wear them with denim jeans, and women would wear them with poodle skirts and the fold down lace frill of bobby socks- every girl would want to be known as a bobby soxer. If you'd like an authentic touch for your throwback 50s era costume, these costume saddle shoes are for you. With the signature black saddle section over solid white, these retro kicks will have you fitting in at the drive-in or at the big sock hop!
Glasses
Horn rimmed glasses had been around for a few decades, but when the fifties hit, they took off in a big way. Thick, plastic rims defined both men's and women's styles, but for the ladies, the jeweled catseye frame would have been the most fashionable choice. This 50s black frame glasses accessory perfectly evokes the style of the era. Wear them with contacts or even if your peepers are perfect...because there's no corrective lenses in these costume glasses!
Poodle Socks
Of course, you couldn't be much of a bobby soxer without the right pair of socks! These poodle socks are essential for completing your poodle skirt 50s costume. They'd also be great for going to the big sock hop! Sock hops were all the rage in the 50s, when teenagers would attend dances at their high school gyms. They'd be required to remove their hard-soled shoes to protect the gymnasium floor, and you can bet they'd spend all night boogieing to rock and roll in a pair of socks just like these!
50s Style Wig
A big bouffant hairstyle was all the rage among women of the 50s, and this popular formal style would have been worn by teenagers and movie stars alike during the era! You can use a wig to capture the voluminous appearance of the over-sized do, along with a flipped bob for just the right touch. Get this black wig to change your appearance in your 50s costume, and of course, to save a whole lotta muss and fuss with hairspray!