The reason I like thinking about 1950′s costume ideas so much is that it gives you a lot of options without a lot of other people dressing up as the same thing as someone else. Furthermore, a really good 1950′s costume will not cost you an arm and a leg. As you will soon see, the idea of a 1950′s costume as you buy at a store isn’t quite correct.

First of all, the 1950′s costume is not new. There have been 1950′s costumes out there for a long time; the saddle-shoe wearing poodle skirt costume or the soda jerk or the greaser. In fact, I have found that it is rare indeed to go to a costume party around Halloween and not to see someone dressed in one of these famous 1950′s costumes. However, I think that is precisely why I will be avoiding them.

Personally, I think a good place to start for 1950′s costume ideas is in celebrities from the 1950′s. In fact, this is a phenomenal place to start, particularly for the 1950′s because the 1950′s ushered in a whole new wave of celebrity focus and adoration in the United States. Some popular 1950′s icons include Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe and James Dean. I think that working from there leads you to a really good 1950′s costume.

Now, just having a celebrity is not necessarily enough. While dressing in period clothes helps some (and, perhaps enough), dressing up as a famous character that the celebrity you are interested in might be the difference between a good 1950′s costume and a great 1950′s costume.