If you love to dress up, famous people are a great costume inspiration!
Any time you are planning to don a costume, it can be fun to dress up as famous people, whether for a couple, a group or just yourself. Whether you choose people in the news today or those who made headlines hundreds of years ago - everyone is fair game and you are always encouraged to let your imagination run wild.
Dress Up: Famous People Ideas
Some famous people, like the comics Groucho Marx and Charlie Chaplin, had such a distinctive look that it's always obvious who you are when you wear that costume. Other people might require some explanations or clues. So this is one of the first things you want to consider - do you want instant recognition or appreciation once you've explained the costume?
Another important factor is how much time and money you are willing to put into a costume. You can always rent a costume, of course, and it's easy to find costumes to dress up, famous people like Marilyn Monroe, Marie Antoinette or Queen Elizabeth I are easy to recreate. However, while renting is easy, it doesn't come cheap, especially for elaborate costumes.
If you're going to put the costume together yourself, be sure to properly assess how much effort will be required to achieve maximum recognition factor. Singers from the 80s like Cyndi Lauper or Madonna in her Like a Virgin phase are a lot of fun, but can take a fair bit of work. Whereas Britney Spears can be achieved with a bald cap or cheap blond wig and skimpy outfit.
You also want to weigh whether you want to dress as someone you admire or think is ridiculous. People may ask why you've made the choice you have and it's always nice to have a good answer. It's not necessary, of course, but it can add to the costume's impact.
Famous Couples
One of the most famous current couples is of course President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. This can be an easy costume as one party just needs a business suit and tie and the other a J Crew dress and cardigan or jacket. Other political couples that often make the costume scene are Bill and Hillary Clinton, Ronald and Nancy Reagan, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and, the hands-down favorite (probably because of the pillbox hat) John and Jackie Kennedy.
With the exception of the latter, it's nearly impossible for a costume alone to project who you are, but this is easily fixed with masks. Rubber or plastic masks are available with a lot of famous faces and most of them are reasonably priced, so you only make the small investment and the rest of the costume is as simple as you like.
Other fun famous couples to whet your costume appetite include:
- George and Martha Washington
- Bonnie and Clyde
- John the Baptist and Salome
- Joseph and Mary
- King Arthur and Guinevere
- Marc Antony (or Caesar) and Cleopatra
Famous Groups
When a number of you want to dress up as famous people in the same theme, it can require a bit more thought. One of the easiest solutions is to dress as members of a band like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Duran Duran, Nirvana, the Jonas Brothers or the Pussycat Dolls. Any girl or boy band from the 1950s or 1960s can be an easy look, although wigs are most likely required. Beyond music, you can let your imagination run wild. A sports team, politicians, artists - you can spend hours or weeks coming up with an idea. Remember, of course, that the main goal is to have fun (as well as making a grand impression) and you don't want to drive yourself and everyone crazy in the process. Sometimes the most simple solution is the best way to go. Enjoy!
