Help me dress up as a dead celebrity!

November 10, 2009 9:32 AM

Costume Party Filter : Going to a "Dead Celebrity" costume party in a couple weeks and am having trouble coming up with any good ideas that aren't going to be done 100 times over.

The obvious ones that I know are going to show up are going to be things like Billy Mays, Marilyn, Michael Jackson, etc. so I really want to go as something that no one else is but that people will still know/recognize. I'm also open to other interpretations of the theme, as well as dead movie characters etc. The problem is I'm a big, busty, curvy woman with long dark brown hair and the only dead celebrity I can come up with that fits that even a little is Mama Cass... and that sucks. I do not want to go as Mama Cass.

I would love to go as something funny/ingenious/unique so I'm hoping the brilliant minds here on askmefi can help me come up with something. I have no problem dressing up in ridiculous things and looking like an idiot, though I would prefer not to have to wear a wig though, simply due to comfort and wig availability. I'm very adept at styling my hair, though, so I can recreate most any look I would need.

posted by gwenlister to grab bag (31 comments total)

Mae West? Pop on a blonde wig and let those curves get you into some trouble! :)
posted by willmize at 9:33 AM on November 10 [1 favorite]

I'm telling you: Sylvia Plath!
posted by Madamina at 9:37 AM on November 10 [2 favorites]

Or Anna Nicole Smith!
posted by Admiral Haddock at 9:44 AM on November 10 [1 favorite]

a couple at halloween did the undead kennedys- vampire jackie o and zombie ted
posted by emilyd22222 at 9:46 AM on November 10

Janis Joplin -- the clothes would be a lot of fun for that!
posted by bearwife at 9:46 AM on November 10

Curl up your hair, put on a painter's smock, carry a pallet and some spatulas with which to paint "Happy little trees" and go as Bob Ross.
posted by bondcliff at 9:47 AM on November 10

Selena Quintanilla
Maria Callas
Queen Victoria
posted by Sara Anne at 9:47 AM on November 10

Janis Joplin, Natalie Wood, Elizabeth Taylor ("What?? She's not dead?") Queen Victoria, Princess Di.

followup pictures greatly appreciated.
posted by theora55 at 9:49 AM on November 10 [1 favorite]

You could go as a Geocities page - dress up in the most hideous-print pajamas you can find, put lime-green Comic Sans text all over, and add some "part of the ____ webring" images and a big Under Construction sign.
posted by Metroid Baby at 9:50 AM on November 10

Previously.
posted by hilaritas at 9:51 AM on November 10

Pick any male dead celebrity, and add "in Drag". Hilarity ensues.

John Wayne comes to mind, Pilgrim, but the possibilities are endless.
posted by dinger at 9:53 AM on November 10 [2 favorites]

Nietzsche in drag.

That, or go as God. (Because God is dead, har har, etc.)
posted by ThomThomThomThom at 9:55 AM on November 10

Robert Goulet.
posted by scarykarrey at 9:56 AM on November 10 [1 favorite]

Einstein
posted by anastasiav at 9:58 AM on November 10

OMG, you should go as Divine!
posted by scarykarrey at 9:58 AM on November 10 [2 favorites]

If you can get your hands on a Renaissance-y gown, go as Katherine Howard, the fifth wife of Henry VIII. She was a buxom woman with long dark hair.

Extra points for doing a "severed head" makeup with a big drippy fake-blood scar all around your neck.
posted by Sidhedevil at 9:59 AM on November 10 [1 favorite]

A friend of mine dressed up as Hitler for Halloween, she did a very good job on her homemade costume. Few people in general would dare to wear that one. She walked into the room, saw everyone's aghast stares, and said "What, too soon?"
posted by lizbunny at 10:00 AM on November 10 [3 favorites]

The problem is I'm a big, busty, curvy woman with long dark brown hair

If I were you, I'd go as Elizabeth Taylor. What, you say? She's still alive? Prove it. I say she died 30 years ago and nobody bothered to tell her. That's a fucking zombie right there, that's what that is.

If that doesn't work for you, there's always Shelley Winters.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 10:00 AM on November 10 [2 favorites]

Or Queen Elizabeth I of England
Joan of Arc
Cleopatra
Amelia Earhart
Agatha Christie
Edith Piaf
Coco Chanel
Jackie O is a good one (dead or undead)
Betsy Ross
Marilyn Chambers
Mother Teresa
Clara Bow
Lucille Ball

I mean, think about it, pretty much any "historical" character you can think of is already dead. The field could be limitless. But if you prefer something more current:

Farrah Fawcett
Bea Arthur
Bettie Page
Sunny von Bülow
Judy Garland
Tammy Faye Baker (Messner)
posted by anastasiav at 10:06 AM on November 10

Mozart. Bonus points for learning how to play the piano upside down.
posted by 8dot3 at 10:12 AM on November 10

The problem is I'm a big, busty, curvy woman with long dark brown hair

Buster Keaton. Just for the mind blowing awesomeness of trying to pull it off.
posted by quin at 10:12 AM on November 10

The problem is I'm a big, busty, curvy woman with long dark brown hair

Tiny Tim.
posted by bunnytricks at 10:38 AM on November 10 [2 favorites]

Frida Kahlo?

Wear some kind of spanish-influenced skirt and blouse and draw on the unibrow.
posted by TooFewShoes at 10:46 AM on November 10 [2 favorites]

Joan Crawford
posted by stormpooper at 11:03 AM on November 10

You could play off of Patrick Swayze's death and be his character, Vida, from To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar
posted by Shesthefastest at 11:17 AM on November 10

Elizabeth Taylor ("What?? She's not dead?")

I'm seconding Cool Papa Bell on this. You could say you're "Elizabeth Taylor's youth." No one would argue that that isn't dead.
posted by dlugoczaj at 11:36 AM on November 10

An eerily similar thread from not two months ago, right down to the body type.
posted by Johnny Assay at 12:01 PM on November 10

Billie Holiday - do a couple of kiss curls, pin your hair back with a big flower, red lipstick and slinky dress.


....I might do this
posted by Neonshock at 12:14 PM on November 10

Soupy Sales.
(mmm pie!)
posted by artdrectr at 1:46 PM on November 10

Julia Child.
posted by pluckemin at 6:13 PM on November 10

Lots of awesome suggestions, guys! I think I am leaning towards Elizabeth Platt, Elizabeth Taylor (as Cleopatra) or Julia Child.
posted by gwenlister at 4:24 AM on November 11