Black & White Halloween Costume Ideas
October 16, 2017 10:26 AM Subscribe
Mr. Millipede (m, 40) and I (f, 36) have been invited to a "black and white" themed Halloween party. Help us come up with costumes. Stringent stipulations inside.
-We want something clever and unusual for the theme. No: penguins, oreo cookies, dominos, cows, zebras, pandas, salt and pepper shakers, etc.
-We do not want difficult to move in, structural costumes made out of boxes or something.
-No extreme makeup (sensitive skin). This eliminates "put on grey makeup to look like a character from an old movie."
-The costumes must be related to each other.
-We are not tied to the idea of the costumes actually BEING black and white. The theme is black and white but I think it's ok to do something around that theme with the costumes themselves having other colors involved. For example, so far the most winning idea is "zombie trump supporters." Who are by default, white, but have (black) moldy body parts rotting off. This idea seems like one we would have to explain all night, though, and I feel like we can do better.
-We are terrible at pop culture references so obscure characters from some movie we probably never saw won't work. That being said, I would love if we could be Lydia and Beetlejuice, but the most important stipulation is this:
-We are LAZY about this and do not want to spend much time, money, or effort on a whole look (ie, the purchasing of a stripey Beetlejuice suit). And costumes bought in bags are cheating--though I'd happily buy components.
Help! We are willing to buy a few accessories and have wardrobes full of basics that can be co-opted, stapled, or drawn upon.
-We want something clever and unusual for the theme. No: penguins, oreo cookies, dominos, cows, zebras, pandas, salt and pepper shakers, etc.
-We do not want difficult to move in, structural costumes made out of boxes or something.
-No extreme makeup (sensitive skin). This eliminates "put on grey makeup to look like a character from an old movie."
-The costumes must be related to each other.
-We are not tied to the idea of the costumes actually BEING black and white. The theme is black and white but I think it's ok to do something around that theme with the costumes themselves having other colors involved. For example, so far the most winning idea is "zombie trump supporters." Who are by default, white, but have (black) moldy body parts rotting off. This idea seems like one we would have to explain all night, though, and I feel like we can do better.
-We are terrible at pop culture references so obscure characters from some movie we probably never saw won't work. That being said, I would love if we could be Lydia and Beetlejuice, but the most important stipulation is this:
-We are LAZY about this and do not want to spend much time, money, or effort on a whole look (ie, the purchasing of a stripey Beetlejuice suit). And costumes bought in bags are cheating--though I'd happily buy components.
Help! We are willing to buy a few accessories and have wardrobes full of basics that can be co-opted, stapled, or drawn upon.
I don't know if this is too obvious, but I think you could each be half of a black and white cookie without too much trouble.
posted by Room 641-A at 10:33 AM on October 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Room 641-A at 10:33 AM on October 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
I suppose any couple from a black and white movie that you (sort of) resemble would be a place to start.
Black hole and white star?
Eye chart and something else?
A thing that's "obviously right" and a thing that is "obviously wrong?"
Black sheep and white sheep?
Orca whales? Or pandas?
posted by bilabial at 10:41 AM on October 16, 2017
Black hole and white star?
Eye chart and something else?
A thing that's "obviously right" and a thing that is "obviously wrong?"
Black sheep and white sheep?
Orca whales? Or pandas?
posted by bilabial at 10:41 AM on October 16, 2017
Black skinny jeans with black kneepads, white crew neck, white short sleeved button down dress shirt and black wig to look like MJ from the Black or White music video?
posted by Talez at 10:43 AM on October 16, 2017
posted by Talez at 10:43 AM on October 16, 2017
Dress as a stereotypical 1950s sitcom husband and wife (him: suit, tie, horn-rimmed glasses, pipe; her: dress, apron, tray of cookies). When asked why you aren't black and white, exclaim in shock and dismay that you must have been colorized when you weren't paying attention.
posted by Faint of Butt at 10:43 AM on October 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by Faint of Butt at 10:43 AM on October 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
On theme but not literally B&W: He's Ansel Adams and you're a mountain or a flower or some other subject.
His costume is just a hat and jacket, with something that looks suitably like a camera, yours can be minimal: a white floral corsage with some ferns.
posted by SaltySalticid at 10:45 AM on October 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
His costume is just a hat and jacket, with something that looks suitably like a camera, yours can be minimal: a white floral corsage with some ferns.
posted by SaltySalticid at 10:45 AM on October 16, 2017 [5 favorites]
Weren't the old Mad Mag "Spy v. Spy" characters one in all-black and one in all-white?
posted by praemunire at 10:46 AM on October 16, 2017 [20 favorites]
posted by praemunire at 10:46 AM on October 16, 2017 [20 favorites]
Wrap yourselves in newspaper.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:46 AM on October 16, 2017
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:46 AM on October 16, 2017
It's been done before, but the "50 Shades of Grey" costume using paint shade cards from a home improvement store is kind of funny.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 10:50 AM on October 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Pater Aletheias at 10:50 AM on October 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
Sunburned zebras. (Black and white and red all over).
posted by bilabial at 10:51 AM on October 16, 2017
posted by bilabial at 10:51 AM on October 16, 2017
Perhaps this is too obvious to be "clever and unusual," but a chess theme could get you low-effort black & white costumes:
One of you gets a nice sized sheet of white paper or cardstock, the other black, and you each fold yours into a bishop's mitre. Other bishop-y accessories could be easy, too - staff, a simple robe and sash, stole, etc.
The clever part that sells the costumes is that you each only move diagonally through the room(s) throughout the evening.
posted by solotoro at 10:51 AM on October 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
One of you gets a nice sized sheet of white paper or cardstock, the other black, and you each fold yours into a bishop's mitre. Other bishop-y accessories could be easy, too - staff, a simple robe and sash, stole, etc.
The clever part that sells the costumes is that you each only move diagonally through the room(s) throughout the evening.
posted by solotoro at 10:51 AM on October 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
You: black and white version of Harley Quinn
Him: black and white version of Harvey Dent
Together.
Or penguins.
posted by carmicha at 10:53 AM on October 16, 2017
Him: black and white version of Harvey Dent
Together.
Or penguins.
posted by carmicha at 10:53 AM on October 16, 2017
Pepe le Pew and Penelope Pussycat
posted by galvanized unicorn at 10:54 AM on October 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by galvanized unicorn at 10:54 AM on October 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
A few of the outfits at Take Back Halloween are black-and-white, or could be. I think there's only one man's costume, though; half of the June Carter & Johnny Cash pair, but many of the other women's costumes would easily adapt to a male partner.
The Hecate costume could be paired with a god wearing all-white; I'm trying to think of options and coming up blank. (Hades, since she spends a lot of time dealing with the underworld?)
A more historical version of Hecate would be easy, and Take Back Halloween has similar costume instructions.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 10:57 AM on October 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
The Hecate costume could be paired with a god wearing all-white; I'm trying to think of options and coming up blank. (Hades, since she spends a lot of time dealing with the underworld?)
A more historical version of Hecate would be easy, and Take Back Halloween has similar costume instructions.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 10:57 AM on October 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
Yin & Yang? Magician & Rabbit? Both "halves" of Black Swan? Vincent & Mia from their "date" in Pulp Fiction?
posted by xyzzy at 11:08 AM on October 16, 2017
posted by xyzzy at 11:08 AM on October 16, 2017
Black and White
Trailer
Relies on you and your friends knowing about early 2000s PC games, but one of you as the creature, and one of you with a comedy-size big hand as the player/god?
posted by Urtylug at 11:14 AM on October 16, 2017
Trailer
Relies on you and your friends knowing about early 2000s PC games, but one of you as the creature, and one of you with a comedy-size big hand as the player/god?
posted by Urtylug at 11:14 AM on October 16, 2017
Clearly you should go as Spy vs. Spy. But otherwise, what about some dominos?
According to the internet this works best when you can convince five other people to dress up with you. Alternately wear miniskirts and go as the Halloween classic of sexy dominoes.
posted by tapir-whorf at 11:17 AM on October 16, 2017
According to the internet this works best when you can convince five other people to dress up with you. Alternately wear miniskirts and go as the Halloween classic of sexy dominoes.
posted by tapir-whorf at 11:17 AM on October 16, 2017
Piano keys?
Eye charts.
Sheet music.
Felix the cat(s).
(Old fashioned) Mickey and friends.
Literally just wear all white and all black, then accessorize the hell out of it with silly/outlandish stuff.
Old time jail suits.
Race track flag.
The scene from Yellow Submarine in the "Sea of Holes."
Mary Poppins (in her white dress) and Burt (all sooty).
Easiest- just order a skeleton/x-ray t-shirt.
posted by Temeraria at 11:43 AM on October 16, 2017
Eye charts.
Sheet music.
Felix the cat(s).
(Old fashioned) Mickey and friends.
Literally just wear all white and all black, then accessorize the hell out of it with silly/outlandish stuff.
Old time jail suits.
Race track flag.
The scene from Yellow Submarine in the "Sea of Holes."
Mary Poppins (in her white dress) and Burt (all sooty).
Easiest- just order a skeleton/x-ray t-shirt.
posted by Temeraria at 11:43 AM on October 16, 2017
Oh, here's an old idea of mine that I've never had the chance to use: go as Pong!
You both dress in all black, preferably turtlenecks.
Use some kind of white tape, or paint, to paint a paddle and score on the front of the shirts.
String a ping pong ball on some fishing line.
Attach the end of the fishing line with a tiny safety pin (you can paint or sharpie the safety pin black.) Using the safety pin will make it easy to separate and reattach at will.
posted by Room 641-A at 11:45 AM on October 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
You both dress in all black, preferably turtlenecks.
Use some kind of white tape, or paint, to paint a paddle and score on the front of the shirts.
String a ping pong ball on some fishing line.
Attach the end of the fishing line with a tiny safety pin (you can paint or sharpie the safety pin black.) Using the safety pin will make it easy to separate and reattach at will.
posted by Room 641-A at 11:45 AM on October 16, 2017 [7 favorites]
2nding Vincent and Mia from Pulp Fiction, you will probably need to buy black wigs but little else
posted by tatiana wishbone at 11:50 AM on October 16, 2017
posted by tatiana wishbone at 11:50 AM on October 16, 2017
Rorschach test patterns.
posted by bile and syntax at 12:08 PM on October 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by bile and syntax at 12:08 PM on October 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
Jack Black and Jack White?
posted by contraption at 12:13 PM on October 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by contraption at 12:13 PM on October 16, 2017 [11 favorites]
Do your zombie thing, but use medieval/Game of Thrones style outfits that you've scorched a bit and there you go - blackened wights.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 12:19 PM on October 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by robocop is bleeding at 12:19 PM on October 16, 2017 [3 favorites]
White Witch and Black Dwarf from Narnia?
posted by metasarah at 12:29 PM on October 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by metasarah at 12:29 PM on October 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
DIY Spy vs Spy at Instructables.
Some variation of Riff Raff and Magenta from Rocky Horror Picture Show
Mary Poppins and Bert
1920s flapper and gangster
(Last 3 were cherry picked from YourTango list of 50 couples Halloween costumes
posted by filthy light thief at 12:51 PM on October 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
Some variation of Riff Raff and Magenta from Rocky Horror Picture Show
Mary Poppins and Bert
1920s flapper and gangster
(Last 3 were cherry picked from YourTango list of 50 couples Halloween costumes
posted by filthy light thief at 12:51 PM on October 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
I would go as a nun and a priest, but that may fit into the "too obvious" category.
My other suggestion would be to go as Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers (or any other couple from a great old movie). You don't have to actually look black and white--if he wears a boxy suit and a hat and you do your hair the right way and wear an old-fashioned dress, you'll be from a B&W movie, even in color.
posted by gideonfrog at 12:54 PM on October 16, 2017
My other suggestion would be to go as Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers (or any other couple from a great old movie). You don't have to actually look black and white--if he wears a boxy suit and a hat and you do your hair the right way and wear an old-fashioned dress, you'll be from a B&W movie, even in color.
posted by gideonfrog at 12:54 PM on October 16, 2017
I would go as a nun and a priest, but that may fit into the "too obvious" category.
What about cross-dressed nun and priest?
posted by The Underpants Monster at 1:25 PM on October 16, 2017
What about cross-dressed nun and priest?
posted by The Underpants Monster at 1:25 PM on October 16, 2017
Also nthing others' suggestions of couples from famous black and white movies and and TV. Lucy and Ricky, Ralph and Alice, Rick and Ilsa, anything your friends would know.
Han and Leia wore black and white in A New Hope.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 1:34 PM on October 16, 2017
Han and Leia wore black and white in A New Hope.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 1:34 PM on October 16, 2017
Cruella de Ville and a dalmatian? Here's an example.
posted by Knowyournuts at 1:59 PM on October 16, 2017
posted by Knowyournuts at 1:59 PM on October 16, 2017
Paint an oar black and if someone asks, say "I was supposed to bring a black oar, right?"
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 2:21 PM on October 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 2:21 PM on October 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
One person with an actual crossword puzzle on their (black or white) shirt. The other person with the clues on their shirt.
posted by eisforcool at 3:53 PM on October 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by eisforcool at 3:53 PM on October 16, 2017 [2 favorites]
Black and white swan ballerinas. Tutus are cheap and easy to make without sewing. Wear black/white leotards and tights. Would be particularly cute on a dude.
posted by waving at 4:50 PM on October 16, 2017
posted by waving at 4:50 PM on October 16, 2017
Black 80s ninja vs white 80s ninja.
posted by obiwanwasabi at 6:25 PM on October 16, 2017
posted by obiwanwasabi at 6:25 PM on October 16, 2017
you could just parody the vampires from twilight and just go nuts with the glitter?
posted by speakeasy at 11:53 PM on October 16, 2017
posted by speakeasy at 11:53 PM on October 16, 2017
If someone can sew, consider contrasting black with white polka dots and white with black polka dots fabrics...
posted by jim in austin at 6:55 AM on October 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by jim in austin at 6:55 AM on October 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Each of you carries a Bluetooth speaker linked to your respective cell phone; when someone asks "What are you supposed to be?" one of you plays selections only from the Beatles' The White Album while the other only plays songs from The Black Album (which could be either Jay-Z or Metallica, depending on your musical tastes). And each of you wears only the color related to your album. Maybe the White Album person dresses a bit Mod or '60s-ish while the Black Album either wears a Metallica t-shirt/heavy metal gear or a Jay-Z tour shirt or something.
posted by castlebravo at 1:18 PM on October 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by castlebravo at 1:18 PM on October 17, 2017 [2 favorites]
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posted by BostonTerrier at 10:33 AM on October 16, 2017