Help me become a 1950s zombie

March 16, 2006 11:29 AM

50sClothingFilter

I've been recruited to act in a friend's short (zombie!)film project where the male lead and I will be clad in 50s attire. I am responsible for coming up with my own costume, and I have a few pieces I thought might work (a polka dot dress, some kitten heels) but I don't know much about 1950s fasion, so I'm not really sure where to start. Any ideas for two outfits I could wear? Tips for makeup/hair? Accessories? The more stereotypical the better. Bonus points for suggestions for the male, as well.

posted by nuclear_soup to clothing, beauty, & fashion (6 comments total)

Daddy O's and PinUpGirl Clothing can both give you lots of ideas.
posted by junkbox at 11:44 AM on March 16, 2006

For you - Poodle skirt (or a very full circle skirt), white blouse with a cardigan, bobby socks with saddle shoes, cat's eye glasses, hair in a ponytail with a scarf tied around the rubber band, strand of pearls...

For him - jeans with the cuffs rolled up, white t-shirt with pack of cigarettes rolled in the sleeve....

You could look at movies from that era or that are set during that era; I'm basing my suggestions from Grease.
posted by Lucinda at 11:44 AM on March 16, 2006

You're going to have to be more specific about the ages and social statuses of the characters. There's a reason James Dean stood out from the pack, you know.
posted by Faint of Butt at 12:43 PM on March 16, 2006

It really depends on how authentic you want to be, how much time and money you want to spend, who your character is (age, class, "good" or "bad" girl, etc.) -- too many variables to give good advice.

This is more of a Halloween-costume resource, which might work if you're just looking for a broad caricature.

Here's a page from a costume-historian's blog showing her and friends at a "Stepford Wives" party, decked out in period cocktail party garb.

A personal site illustrating lots and lots of fashions, hair, and makeup from the '50s and '60s.

I found these within two minutes, googling "1950s costume resources." Try this search or similar and you should be able to find exactly what you want.
posted by vetiver at 12:46 PM on March 16, 2006

Think Reese Witherspoon in 'Pleasantville.'
posted by TeamBilly at 1:34 PM on March 16, 2006

We're going for teenagers, if that helps at all
posted by nuclear_soup at 3:31 PM on March 16, 2006