trick or trefoil?

October 11, 2006 9:10 PM

Constructing adult-sized Girl and Boy Scout costumes for Halloween, where to find authentic gear?

It seems as though the uniform catalog for the scouts has been modernized -- none of the stuff I remember.

I can probably find or make a good blouse, shirt, skirt and shorts, but I need help remembering all the little details involved in a good scouting uniform -- like the orange tassel-bands for Brownie knee-highs and kerchief rings used by the Boy Scouts.

What do you remember from your uniform? Where can I find it or what are some good ideas for constructing it?

posted by cior to clothing, beauty, & fashion (10 comments total)

Current Scout uniforms aren't exactly the shizz. But you could check the online official scoutstuff.org Boy Scouts of America store for adult uniform gear. The new zip-off pants look spiffy, if not all that practical.
posted by paulsc at 9:20 PM on October 11, 2006

If you're looking to replicate Baden-Powell's look, look here.
posted by paulsc at 9:38 PM on October 11, 2006

You said Girl Scouts, but then mentioned Brownies... which is it you want?

As far as Brownies are concerned, the US Brownie uniform the first year I was in it was a brown button-up dress (sort of like the ones you see on these dolls). The tie was orange, and it tied like a normal men's tie (not the snap tie, that came later). The hat was a darker brown beanie cap. I think the dress *may* have had a pocket, on which we wore the Brownie pin, but I'm not sure. The cap had the Brownie logo in the front. Knee highs were brown and had the orange flashes you mentioned, but those were optional.

The following year they changed the uniforms to the jumpers that stayed in use for the next 20 years or so. At that point it was a brown jumper (with a zipper, I think), over a white shirt that had a light brown repeating print of the Brownie logo. The tie changed to the crossover snap tie, but still orange. I *think* the beanie stayed the same, as did the socks and flashes.

You could also wear a brown sash with some badges, but we didn't really have many badges as Brownies.

Junior Girl Scout uniforms were almost the same, only in greens instead of browns. Then I switched to Camp Fire Girls so I don't remember Junior Girl Scout stuff as well. If you want vintage Camp Fire info, I can do that. :) That's an easy costume to mimic: plain white blouse, blue short skirt, red neckerchief that could be either tied in a square knot or put through a red-white-and-blue kerchief ring. Make a blue bolero vest and put beads and badges on it. I don't remember if CF Girls had a hat; Blue Birds had a little baseball cap, but if Camp Fire Girls had one, I didn't get it, probably.

Do kids even wear uniforms any more? I know when I was a kid in the 70s we were thrilled to wear the uniforms to school on meeting day, but you never see them any more. (And Camp Fire Girls isn't Camp Fire Girls any more, either.)
posted by litlnemo at 10:33 PM on October 11, 2006

Incidentally, I was a Cub Scout for Halloween one year; I'm a small female so it was easy to find a large Cub Scout shirt at a thrift store and just wear that. So that's a possibility if one of you is smallish. Check out the thrift stores for uniforms that will fit.
posted by litlnemo at 10:35 PM on October 11, 2006

Here is a link I found that might be useful: A history of Girl Scout uniforms
posted by litlnemo at 10:59 PM on October 11, 2006

eBay has lots of used scout gear of varying vintages. Both organizations redesign their uniforms every decade or two, so it might be helpful to mention which era you want to emulate. If you want the current look, you can shop your local GS and BS council offices (there's a BSOA in Alameda, another in Foster City; the GS council office is in Oakland) where they have retail stores but some items require proof that you're a bona-fide scout leader. They don't want just anyone getting their mitts on those merit badges, I guess, but there's some better replacements out there anyway.
posted by jamaro at 11:20 PM on October 11, 2006

for the location of patches: official boy scout insignia guide
posted by zachk at 12:32 AM on October 12, 2006

Patchwise, it's probably easiest to buy a used kid-size uniform from a thrift store and then move the patches to your adult-size one. Authentic and cheap.
posted by smackfu at 6:42 AM on October 12, 2006

Self-link, but maybe helpful: my brownie troop c1989.

The jumper and sash would be a cinch to make if you have even basic sewing skills. The necktie and knee tassels could be cut out of a piece of orange felt.

The tricky part might be the blouse, which, note, is NOT white but has vertical brown stripes.
posted by miagaille at 7:33 AM on October 12, 2006

I remember you could once buy the official uniform patterns and fabric to make your own uniforms. I know I saw it in stores a few years ago, but I can't track down anything about it now. Maybe GSA discontinued the licensing--a theory that seems borne out by the fact that Simplicity doesn't seem to make the patterns anymore. But you can find some patterns on Ebay (for example), and maybe even some fabric?
posted by jessicak at 9:55 AM on October 12, 2006