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October 5, 2007 8:01 AM

Costume help: Young Republican?

I'd like to dress up as a 'Young Republican' for Halloween. What do you recommend I wear? What does preppy mean to you?

posted by raztaj to society & culture (46 comments total)

Michael J. Fox, Family Ties. Sport Coat, Sweater, Collared Shirt. Small elephant pin, or a NO DONKEY one. American flag. Signed picture of Ann Coulter in the coat pocket.
posted by beaucoupkevin at 8:03 AM on October 5, 2007

note: i am a female
posted by raztaj at 8:03 AM on October 5, 2007

popped collar, boat shoes/ loafers work for both sexes, but for more girlie-specific, i'd go with an A line dress, possibly with a full skirt. pearls. a headband. a small purse. if you've got long hair, curl it for a over-the-top precious look. or even better: a beehive.
posted by buka at 8:07 AM on October 5, 2007

Nautical.
posted by mdonley at 8:09 AM on October 5, 2007

Not preppy, but maybe like a delegate? Cowboy hat, lots of red/white/blue and tons of Bush 2008 pins.
posted by Ljubljana at 8:10 AM on October 5, 2007

Blonde?
posted by Hutch at 8:11 AM on October 5, 2007

thanks for the suggestions so far!!

how do you recommend i style my hair? at present, it's about an inch below my shoulder, straight, and very dark brown. wig? style it?
posted by raztaj at 8:15 AM on October 5, 2007

Jeeze, how about consulting the J.Crew catalog? In my head, every single one of the girls in that book is named "Mimsy" and comes from old money.
posted by peacecorn at 8:21 AM on October 5, 2007 [2 favorites]

Get some of those purple band-aids that were used to mock Kerry's war injuries?
posted by callmejay at 8:30 AM on October 5, 2007 [2 favorites]

At my alma mater the College Republicans were the only ones that ever did any protesting, so I always associate them with anti-Hillary pickets.
posted by backseatpilot at 8:33 AM on October 5, 2007

Self-satisfied smirk.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 8:34 AM on October 5, 2007 [1 favorite]

There's a group of Bright Young Republican Things in DC called Late Night Shots. The Washington City Paper did a piece on them not too long ago, and there are some photos of some of their female members at bars and such; Wonkette did a follow-up, and there are a few more photos. Language in the CP article and photos (well, one of them) in the Wonkette piece might be NSFW.
posted by rtha at 8:46 AM on October 5, 2007

Lots of 1990s vintage Rush Limbaugh Show clips on YouTube. That's the first thing that came to mind. I've seen some very ostentatious "young suits" in the crowd worth looking at.
posted by rolypolyman at 8:51 AM on October 5, 2007

One of these shirts.
posted by mkb at 8:58 AM on October 5, 2007

I would say: collared shirt under cashmere pastel V-neck sweater with pleated knee-length skirt, pearls, pastel purse, hair straight but roll your ends under with curlers.
posted by rmless at 9:10 AM on October 5, 2007

These are generally very useful comments, but I'd like to recommend one source not yet listed: after consulting J.Crew, which is a wee bit more casual than you're looking for, you should look at the clothing (and the models' hairstyles) featured at Brooks Brothers.

Every good young republican worth her salt (yes, all three of them) buys from Brooks Brothers.
posted by deejay jaydee at 9:11 AM on October 5, 2007

Alternately: long blond hair, little black cocktail dress, bug eyes.
posted by kittyprecious at 9:28 AM on October 5, 2007

Don't forget the purple "I voted in Iraq" fingertip. Oh, and make sure to kick people when they are knocked to the floor by the security folks for wearing the wrong t-shirt.
posted by Aquaman at 9:30 AM on October 5, 2007

Go a step further, and be a Bob Joneser.

Ankle length skirt, no makeup, (fake?) glasses, long-sleeved blouse buttoned up to your neck, no hair product, flat shoes, knee-high socks... Bible in one hand, Ann Coulter in the other.

Only problem: Most girls like to dress sexy for Halloween. This is pretty much the opposite.
posted by LordSludge at 9:32 AM on October 5, 2007

Sore/Loserman t-shirt. If you can find one.
posted by The World Famous at 9:38 AM on October 5, 2007

These guys might have some tips
posted by lalochezia at 9:46 AM on October 5, 2007

Along the Bob Jones line mentioned above, if you want to go that route you can always look to the Church Lady for ideas.
posted by TedW at 9:58 AM on October 5, 2007

A thin Alice band for your hair, with the ends of your hair curled slightly up and out.
posted by goo at 10:00 AM on October 5, 2007

If you don't have an American Flag lapel pin, your costume will fail. Since you're female, it has to be big, gaudy, and covered in rhinestones. Do not mess this up.
posted by SansPoint at 10:04 AM on October 5, 2007

Elephant dick heads (selv ink)
posted by growabrain at 10:13 AM on October 5, 2007

Ooh, see if you can get one of those foam fetus keychains they pass out at the anti-abortion rallies. At least our college Republicans had 'em, and I always found them deliciously and insanely tacky.
posted by klangklangston at 10:19 AM on October 5, 2007

How about a big wind-up-toy handle in the middle of your back?

Not too subtle, but you know, kinda funny.
posted by Miko at 10:22 AM on October 5, 2007

Definitely pearls. Sensible yet expensive-looking shoes. Nylons--no bare legs.
posted by HotPatatta at 10:27 AM on October 5, 2007

You will need carefully over-styled hair (either straightened within an inch of its life with a flat iron or meticulously curled with a curling iron) and plastered with hairspray. For jewelry, pearls and conservative gold necklaces featuring crosses, angels or birthstones. Promise ring. Tailored looking clothes that don't hug the body too closely. Sun tan panty hose. A sweater draped and tied around your shoulders.
posted by pluckysparrow at 10:30 AM on October 5, 2007

If you don't have an American Flag lapel pin, your costume will fail. Since you're female, it has to be big, gaudy, and covered in rhinestones. Do not mess this up.

YES!

To be a little more blatant, maybe a Bushie pin on your purse?
posted by radioamy at 10:36 AM on October 5, 2007

Don't forget to blather on happily about your job and kids. Quietly complain that the government already takes a third of your income. Suggest the outrageous notion that maybe... just maybe... America would be better off rejecting socialism.

What a hoot!
posted by LakesideOrion at 11:15 AM on October 5, 2007

Oh no, I dress like a Republican. This sucks, I am not even American.
posted by Deep Dish at 11:55 AM on October 5, 2007

Before dressing, remember to bathe in the blood of slaughtered innocent women and children, or the costume just won't be believable.
posted by luriete at 12:09 PM on October 5, 2007

Lilly Pulitzer
posted by hilby at 12:31 PM on October 5, 2007

So, to sum up: To dress like a Republican, you should dress like a Kennedy.
posted by The World Famous at 12:39 PM on October 5, 2007

Is this ivy league young republican or state school young republican? Fetus keychain is state school, pearls and Kennedywear is ivy league. Both are so fun, it seems a shame to have to choose. Hey, maybe you could do some kinda crazy half and half thing like that one star trek where Kirk was half black and half white or whatever it was. Whee!
posted by Don Pepino at 1:59 PM on October 5, 2007

Isn't it obvious?

You should go as a giant, weeping asshole. Tough costume to build, but it'll knock em dead
posted by Cycloptichorn at 2:42 PM on October 5, 2007

Shouldn't you be looking at dress codes for Regent or Bob Jones University for inspiration? Country club Republicans are so 80's.
posted by gyc at 3:28 PM on October 5, 2007

X-ray image showing the conspicuous absence of a heart.
posted by jjg at 3:35 PM on October 5, 2007

I can't believe this hasn't been mentioned yet

Trowel on the cheap make-up---the over wide lipstick is the classic touch---a really, really big rock-hard hair.

For extra points, go for the "perpetual surprise" eyebrows.
posted by bonehead at 4:09 PM on October 5, 2007

Wasn't Leona Helmsley a Democrat?
posted by The World Famous at 4:21 PM on October 5, 2007

Cut out an elephant from yellow card, for a badge.
posted by aeschenkarnos at 5:40 PM on October 5, 2007

For the retro look, an IMPEACH CLINTON button.
posted by samh23 at 7:35 PM on October 5, 2007

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/22/fashion/22club.html
posted by citron at 9:24 PM on October 5, 2007

I still have a late night shots password (connect from someone only there to make fun of them). I don't recommend reading, it will probably leave you in a state of despair. ah, DC
posted by citron at 9:34 PM on October 5, 2007

Rent Election; study and mimic Tracy Flick's choix de couture.
posted by rob511 at 10:44 PM on October 5, 2007