Yet another Halloween costume thread: '80s Edition
October 19, 2010 1:55 AM Subscribe
Yet another Halloween costume thread: '80s Edition.
Already did the Rubik's thing. Looking for suggestions/examples of something similarly simple and cheap, based on iconic toys/games/video games/trinkets/devices. Net searches mostly come up with '80s fashion/people, so... I tried.
Ideas I've kicked around (and some might be pre-'80s, but are stuff well-remembered by Gen Xers at least): Magic 8 Ball, Magic Slate, Etch-a-Sketch, Simon, See-n-Say. Maybe a giant clump of Lego pieces?
I may also go with a variation of Joel's "Jiffy Pop" costume from MST3K (the missing child milk carton is much too dark).
Any further ideas for authentic "operatibility" would be great (like a light-up Simon). As would links for web galleries on this sort of theme. Thanks.
Already did the Rubik's thing. Looking for suggestions/examples of something similarly simple and cheap, based on iconic toys/games/video games/trinkets/devices. Net searches mostly come up with '80s fashion/people, so... I tried.
Ideas I've kicked around (and some might be pre-'80s, but are stuff well-remembered by Gen Xers at least): Magic 8 Ball, Magic Slate, Etch-a-Sketch, Simon, See-n-Say. Maybe a giant clump of Lego pieces?
I may also go with a variation of Joel's "Jiffy Pop" costume from MST3K (the missing child milk carton is much too dark).
Any further ideas for authentic "operatibility" would be great (like a light-up Simon). As would links for web galleries on this sort of theme. Thanks.
E.T.?
A gameboy? I think those were more 90's, but I could buy it as '88 or '89.
Atari or Nintendo? Mario?
posted by Sara C. at 5:04 AM on October 19, 2010
A gameboy? I think those were more 90's, but I could buy it as '88 or '89.
Atari or Nintendo? Mario?
posted by Sara C. at 5:04 AM on October 19, 2010
I cannot tell you how to actually make these costumes work, but here are a few ideas: Lite Brite, Guess Who, or Dungeons and Dragons.
posted by cottoncandybeard at 5:48 AM on October 19, 2010
posted by cottoncandybeard at 5:48 AM on October 19, 2010
Big purple bracket on either side of you. You're the bridge from Atari Adventure.
posted by bondcliff at 5:51 AM on October 19, 2010
posted by bondcliff at 5:51 AM on October 19, 2010
This year, you will be Teddy Ruxpin.
posted by thejoshu at 7:35 AM on October 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by thejoshu at 7:35 AM on October 19, 2010 [1 favorite]
Pet Rock!
posted by kitty teeth at 7:47 AM on October 19, 2010
posted by kitty teeth at 7:47 AM on October 19, 2010
An Etch-a-Sketch?
Seems pretty easy to make a costume--paint a box red, put some white buttons on it (styrofoam cups, maybe) for the dials, stand inside. Done!*
Here's an entire page of images of 1980s toys that might be helpful, too.
Hey, if you have an iPad, they actually have an Etch-a-Sketch case. Cool!
posted by misha at 9:01 AM on October 19, 2010
Seems pretty easy to make a costume--paint a box red, put some white buttons on it (styrofoam cups, maybe) for the dials, stand inside. Done!*
Here's an entire page of images of 1980s toys that might be helpful, too.
Hey, if you have an iPad, they actually have an Etch-a-Sketch case. Cool!
posted by misha at 9:01 AM on October 19, 2010
Best answer: Not a toy, but should be pretty easy: Trapper Keeper!
posted by cestmoi15 at 10:17 AM on October 19, 2010
posted by cestmoi15 at 10:17 AM on October 19, 2010
Response by poster: I think of all these, the Trapper Keeper might be my favorite. Teddy Ruxpin would be too elaborate, although it looks like a couple people managed to pull it off, based on a Google image search.
Alas, I've decided to just go with a retro TV set head-piece made out of cardstock, with maybe an Indian head test pattern.
Thanks for the suggestions.
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 10:35 PM on October 26, 2010
Alas, I've decided to just go with a retro TV set head-piece made out of cardstock, with maybe an Indian head test pattern.
Thanks for the suggestions.
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 10:35 PM on October 26, 2010
Response by poster: For anyone curious, I put up the making of my costume on Instructables.
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 10:24 PM on November 2, 2010
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 10:24 PM on November 2, 2010
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posted by londonmark at 3:10 AM on October 19, 2010