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Disco Costume

Disco Costume

In the late 1970's and early 1980's, the disco craze swept the nation. Popularized by John Travolta in "Grease", it spread like a fever. Youth could not resist the lighted dance floors, many-faceted mirrored disco balls, and the flashy outfits with massive lapels and ridiculously pointed collars.

The disco craze became a national sport of sorts. Dances became duels, to see who could out-perform their opponent. Fans even used empty delivery vans and truck trailers for their dance-fests. It's contagious, and once you have it, that's it. You're done for, or so they say.

The disco costume is easily recognized. Some dead giveaways are greased hair, muttonchops, giant sideburns, polyester outfits, bell bottom suit pants, Afro's, glitter eyeshadow, body glitter, and a ton of makeup. The dance clubs, studios, and trucks features see-through floors in which multi-colored lights flashed erratic, fast-paced strobe effects, quick enough to give a person a seizure. There were usually reflectors all over walls and ceilings to further add to the frenetic lighting, warming the already overheated dance palaces.

To replicate a good disco costume, get a copy of "Grease", the classic Disco Fever movie of the time. Take a few notes and sketch out the look you want. Just remember, polyester is the quintessential fabric of the authentic Disco costume.

If you're an aspiring groovy guy, here are some guidelines. You need a suit with matching pants and jacket, in a solid color. Jackets require the giant, extra-pointy lapels, and are no longer than hip length. Oh yes, it's imperative that the pants be wide bell bottoms. Shirts should contrast loudly with the suit color, with a greatly over sized collar which protrudes considerably over the jacket lapel. A vest under the jacket adds to the authentic Disco costume look. Wow! Unless you're an able seamstress, both suits and shirts must be ferreted out in Retro shops, as you won't find anything suitable at the Mall.

Greased hair, along with Afros were the best hair choices. If you're not black, forget the Afro. Go for the grease. If your hair's thin and not highly "greaseable", purchase a wig in the Travolta style.

Now some tips for you hopeful foxy chickies.

A tube top with lots of belly showing is the real thing. Tank tops will not do, a mortal sin of Disco costume fashion. Hip-hugger bell-bottom pants are de rigeur.

Lots of large, colorful and admittedly gaudy jewelry, along with a lot of makeup is a must. Body glitter, anywhere and everywhere, brightly colored eyeshadow, thick fake eyelashes and shiny lip gloss are all necessary to your authentic Disco costume.

As for hair, chicks should choose either an Afro or a waist length pin straight wig. Oddly enough, women not of color look better in Afros than men, so take your pick.

Before you walk out the door, both groovy guys and foxy chickies must complete their Disco costume with platform shoes. Go get 'em!





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Egyptian Costume

As it appears on the likes of the ancients, the Egyptian costume is elaborate, flashy, unique, and seemingly difficult to make. But take it from one who is, well, talented, but easily overwhelmed by complexities: the Egyptian costume can be done in very little time, using very little money and supplies, and with a facility you will be proud of when you are done.

One Halloween when my boyfriend and I were at a loss for the costumes that would be the hit of the party (as all his friends tried to outdo each other every year), I suggested we go with a classic that would have materials that were creative and unusual instead. That is, the Egyptian costume has been done. But has it been done with edible supplies and cloth other than gold lame?

So I got to work first on the cowl necklace: I used Trident gum, laying it out first on newspaper and spray painting it the colors of the Egyptian costume and jewels of yore-such as brick red, some gold, others sea and sky blues. I then glued the gum in rows to a medium-weight paper, bending it to fit the semi-circle shape it would need to lay flat and around the neck.

Next was the headdress. Get a piece of tag board or manilla that is sturdy enough to keep its shape. Roll it into a cone, with the lower opening to fit your head and the upper opening to shape more like an oval, and tape the shape shut. Cut an additional oval from left over paper and tape it to the top. Decorate with sequins and costume jewelry-but not too much, as it will also weigh too heavily. Instead of more than a few jewels, paint the headdress by consulting pictures of Egyptian costumes online.

The clothing is easy, too, especially for the woman. Wrap material of your choice around the body, and knot in front the way you'd knot a towel around yourself after the bath, or pin with an Egyptian-looking brooch if you have one. Add an arm bracelet by finding the old snake bracelet that twists or by making one out of anything that has length and bends.

The man's bottom piece can be made to fit-if you are handy with a sewing machine, but can also be composed of tight boxer shorts (you dye or spray paint) and a loin cloth. If the man is less exhibitionist, make him a tunic: get a piece of cloth that is sand-colored. Lay out flat. Fold in half. A circle in the center fold, large enough to fit a head. Pull the cloth over his head and gather the material under the arms with basting (loose, casual thread stitching) or with pins or other attachment devices, so it is more fitted to his body. Then wear sandals that are brown, leather lace ups, or go barefoot and add toe rings and anklets-yes, for both men and women. Done!



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Elvis Costume

Every year my sister-n-law dresses her family in costumes for their annual family picture. Every time I think that she has come up with the funniest idea ever, she comes up with something even funnier. Her family is very patient with her because they know how important the family portrait is to her. This last year, she dressed everyone up as Elvis Presley.

Not everyone can find a good Elvis costume at a reasonable price, but my sister-in-law managed to find costumes for each one of her children. She has three boys and a girl on the way. Of course, the baby-to-be did not have an Elvis costume, but I wouldn't be surprised if my sister-in-law has one created for her daughter as a newborn baby gift.

My nephews range in age from two years to thirteen years old. The thirteen year old was the most patient with his mother. He spent a couple afternoons shopping for an Elvis costume that would fit him. He let her slick back his hair into a greasy fifties style that would make him the joke of his class. He even struck a great Presley pose for the camera. My oldest nephew was a real sport for this picture.

The two-year-old was another story. Although my sister-in-law was able to find a toddler Elvis costume that fit my two-year-old nephew perfectly, he did not want to cooperate. He did not have enough hair, so they tried using a wig. A few of the pictures were wonderful, except the littlest boy was pulling his wig off of his head. I don't know how many times it took to get the picture right.

My middle nephew was six when the pictures were taken. We were surprised to find that they couldn't find an Elvis costume in his size. My sister-in-law doesn't give up easily. She made one for him and she did it so well, that we could not tell that it was a home made costume. The six-year-old did his best to make a great Presley face for the camera.

After each family member was dressed in his Elvis costume, my job was to snap the perfect family portrait. This job was much harder than making the costumes, especially with the little nephew pulling his wig off every two seconds. But after about fifteen minutes of wasting space on the digital camera, we got the perfect shot of the five Elvis Presleys. There is no way she is going to top this one.

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Disco Costume

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