Vintage Halloween Costumes from the 1950s to the 1970s
Ah, Halloween. The streets fill with children in trendy, creepy, and cute costumes all hot in pursuit of the best candy. This year, households can expect the classics: some werewolves, witches, and wizards. As well as culturally hip get-ups parents with some free time conjured up (take a shot for every Hogwarts student, minion, Trump and creepy nun costume).
This holiday also brings with it the sweet nostalgia of costumes gone by. Some Frankensteins and Batmans may remind us of simpler times, when we donned similar outfits and could afford to eat twenty Reeses in one night without truly scary things happening.
This All Hallow’s Eve, we’re taking a moment to reminiscence. We’ve collected some sweet Vintage Halloween costumes from the mid century to late ‘70s for your viewing pleasure. Grab a few chocolates from your kid’s candy stash and take a look.
Where has the time gone? We’re feeling old. Don’t get us wrong, we certainly don’t miss the days of feeling clammy under plastic masks and thick polyester, but it sure is sweet to look at these pics!
In the 70’s, celebrity costumes starting creeping into costumes for kids and adults alike. Check out Donny Osmond! Plastic masks with mouth holes were an affordable go-to for a recognizable costume.
This holiday, we’re grateful to be passing out candy and staying in. Happy Halloween!
Written by Adrienne Luther
Above: Vintage Halloween — Our personal favorite costume? This leopard in ‘64… down to the socks! Nailed it! © Gwen Deanne
Above: Vintage Halloween — Here’s a better look at that Donny Osmond get-up, with a Marie mask for your partner. If the plastic mask doesn’t get you anywhere with onlookers, the answer to “who are you?” is right on the T-Shirt!
Above: Vintage Halloween — We spy a couple skeletons and a native American in this pic!
Above: Vintage Halloween — How could we miss a hula girl in the early ‘60s? With tiki being all the range just a few years earlier, this look was surely a hit!
Above: Vintage Halloween — Here’s a truly spooky costume of a strawman in the ‘50s – made from natural resources! The mask really takes this look from friendly scarecrow to caper.
Above: Vintage Halloween — Here’s a witch and scarecrow in the ‘70s… can’t go wrong with either of these outfits. © Michael Grabois
Above: Vintage Halloween — How could we miss a hula girl in the early ‘60s? With tiki being all the range just a few years earlier, this look was surely a hit!
Above: Vintage Halloween — On the other end of the musician costume spectrum, here’s a duo of KISS in ‘77. A great go-to if you have some face paint and don’t mind spending hours wiping it off after the party. © Nick DeWolf Foundation
Above: Vintage Halloween — Don’t forget to use Olin Batteries for your flashlight!