Costume Ideas From History
It’s almost Halloween, do you have your costume yet? A great change of pace from the endless masses of store bought costumes that everyone else will be wearing is to find a great look straight out of the history books. You could style yourself after an ex-president, a famous scientist, or take your cues from a certain era in time. Be a ninja, a viking, or a flapper. Or, if you are so inclined, you could be a Nazi. Though I don’t personally see the appeal.
Here are a few ideas that will get you in the Halloween mood and give you something to wrap a history lesson around:
Colonial Girl
Explore the Colonial period of American history with your kids and see if you can find a costume that would let them stand out this Halloween. Look at some of the occupations during the Colonial period, explore the fashions of the time, and explore what life was like for the African Americans living during that time in America.
Union Soldier
Incorporate some American history, geography, economics, and civics together with this costume. You can share a bit about the American Civil War, talk about the timeline of the era, and see if there are any battlefields or forts nearby that you can visit.
Woman’s Suffragist
A great history lesson and human rights lesson wrapped into one. Share info on the Woman’s Suffrage Movement in the United States, look at the timeline of events, talk about women working for the vote in England, Scotland and France,
Rosie the Riveter
Rosie the Riveter is a great costume idea that can be easily put together and inspires a great history lesson. You can discuss World War II and look at what childcare options women in the US had during that time.
Halloween, Halloween costumes, costumes, history, Winter Bazaar
October 17th, 2007 at 11:00 am
[...] store. Kari at All Paper Arts has some cute pumpkin craft ideas. And at my homeschooling blog I’m participating in the Winter Bazaar, which has a Halloween theme for October. You can find all the other great ideas at [...]
October 17th, 2007 at 11:45 am
We aren’t big Halloween fans around here but we do like to dress up. My children almost always want to dress as a favorite book character: Laura Ingalls, Hermione Granger, Caddie Woodlawn (then they get to dye their hair red for a day), Pippi Longstockings, etc. Can you tell all we have is girls around here? Well, except for the baby.
Love the Rosie the Riveter!
October 17th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
Summer,
Where can I get the Union Soldier costume????
That’s what the Tiger wants to be and I can’t find it. Thanks!
October 17th, 2007 at 4:17 pm
Cute costumes!
October 17th, 2007 at 11:40 pm
That colonial costume reminds me of one I did for Grace when she was thick in her American Girl craze. She wanted to be “Felicity” so I made the dress blue and I was instantly “The Best Mom in the World!” in her eyes.
October 18th, 2007 at 5:08 am
I love that colonial costume, thanks for sharing these. BTW (regarding your lucky streak comment on my blog) I can only hope I’m that lucky. We’re going to need my lucky streak this month. Wish me LOTS of luck.
October 18th, 2007 at 7:54 pm
My 6 year old has decided to be an Egyptian Princess b/c of all our reading about Ancient Egypt.
October 25th, 2007 at 6:23 am
[...] produced costume route. How creative would that be? But I also haven’t had much luck being historically accurate with a pirate [...]
August 6th, 2009 at 11:27 am
Costume Ideas for Couples
I can think of 100’s of popular costume ideas for couples. this Halloween and the number one on my ideas for this year is President Obama and his beautiful wife Michelle. Yes.. you can look like the President and First Lady of the United States for an evening at very little cost.
Have a happy Halloween and think about your costume early.
You don’t need an expensive store bought costume with a life like Obama face mask. Just add your favorite coat and tie, put your favorite lady in a Michelle Obama mask, clothe her in a off-the shelf sleeveless shift dress and that’s it, our first couple for the night. Oh bye the way your lady might want to ad some bright jewel tones on the ears or around the neck for affect.
Remember as with any President and First Lady they have both fans and critics. So be careful.
August 14th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
I love Halloween! I can pretend to be something I am not. I often prefer to go as a vampire couple. The male costume looks dashing, mysterious and scary while the female costume (mine!) can be scary but still sexy! I can dream!
August 21st, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Halloween is the second-most popular festival that we celebrate in the course of any given year….second only to Christmas. It is estimated that more than $6.6B will be spent in the celebration of the history of Halloween and it is so very important that more people become better informed as to its history and traditions.
August 27th, 2009 at 12:13 am
I have dozen’s of costumes in my attic that I dig out every year. I love Halloween, it is so mysterious and you can go out and dress up as anything or anyone you want and for one night it is accepted. I don’t know many if anyone who does not enjoy Halloween. I love picking out my pumpkin too. It will be here before you know it. WOO HOO!!
August 31st, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Historical costumes are great, easy to make up on a spur of the moment(especially if yu’re a procrastinator like I am). Turn the old clothes in the attic into a memorable Halloween costume and enjoy the trick or treating.
September 5th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
I love the Womens Suffragist costume! It’s very classy, but also lends a historical message in reminding people how far we have come. Good job.