Star Wars: Released in 1977, Star Wars revolutionized Halloween costumes. Characters like Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Darth Vader, and Stormtroopers became instant favourites. The simplicity and recognizability of these characters, combined with the movie’s massive popularity, made Star Wars costumes a dominant trend. Disco Fever: The disco craze of the late 1970s influenced Halloween costumes. Many people dressed in flashy, glittery outfits inspired by the disco scene, with platform shoes, bell bottoms, and colourful jumpsuits. Characters from Saturday Night Fever became popular, with John Travolta’s white suit being a top choice. TV Show Characters: Popular TV shows continued to influence costume trends. The Brady Bunch, The Addams Family, and Scooby-Doo were among the shows that inspired Halloween costumes. For instance, dressing as the entire Scooby-Doo gang was a popular group costume idea. Horror Revival: The 70s saw a resurgence of horror films, which translated into popular Halloween costumes. Characters from movies like The Exorcist and Halloween became instant classics. Michael Myers’ white mask and jumpsuit from Halloween became an iconic and chilling costume choice. Halloween had a deeply nostalgic and homemade feel. While mass-produced costumes were becoming more widely available, many families still embraced the tradition of creating their own DIY costumes. This was an era before the dominance of big-box stores and online shopping, so crafting a costume often meant rummaging through closets, repurposing old
clothes, and using household items to bring a character to life. Sheets became ghost costumes, cardboard was transformed into shields or masks, and old clothes were creatively altered to suit various characters. Making a costume was often a family affair, with parents and children working together to cut, glue, and stitch their way to the perfect Halloween look.
This DIY approach added a personal touch to costumes and fueled the imagination. Kids didn’t just become Batman or a mummy; they became their unique version of these characters. The homemade aspect of Halloween costumes during this time is fondly remembered by many as a symbol of the holiday’s creative spirit. The joy wasn’t just in the final reveal of the costume but in the process of creating it. The nostalgia for this era is strong because it represents a simpler time when Halloween was less commercialized and emphasized creativity, resourcefulness, and family bonding. Many who grew up during these decades recall with fondness the thrill of transforming everyday items into something magical, making their Halloween experience unique.
Give today.
SCAN ME
To advertise here contact Geoff@villagerpublications.co
Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • October 2024 Page 11
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs