The 1970s can be a fun era for group costumes.
There are a lot of groovy group costume ideas that come from the 1970s, including musical groups, television shows and cartoons. Whether you're a group of three, 10 or anywhere in between, you can definitely find a costume for your group from that era.
The Brady Bunch
You know you loved them --- the two widowed parents, who each had three kids, got married and created a happy family of eight. Throw in a wacky housekeeper and her butcher boyfriend and you have a group costume for up to 10 people.
To become Greg, Peter and Bobby, all you need are some curly dark wigs, bell-bottom polyester pants and wide-collared shirts. Their father, Mike, has the same look except with a plain-colored dress shirt and a briefcase. For the girls --- Marsha, Jan and Cindy --- you will need two long-haired blond wigs and a short curlier one (preferably one with pig tails), two funky-printed dresses and a solid colored T-shirt and bell-bottomed pants. Their mother, Carol, has the same look as the older girls, except she needs a short-haired blond wig. Scour your closets, your local thrift stores and yard sales for '70s clothes.
If you need two more costumes, find a blue house dress and white apron and your Alice is done. Carry a spatula or wooden spoon to complete the effect. For Sam the butcher, go with a white shirt, white pants and white apron smeared with ketchup.
M.A.S.H.
Army green is the key for this 1970s costume. Again, raid closets, thrift stores and yard sales for as many articles of clothing in this color as you can find. The M.A.S.H. unit was a hospital, so green scrubs will work as well. Change things up a little as main characters from the show, such as wearing a Hawaiian shirt with green pants for B.J. Hunnicut, wearing a lush robe over your shirt and pants for Winchester and carrying a martini glass for Hawkeye Pierce.
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
If you remember this cartoon from the '70s, then you and your friends should have an easy time finding what you need for this group costume. Fat Albert can be created with just a pair of jeans, white sneakers and a white-collared shirt under a red sweater big enough to stuff a pillow underneath. The Cosby kids are rather easy to replicate as well. Besides the kid who wore an orange hat and bright purplish-colored vest, most of the other kids wore blue jeans with various colored shirts.
Musical Groups
There were a lot of rather large musical groups in the 1970s, including the Jackson 5, the Grateful Dead and the Village People. Five Afro wigs and satin-like funky shirts with large collars, and your group is The Jackson 5. Use five old microphones to carry as props to complete your look.
Tie dyed T-shirts are pretty easy to find at thrift stores --- pair with a few long-haired wigs and sandals and your group can be the Grateful Dead. Use this same look to pose as a group of Deadheads instead.
The Village People are always a fun group to copy for a group costume of six. Check your children's toy collection and local yard sales for a American Indian headdress, a police hat and a cowboy hat, and, if you ask around, you may find someone who owns a construction hat and/or a leather motorcycle hat. All you have left to find is something resembling a Navy hat. You may have better luck finding a sailor's cap.
Tags: group costume, same look, thrift stores, yard sales, your group, 1970s including
