1990 Costume Ideas

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Posted on 14th October, 2012 by Adele

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Sonic The Hedgehog Adult Costume

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Cruella Style Costume

£34.15

90s Costume Ideas

When it comes to dressing up, the 1990s may not be the most popular theme at present, but we are certainly being asked for it more than ever before. For those who want to celebrate the era (perhaps you were born in the 1990s?), here are a few 90s Costume Ideas.

As costume suggestions for the decade can be extremely diverse, as with other featured decades, we have divided our 90s costume ideas into specific categories, such as fashion, leisure, movies, pop stars, TV, etc. It is not an exhaustive list and can no doubt be added to, but here at Props & Frocks, we hope to give you plenty of food for thought. Where possible, we have included dates – certain eras (or people) do not fit comfortably into ten year chunks. This means that costumes & accessories from previous decades, particularly the 1980s, can also feature in the early 1990s. The list is also designed primarily for our British readers but, of course, were happy to help anyone. So look at the left navigation for the various sections to take you back down the 1990’s memory lane.

Leisure activities of the 1990s

Lara Croft – Before the Angelina Jolie films in the 21^st century, there was the highly popular video game introduced in 1996. Official costumes are based on this original look.

Millennium Bug Because most computers worked on a dual digit date format, it was thought that the turn of the century to 2000 would create a major computer-crash crisis. It never happened, but perhaps you can create an entity to symbolize this feature of the late 1990s.

Mr Blobby – Originally a character associated with the highly popular Noels House Party TV show, the larger-than-life pink entity took on a stardom of his own.

Sonic the Hedgehog The flagship character of the Sega video gaming system, (counterpart to Nintendos Mario the Plumber).

The Macarena – Knowing the dance moves was the ‘it’ dance craze of the decade

1990s Films

Posted on 15th October, 2012 by Adele

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Cruella Style Costume

£34.15

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Neo - Matrix Costume

£32.50

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Trinity - The Matrix Adult Costume

£31.20

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Buzz Lightyear - Toy Story Costume

£54.00

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Fred Flintstone Costume - Tunic

£28.50

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Scream Halloween Mask

£8.30

Movies of the 1990s General Introduction

Looking at films released during the 90s will give you lots of costume inspiration, but don’t forget to check our other 90’s sections in the left navigation for even more 90’s costume ideas. The links will take you to the products we sell but if you are local, we will have a large selection of hire costumes as well.

There was an interesting assortment of themes running through the Movies of the 1990s. Animation was becoming increasingly sophisticated with movies such as Toy Story moving away from the traditional Walt Disney storybook style to a more modern one. Below is our list of some of the 1990s films which may inspire you. If we are missing some, it is possibly because they may not offer suitable costuming opportunities when it comes to a 1990s party.

Movie Genres

Action
Dick Tracy (1990) The classic comic strip detective is played by Warren Beatty, with Madonna starring as Breathless Mahoney and Al Pacino as Big Boy Caprice. The double-breasted suit (in various colours), fedora and overcoat being essential fashion items.

Pulp Fiction (1994) One of Quentin Tarantinos two major hits of the 1990s, (the other being Reservoir Dogs in 1992). Outfits are available for the hit-men, Vincent Vega & Jules Winnfield. Mia Wallace can be created with a blunt-cut page-boy/cheerleader wig, white blouse, black skirt (or Jack Rabbit Slims Diner T-Shirt).

Cartoon & Animation
Aladdin (1992) The classic story, but this time set in Arabia rather than China. Princess Jasmine and Aladdin costumes are available.

Beauty & the Beast (1991) – Disney retells the story old as time in animation. Look for costumes for Belle and The Beast.

The Lion King (1994) Just one of the many Disney films released during the 1990s. Various animal costumes are available.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) – Halloween classic animation featuring Jack

Skellington, the Pumpkin King, and his companion, Sally the Ragdoll.

Toy Story 1 & 2 (1995 & 1999) – Retro Woody the Cowboy and new toy in town Buzz Lightyear are ever popular. A Bo-Peep (in pink/white) may also be created.

Chick Flicks/Romance
Pretty Woman (1990) – If you have the thigh-length boots (seen more on the poster than in the film) and the street gear, tart with a heart Vivian might be an interesting look, and with a Richard Gere lookalike, you have a potential couple.

Titanic (1997) – Recently re-released, the cross-class romance of Rose and Jack aboard the doomed ship.

Comedy
Ace Ventura, Pet Detective (1994) – Jim Carreys other major hit of the 90s besides The Mask. Ace Ventura wears Hawaiian style loud shirts, shorts and has a quiffed hairstyle.

Austin Powers movies (1997-1999) – There were three Austin Powers movies, two of them in the 90s. Costumes are available for Austin, Doctor Evil, Vanessa Kensington and Felicity Shagwell.

Full Monty (1997) Velcroed trousers, collars and cuffs is the basic costume for this comedic film about steelworkers who form a striptease act.

Sister Act (1992) Whoopi Goldberg stars in this comedy tale, which transferred onto the stage. Time to break out the nuns habits.

The Mask (1994) – Jim Carey as Stanley Ipkiss aka The Mask dons the yellow zoot suit ensemble with smokin effect.

Wayne’s World (1992) – Mike Myers, pre-Austin Powers, with Dana Carvey, in this comedic send-up of TV stardom, with cameo appearances from Alice Cooper and Meat Loaf.

Drama
A Few Good Men (1992) – US Naval courtroom drama featuring Lt. Kafee (Tom Cruise), Col. Jessup (Jack Nicholson) and Lt. Cdr. JoAnne Galloway (Demi Moore). Suitable uniforms are available, as are some for Demi Moores less successful 1990s movie, G I Jane.

Apollo 13 (1995) – US Astronaut drama. NASA-style spacesuits are impressive but not necessarily party-friendly.

Family
101 Dalmatians (1996) – Remake of the classic cartoon with Glenn Close as everyones favourite villainess. Only essential difference is a more disheveled black/white hairstyle for Cruella de Vil.

Cool Runnings (1993) – This film was loosely based on events surrounding the 1988 Olympics and the Jamaican Bobsleigh Team. In these retro times, outfits modelled on the teams uniform in the film have become available.

Flintstones, The (1994) The much loved Hanna Barbera cartoon series was turned into a live action film. Main characters were: Fred & Wilma Flintstone (& Pebbles); Barney & Betty Rubble (& Bam-bam), Dino the Dinosaur.

The Addams Family (1991) – Movie version of the classic 60s scary sitcom featuring Morticia and Gomez, their daughter Wednesday and Uncle Fester, amongst others.

Fantasy
Batman Returns (1992) – The Tim Burton film which brought us Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman and Danny DeVito as Penguin.

Edward Scissorhands (1990) – Follow-up to Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands was a new take on the Frankenstein story. Costumes for Edward (& a Miss Scissorhands), plus make-up kits and wigs are available.

Star Wars 1: The Phantom Menace (1999) Just making it into the 1990s was this pre-

quel to the original Star Wars Trilogy, featuring Queen Amidala and Darth Maul.

Terminator 2 Judgment Day (1991) – Arnie Ill be back Schwarzenegger as the cyborg now assigned to protect Sarah & John Connor.

The Matrix (1999) – Neo, Trinity and Morpheus were seen in the first film. The Virus Twins were from a later part of the trilogy.

Historical
Braveheart (1995) – Popular Scottish hero clad in furs and face-paint (technically plaids and tartans came later, but when did that ever stop movie producers?).

Robin Hood Prince of Thieves (1991) – Just one of several re-tellings of the Robin Hood story during the 1990s. The title track Everything I Do gave Bryan Adams a record breaking number one hit. Kevin Costner played the part of Robin Hood.

Shakespeare in Love (1998) – Award-winning period drama featuring a young William Shakespeare, the cross-dressing Lady Viola and Queen Elizabeth I. Wear Tudor Costumes

Horror
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) – Dracula (Victorian-style) in a faithful adaptation of the original book.

It (1990) – The evil entity, Pennywise the clown, is at the heart of this film, derived from the Stephen King novel.

Scream (1996 onwards) – If nothing else, Wes Cravens film brought us a classic simple Halloween outfit in Ghost Face, based on the The Scream painting by Munch.

Silence of the Lambs (1991) – Dr. Hannibal Lector-inspired outfits (strait-jacket and face-mask) are available to purchase. Clarice Starling is based on the 1980s Power suit and big hair look (although you could cheat with a CIA tracksuit).

1990s Music

Posted on 15th October, 2012 by Adele

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Blues Brothers felt type Hat

£6.35

When looking for inspiration for your 1990s costume,why not look at what was happening

musically during the decade?

Popular music Icons of the 1990s

Bjork One of the more eccentric performers of the 1990s was Icelandic singer Bjork, formerly with The Sugarcubes. Her look and fashions were often quirky, although she saved her best efforts until 2001 with the Swan dress she wore at the Oscars ceremony that year.

Britney Spears – Iconic dull Schoolgirl outfit (grey sweater, blouse tied to make a crop-top), black skirt, pigtails (or braids).

Courtney Love – Grunge dress and disheveled hair/make-up look.

Goth-style (Clash or Siouxsie Sioux) – Black or purple colour-scheme, with heavy use of black liner and lipstick.

Kurt Cobain (Grunge) – Cobain, lead singer of Nirvana who apparently took his own life in 1994, is another classic grunge fashion icon.

Kylie Minogue – After breaking away from Stock, Aitken & Waterman in 1992, Kylie experimented with a number of music-styles and looks for promo videos. These included a Barbarella-style space-princess (Put Yourself in My Place) and, rarely seen now, a white-haired geisha creation (German Bold Italic).

M C Hammer-Key to the look are baggy parachute trousers. Off-the-peg outfits have these in gold or metallic.

Madonna – After her success in the 1980s, the 1990s saw Madonna enter her Vogue period and we saw her infamous cone bra gold top. She was also involved in a number of movies from Dick Tracy (1990) to Evita (1996).

Shania Twain – Country music girl who crossed to the mainstream, helped by some distinctive videos such as Man, I Feel Like a Woman and That Dont Impress Me Much.

Spice Girls Created in 1994, their first single was Wannabe and showcased Baby (Emma Bunton), Ginger (Geri Halliwell), Posh (Victoria Adams now Beckham), Scary (Mel B Melanie Brown) & Sporty (Mel C Melanie Chisholm). Each had their own unique look, but the most popular has been the Geri (Ginger) Spice Union Jack Dress. Several variations available.

The Three Tenors Not exactly popstars in the true sense, but Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras & Luciano Pavorotti brought their voices to the masses as the Three Tenors and popularised the tailcoat and evening dress once again.

Musicals

Blues Brothers 2000 (1998) Dan Aykroyd and the band are joined by a few new members including John Goodman. Time to break out the dark suits, skinny ties, porkpie hats and shades.

Cats (1998) The film version of the popular stage show, featuring different cats based on T S Eliots Old Possums Book of Practical Cats.

Evita (1996) Starring Madonna as Eva Peron, wife of the Argentinian President Juan Peron.

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) The cult Australian comedy film about cabaret, two drag queens and a transsexual, which later became a stage show cult classic

1990s Fashion

Posted on 14th October, 2012 by Adele

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Body Piercings - Fake Clip On

£1.85

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Tattoo Sleeves

£5.30

Fashion of the 1990s

Fashion changed quite a lot with no one style being a signature 90’s look. In the early 90s the neon colours that were popular at the end of the 1980’s were still being worn. Tattoo and body piercings started to become mainstream.

Leggings & Exercise wear – another style from the 1980s was being worn in the early part of this decade with trainers manufactured by Adidas, Reebook, Hitec and NIke very popular, as were Converse trainers.

Catsuits – these were popular in the early years of the 90s decade, often worn with high boots.

Goth – The goth look was influenced by bands such as the German electro rock band Das Ich and many top designers including Karl Largerfeld and Alexander McQueen endorsing the look on the catwalk.

Hippie – During a spell in the mid 90s, the hippy look became popular amongst women with long flowing skirts and gypsy tops

BodyCon The BodyCon (Body Conscious) look was at its peak in the 1990s, but has carried on into the twentieth century.

Bootleg Style Towards the end of the decade, the bootleg trouser look was once again in vogue, having replaced the hipsters and bumsters trousers of previous years.

Grunge The grunge look was a rebellion both against the excessive over-glamorisation of the previous decade and the rise of the skinny supermodel. Acid wash jackets, sheepskin coats and polo shirts were also very popular as were aviator sunglasses

Military Style With the rise of Brit Pop in the mid-1990s, military style outfits which had been fashionable during the 1960s and the Carnaby Street era, were once more back in the spotlight.

Hip Hop – Popular with men with the widespread interest in hip hop and gansta rap from artists such as MC Hammer.

Chav – In the late 1990s Chav style made its dbut including tracksuits, baseball caps, gold jewellery, diamond (or diamonte) earrings and white Adidas trainers. Hair was heavily gelled, often bleached blonde, or highlighted.

Ladies hair went from the ‘big hair’ look of the 80s to straight, smooth hair. The ‘Rachel’ cut was one of the most popular with women. Men’s hair started to get shorter with bald heads gaining in popularity in the mid 1990’s especially with men dealing with thinning hair.

Fashion Heroes of the 1990s

Alexander McQueen He took the fashion world by storm, with a range of controversial clothing during the 1990s.

Helmut Lang Probably the most copied designer of the decade, Helmut Langs appeal was the simplicity of his urban style with clear defined lines, muted shades and a splash of colour.

Liz Hurley Dress – Actress Liz Hurley had not made much impact in the cinema, but when, as the then girlfriend to Hugh Grant, she wore a Versace dress seemingly held together with safety pins on the red carpet for Four Weddings and a Funeral, her fame certainly took off.

Supermodel – The 1990s was the decade of the Supermodel. These included Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Helena Christensen, Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer, Linda Evangelista, and Christy Turlington.

1990s Television

Posted on 14th October, 2012 by Adele

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Costume

£48.00

Television of the 1990s

Baywatch – TV series admired as much for its shapely stars David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson as its life-saving techniques. Various outfits are available.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer – First there was the film, featuring a curvy Kirsty Swanson and dour Donald Sutherland, then there was the TV version and long running series starring Sarah Michelle Geller. Arguably started the enthusiasm for Evil Willow, Druscilla and other gothic Vampire looks.

Friends – This American sitcom whose first episode was aired in the UK on the 28^th April 1995, became a cult show for the next ten years. Although not much opportunity when it comes to costumes, the Rachel haircut (straight with side parting and flopping over one eye) became synonymous with the look of the decade.

Mr Bean – The creation of Rowan Atkinson, Mr Bean achieves international success because much of his comedy is non-verbal. A Mr Bean outfit is now available on the market.

Mutant Ninja Turtles – The Turtles (also known as Hero Turtles) were a popular cartoon series of the 1990s, who have since been revived and reimagined several times. Aside from the various looks of the original turtles, sexy female versions are also now available.

Rainbow – Originally designed as the UK answer to Sesame Street, the popular chldrens TV show Rainbow survived until 1992, by which time it had taken on cult status. Costumes for some characters have been available for some time and recently cardboard masks have also come onto the market.

South Park – The first episode of this anarchic cartoon show aired in 1997 and featured a gang of potty-mouthed kids. Originally masks for the major characters were available, but inflatable costume versions have recently come onto the market.

The House of Elliott (1991-1993) – 1920s fashions revisited in this costume drama about two sisters setting up their own couture house. A chance to wear one of our lovely 20s costumes

The Simpsons – They originally started as a segment of the Tracy Ullman Show in 1987, but from 1989 to date they took on a life of their own, to become the worlds most famous dysfunctional family. Previous availability was mostly confined to masks, but new costumes for a number of characters have recently hit the market.

Other popular shows include:

One Foot In The Grave – a Victor Meldrew celebrity mask is available
Have I Got News For You
The Crystal Maze
Stars In Their Eyes
Jeeves & Wooster