40s or 50s - costume ideas for school concert...

[binker]

Help ! ds has to dress in appropriate clothes for the 1940s or 1950s for a school concert (where they will be performing songs from these decades)-if he was a girl it'd be easy, but what can he wear ? I'd be v grateful for suggestions !

hat about a teddyboy or a mod costume?

Was just about to suggest a circle skirt :o Not sure he'd appreciate that!

Mods were around in the 1960s weren't they?

Blimey, that is a hard one binker.

A bit of info \link{http://www.fashion-era.com/1923-1955_photos.htm\here}. How about longish shorts, a shirt and tank top (or whatever they're called these days), plus a cap? How old is he? Might not go down well if he's a teenager.

What about one of the T Birds from Grease?

I had to costume lots in those eras recently.

1950's is easier I think. Tight fitting jeans or black trousers, white t-shirt and if you can get hold of one a leather jacket (think James Dean)

1940's depends on if you are going for the wartime British look (tweed, jumpers and caps) or the 40's Americal gangster look (think Guys and Dolls flashy waistcoats etc.

If he's youngish and will go for the tank-top style it's not too hard - and watching Narnia counts as research, also the \link{http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/gallery/s2_07gallery/index.shtml\Dr Who episode with the Coronation in}.

If he wants cool, think early Elvis in a Hawaiian shirt, John Travolta in Grease, teddy boys in bootlace ties and narrow-lapelled suits.

If this all sounds like too much effort, remember Rebel Without a Cause came out in 1955, so blue jeans with a white tshirt, a jacket of some description and a certain amount of hairwax would do very well.

I had to do ds a 1940's costume a couple of years ago. Did school uniform. Longs shorts that were a pair if trousers he was growing out of that I took up (with wundaweb so very quick and easy. Long grey socks that I bought in john lewis. Grey tanktop that was a very cheap jumper that i bought and carefully cut the sleeves off. A tie. But the two things that made it look excellent were loads of hairgel to do an oldfashioned side parting hairstyle. And I made a gas mask box on a string round his neck.Made out of the box that Bold washing tablets come in and painted beige with 'gas mask' stencilled on the front.
He looked fantastic

oh and a white shirt under the tank top

or a cowboy outfit with short back and sides

thanks everyone ! - you are stars -that is really helpful - will now look around charity shops for material to adapt !

Would you credit it ? the school got it wrong - they're doing the 1920s now !!!

Ok, 1920's I did that recently too. (The show was called Journey Through the Decades and I costumed a lot of it)

Black trousers, white shirt, waistcoat and trilby hat (or bowler) . Costume hire shops will do you a bugsy malone gangster costume (strictly speaking the 30's but similar style)

I found a straw boater for the Eton 20's look...I could slick down his hair too...