1950s Costumes

1950s Costumes for Every Look

The teddy boy look is tailoring: a long jacket with a contrast collar, slim trousers, a skinny tie, and white socks showing at the ankle. The sock-hop look is the opposite job, a full skirt cut to move, a fitted top, and a scarf knotted at the neck. Teddy girl sits between them, borrowing the check jacket and tie in women's sizing. If there is dancing, the full skirt earns its keep; if it is a pub night, the suit does more of the work.

Our Favourite 1950s Looks

One pick per look below, with what comes in the pack and the sizes it runs in. For other eras of fancy dress, the full decade costumes range sits one level up.

The Kids 50s Rock n Roll Costume runs age 4 to 14: a pink and black polka dot dress, a buckled belt, and a neck scarf in the bag.

The Mens 50s Icon Suit Costume covers the teddy boy head to toe, down to the white ankle socks: blue jacket with a black collar, black trousers, and a skinny tie, in chest sizes 38in to 48in.

The Womens 50s Rock 'n' Roll Poodle Dress Costume arrives as one polka dot piece with the poodle skirt built in, plus a matching neck scarf, sized 8 to 26.

Its jacket-and-trousers counterpart, the Womens 50s Teddy Girl Costume, borrows the teddy boy kit in women's sizing: a check jacket with a black collar, black trousers, and a skinny tie, sized 8 to 22.

Skipping the skirt entirely, the Women's High School 50s Sweetheart Costume puts the sweetheart look in an off-shoulder black top, trousers, and a belt, sized 8 to 22. The jacket shown is not included.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a 1950s costume?

A 1950s costume lands on one of two outfits: the teddy boy suit, built around a long contrast-collar jacket and a skinny tie, or the poodle skirt dress worn with a neck scarf. Teddy girl is the first cut for women's sizing, and the high-school sweetheart look is the second with trousers instead of a skirt. All four sit under 1950s fancy dress.

What do I need for a teddy boy costume?

The jacket does most of the work: a long, fitted cut with a contrast collar, worn with slim trousers, a skinny tie, and white socks showing above the shoes. A 50s Icon Wig handles the quiff, which is the one part the suit cannot do for you.

What sizes do 1950s costumes come in?

Three systems, depending on the piece: men's suits by chest, 38in to 48in; women's dresses and jackets by UK dress size, 8 to 22, up to 26 on the poodle dress; kids' by age, 4 to 14. Each product page carries its own chart, so measure and read that chart rather than assuming your usual high street size.

What's included in a 1950s costume set?

The main garment plus one or two matching pieces: a neck scarf with the dresses, a skinny tie with the suits, a buckled belt with the kids' dress. Where something in the photo is not in the bag, we say so on the product page, as with the jacket on the Women's High School 50s Sweetheart Costume, so read the pack contents before ordering.

Can I wear a 1950s costume for something other than Halloween?

Yes. Sock-hop and retro parties, hen and stag themes, school decade days, and rock 'n' roll nights all run on the same two outfits, and they come round through the year. If another era suits the theme better, browse our 1960s, 1980s, and 1990s costumes instead.