Halloween costumes weren’t always about movie characters, superheroes, or elaborate outfits bought online. A century ago, people often worked with whatever they had at home, sometimes producing results that look pretty odd today. Old photographs also reveal how much Halloween parties have changed, from carefully posed college groups to casual celebrations in living rooms and offices. These 15 vintage photos, including a few from costume parties held for other occasions, offer a look at dressing up between the 1890s and the early 1980s.
1. A Costume Party in 1890
Costume parties were already popular in the late 1800s, although they had little in common with the Halloween celebrations we know today. People often borrowed ideas from theater, folklore, and historical figures, putting together outfits with whatever materials they could find. Masks and elaborate disguises were especially popular at masquerade gatherings. Some of those old costumes look surprisingly eerie now, even when they were never meant to be frightening.
2. College Women Dressed as Clowns in 1912
Getting ten people to agree on the same costume must have taken some coordination. Clown outfits were a natural choice, with circuses and vaudeville acts making the characters familiar to American audiences. The pointed hats, loose clothing, and oversized collars were simple enough to put together without much expense. It’s funny how a group costume meant to be playful can look a little eerie more than a century later.
3. Halloween Costumes Around 1918
Halloween parties were a chance to get a little creative without spending much money on a costume. In the 1910s, homemade outfits were common, and people often borrowed clothes, hats, and accessories to create a character. Some costumes were meant to be funny, others mysterious, and a few probably made sense only to the people at the party.
4. A School Halloween Costume in 1928
A Halloween costume didn’t have to be complicated to get the job done. In the 1920s, families often made their own using old clothes, cardboard, fabric scraps, and a little imagination. By the 1920s, jack-o’-lanterns were already a common sight on Halloween, appearing on porches, masks, and homemade costumes. Some of these early designs had a rough, handmade look that gave them more personality than the polished costumes sold in stores today.
5. Three Children Ready for Halloween in 1931
By the early 1930s, Halloween was becoming a favorite occasion for children to dress up and attend parties. Costumes were often put together at home, sometimes with help from parents or older siblings. Store-bought masks and outfits were available, but not every family could afford them during the Great Depression. For many kids, the fun started well before Halloween night, with the challenge of deciding what to wear.
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6. A Costumed Couple in the 1950s
Cowboys were hard to escape in 1950s America. Westerns filled movie theaters and television schedules, making cowboy hats, boots, and fringed jackets popular choices for costume parties. Halloween gave people a chance to dress up in Western clothing and play along with the theme. For a generation raised on John Wayne and Saturday matinees, it was an easy look to recognize.
7. A Halloween Party in Alberta During the 1920s
In small towns, Halloween parties gave neighbors a reason to get together for an evening of costumes, games, and dancing. During the 1920s, these gatherings were often held in community halls, schools, or private homes. Adults took part just as enthusiastically as children, sometimes turning up in disguises that were more funny than frightening. A good costume didn’t need to be expensive, just convincing enough to get a reaction.
8. The Three Little Pigs at a 1930s Costume Party
Fairy tales have long been a popular source of costume ideas, especially when several friends want to dress up together. The Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf made an obvious group, with characters everyone could recognize without much explanation. At parties in the 1930s, costumes could range from familiar storybook figures to cowboys, sailors, and other everyday characters. Mixing them all together was part of the fun, even if the result made absolutely no sense.
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9. A Costume Party With Doctors and Giant Babies
Dressing up as a baby might seem like an odd choice for an adult, but costume parties have always made room for ridiculous ideas. In the 1930s, guests often played familiar characters or exaggerated everyday situations for laughs. Doctors, nurses, and oversized infants made for an easy comedy routine, especially when everyone stayed in character. The joke probably worked even better after a few drinks.
10. Halloween Costumes in 1976
By the mid-1970s, Halloween parties had become a regular part of adult social life in America. Store-bought costumes were easy to find, but homemade outfits and improvised disguises hadn’t gone anywhere. People drew inspiration from television, movies, and whatever happened to be fashionable at the time. Sometimes the best costume was simply the one that got the biggest laugh at the party.
11. A Halloween Party in 1977
The 1970s had some pretty distinctive fashion choices, which could make costume parties especially interesting. Bell-bottom trousers, oversized collars, bright patterns, and dramatic hairstyles were already part of everyday wardrobes. This Halloween party was photographed by Steve Mays in 1977. Without knowing the occasion, some outfits from the decade could easily be mistaken for costumes even when they weren’t.
12. Halloween at the Beginning of the 1980s
Halloween in the late 1970s had plenty of pop culture to draw from. Disco was everywhere, Star Wars had become a huge hit, and television characters were familiar choices for costumes. At the same time, people still showed up to parties wearing homemade disguises or outfits thrown together at the last minute. With the decade’s colorful clothes and oversized accessories, it didn’t always take much to look the part.
13. Halloween at a Missouri Office in 1981
Halloween wasn’t just for house parties and trick-or-treating by the early 1980s. Offices, schools, and local businesses had their own celebrations, sometimes encouraging everyone to show up in costume. Dressing up for work gave people a chance to have a little fun with colleagues and break from the usual routine. Of course, spending an entire workday in a ridiculous outfit probably wasn’t quite as entertaining as wearing it to a party.
14. Another Halloween Gathering in 1920s Alberta
In smaller communities where everyone knew each other, a Halloween party could be quite a social occasion. Guests might arrive in homemade costumes, play party games, dance, or compete for prizes. Some went to considerable trouble with their disguises, while others relied on a funny hat or a borrowed outfit. The costumes weren’t always scary, and that wasn’t really the point.
15. Halloween Celebrations in Wainwright, 1920s
Imagine showing up at a Halloween party in the 1920s without knowing what anyone else was wearing. There were no social media posts to give away everyone’s costumes beforehand, and the evening itself was often the big reveal. Friends and neighbors could spend hours trying to recognize each other beneath unfamiliar clothes and masks. Half the entertainment came from figuring out who was who.
In the mood for more?
Check out vintage photos of 18 Vintage Halloween Costumes From Decades Past, or take a look at 19 Vintage Photos From Halloween In The 1970s. If you want to see some unusual traditions from the world, you can check out 16 Bizarre Traditions Around the World That Locals Take Very Seriously.
