Make a GROOVY 1970s Hippie Halloween Costume...For Pennies! -

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Get on the (eight) track this year and rock a retro 70s Halloween hippie costume! We’ll show you how to throw together some groovy threads for a few bucks, some spare change — or even for free. (Really!)

Psst: Halloween kinda crept up on ya? Click the links to each item and get ideas for Amazon finds. But remember: you can go from zero to hippie with just one or two pieces from your own closet. Far out!

1970s Hippie Halloween Costume Basics

Here’s what to keep in mind when styling your groovy threads this Halloween:

FLOWERS. Flower power was where it was at in the 60s and 70s. Floral clothes, flower appliques, and buds (not those buds…you crazy hippie!) in your hair will all give a 1970s vibe.

SUNGLASSES. See “buds,” above. Yeah…wink, wink.

REALLY BIG JEWELRY. Go big or go home (to the candy stash).

REALLY BIG PRINTS. Batik, stripes and East Asian-influenced block prints were all VERY cool in the 1970s.

PEACE SIGNS. Paint one on your tie-dye shirt or just throw one at everyone you pass by.

EARTH TONES. You can go crazier with tie-die and makeup, but earth tones are very 70s for basic costume pieces.

FRINGE. Like Frank’s RedHot Sauce, feel free to put that shit on everything.

NATURAL MATERIALS. Think feathers, cotton, hemp…that sort of thing.

SCARVES AND HEADBANDS. These may have been popular to catch the sweat from all that free love…who knows.

KNIT, CROCHET AND MACRAME. Hippies loved the all-natural vibe. And, psst. You’ll re-wear this stuff. We guarantee it.

SUEDE. Weirdly, the love-people-plants-and-animals tribe were often draped in…leather. Go faux if you prefer.

The Clothes

Peasant Top

Check your closet for high-waisted blousy tops, or raid your Ren Faire stash for something flowy and cap-sleeved. No luck? Your bestie has one. Guaranteed.

Fringe Bikini Top

This is so easy to make. Cut fringe out of an old t-shirt or snap up some cording or yarn at a yard sale. Bonus point if you find a few beads, but they’re not 100% necessary. Glue the pieces to the bottom of an old bikini top and you’ve got insta-70s.

Tie Dye

Shirts, headbands, running shoes: tie dye just screams “seventies.” And one container of dye will do up several pieces of clothing, making this a very cheap-to-make option. It’s perfect for that something-stained you have in your closet as your central Halloween costume piece.

Need a tutorial on how to dye your duds? Here’s one:

Crochet Beach Coverup or Cardigan

I have three of these in my closet. My guess is you either have at least one or know a friend who does. Tie it up in front for totally 70s style. ALTERNATE OPTION: Choose any loose, flowy button-down shirt and leave it open (like we’ve shown in the photomash up top).

Cutoffs

Don’t buy these — make them! That’s what your mom (or perhaps you) used to do. Just make sure you cut your jeans about two inches longer than you want them to end up. Then wash and dry them twice so they fray on the ends. So seventies!

Striped Shirt

The stripes have to be vertical. (It’s a rule. Don’t ask us why.) Bonus points if the top is knitted. If you don’t already have one of these trending tops, haunt yard sales or the Goodwill for a fab find.

Flare or Boot Cut Jeans

Palazzo, flare or boot cut jeans will all work for a 70s hippie getup. If you don’t have any boot cut pants in your stash, check out consignment shops. Trust me…someone in your city used to own a pair, and pretty recently.

Newsboy Cap

Both men and women wore these. We see similar styles around today (usually as golf caps), so they should be a super-easy find at a local yard sale. If you snap up a white cap, dye it or use magic markers to make it groovy and on-point.

Knitted Crop Top

Knit, crocheted and macrame everything was in every 1970s closet. Keep in mind that earth tones is where it’s at when it comes to your 70s hippie Halloween costume…but sexy is also where it’s at.

Broom Skirt

It’s hippie-dippie and it’s everywhere you look. Win-win.

Tie-Up Top

This is honestly the easiest seventies costume fashion piece anyone can grab. Literally, it’s a shirt that you…well…tie up. But it was all over the place in the 70s, so if you pair it with any of the bottoms we’ve listed, you’re good to groove.

The Accessories

Sunglasses

Round John Lennon glasses or aviator shades can both work for your hippie threads. If you don’t have any luck with full-rounds, check consignment shops for anything VERY oversized, since those were totally groovy, too.

Peace Sign Necklace

Bonus points if you find one at a garage sale. If not, make one out of twist ties, pipe cleaners or cut it out of cardboard and hang it on yarn, a necklace cord or a chain.

Head Scarf

This is another freebie that’s fun to make. Cut any colorful piece of clothing and wrap it around your head. You can wrap anything: a huge scarf that falls over one shoulder; an old sweatband; a shiny piece of trim from that horrible bridesmaid dress. The world’s your oyster, man.

Fringe Bag

You can add your own fringe to a bag you have slouching around the back of your closet. Cut up an earth-tone piece of clothing and glue the pieces. This project might take a minute, so stream your favorite horror movie and get gluin’.

Daisy Headband

Grab a single strand of daisies from your local dollar store, glue them to a headband and it’s hippie heaven! We love the idea above with faux butterflies glued in between the flowers.

Boho or Mod Jewelry

Big, exotic, and/or colorful will all work here. Sift through the costume jewelry stand at your local flea market. Trust us, you’ll find it there.

Fake Cigarette

Don’t laugh — SO many people smoked in the 70s. (It was a thing.) If you really want to look authentic, stick one of these in your yap and throw a peace sign at that grown-up party.

The Hair

Long and Straight

This is by far the most iconic 70s hippie ‘do, and it’s easy for anyone with 1a to 2C hair: just use a straightener. For the 3 a through 3C crowd, try wrapping. Add a few braids if that’s your vibe.

Totally Natural

Natural texture was in…so embrace your texture, or enhance it with a few products that let it shine.

Shag, Baby

This one goes to eleven. If you’ve taken your butterfly to the next level and gone full mullet, this one will be easy to style. If you’re not that brave, try a wig instead.

Bangs

This is such a cute look. Again, try a wig or faux bangs if you’re not ready for the big chop up front.

Feathered

The Farrah ‘do is so easy. Just amp beachy waves by curling them tighter. Add hairspray to keep your look all night long.

Dude Bangs

Inspired by the Beatles and other rock groups in the 60s, bangs got a slight side-sweep in the 70s and were worn by hippies and execs alike. If you have bangs, swoop them and shellack in place with hairspray.

Fro, Bro

This look is GORGEOUS, so if you already have one, props. If you have natural-textured curls, pick them outward.

Mustache

Ah yes, that 70s ‘stache. Grow one, draw one, or paste one on.

Where to Hunt the CHEAPEST Finds

Your cheapest 70s Halloween hippie costume finds will be where the real hippies used to look. Haunt these spots:

Your own closet
Thrift stores/consignment shops
Flea markets
Dollar/discount stores
Yard sales

Also try:

Ready to rock on? Gather your gear and haunt your neighborhood with your blast-from-the-past 1970s hippie Halloween costume. You’ll be the grooviest guy or gal on the block.

Make a GROOVY 1970s Hippie Halloween Costume…For Pennies!

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