1960s Murder Mystery Game Costumes

A couple of weeks ago I posted about costume ideas for murder mystery games (40s and 60s.) Since then I've attended the swinging sixties murder mystery party and as promised, have photos to share.

My character. Kate Killer, was supposed to be a journalist who was more famous than the rich celebrities she interviewed. She had a penchant for dressing all in black and liked black or red wigs. I decided to use Brigitte Bardot and Jane Asher as my inspiration.

I foolishly bought a 1960s 'Starlet' wig online, which turned out to be a hairy monster that grew and grew and bore no resemblance to the photo at all.

So I got a box of volumising hair props for  €2 in a cheapo accessory shop but didn't have time to learn how to use them properly.  

I ended up throwing two of them into my hair kind of following the instructions, but I exaggerated the bump to make a more dramatic (and funny) beehive. Here I am looking a bit more Marge Simpson than hip and cool.

The top was a John Rosha tunic I had recently bought. I just tucked the capped slieves in to hide them and pinned them to create a more 60s tunic style.

I teamed them with black skinny trousers and knee high suede boots. On top I wore my black trench coat, a neck scarf and big sunglasses I already had. I looked a bit more spy than journalist, and coincidentally, as the story unfolded it turned out that my character was actually a secret agent so by pure chance, my costume was spot on!

I had little time to search for 6os style, pop-art jewellery so I wore a bright button pendant I had made. (Click here for my button jewellery line on Etsy) 

 I purchased this bag from a vintage shop at a market for €18 last year. (the Spanish citrine charm is available in my shop)

 I did get my hands on a hat like Jane Asher's above, but didn't wear it until the party was nearly over and I didn't care anymore if the beehive got toppled.

Twiggy was the inspiration for one of my friend's costume.

Miss Wiggy

These shoes are actually 90s but looked perfect for the sixties.

Another friend purchased these plastic boot covers at a joke/costume shop.

I have to go check if I have my other friends' permission to show their costumes/faces before posting or maybe I can fuzz out the faces....but you so have to see the effort that everyone went to make it a fun night. The style was really groovy baby.

Murder Mystery Game Costume Inspirations

One of my friends is hosting a murder mystery party for her birthday next weekend. The story is set in the swinging 60s in the UK. Last year she did the same, but the theme was 1940s.

It was so much fun getting to play dress up like kids, then acting our parts for the night. We laughed so much that we cried. For most of us, using whatever resources we had to create a suitable costume proved challenging but was just as much fun as the night itself. I let my imagination loose and didn't need to buy a single prop or piece of clothing, though one or two of my friends found charity shops a very useful resource.

my effort at 1940s costume

I had no pencil skirt, so I wore a narrow black slip with a petticoat underneath to make it less see-through and did my best to roll my hair up following instructions on You-tube. The hair went fairly wonky, but that just made it funnier. I made a fake cigarette and long holder out of cardboard. I even drew a black 'stocking seam' up the back of my legs using liquid eyeliner, as they did in the 40s if they couldn't afford real stockings. 

 I got to wear the same costume again when I took part in the Fancy dress Mingle Market last summer. (Now re-opened on Thomas Street, Dublin 8)

This time round, my 1960s character is a famous journalist and I'm meant to dress all in black with a dash of red lipstick. (If you know this particular mystery game, please say nothing...don't give the game away but do please feel free to share your costume ideas!)

I was searching the net for inspiration and as it's down to what I've got to hand, I think I've come to an idea for a look halfway between sixties style icons, Brigitte Bardot (after all her middle name was Anne-Marie!) Click here for Google images, and Jane Asher,  who interviewed the Beatles, something my journalist character might have done.  Click here for Google images

 

I have my costume almost sorted and if turns out OK I will share any decent photos here next week.

I haven't yet got the hang of the beehive, even with those little hidden hair props you can buy. So I ordered what was meant to be a 60s style wig from a cotume shop in Cavan.....it arrived today and it's not a wig. It's a monster that seems to be growing more hair each time I look at it. It is nothing like it's sleek photo on the website.

It will not tame but as I have nothing else, I may wear it anyway for its comedic value. Perhaps a big hairband or bandeau like Bardot's will sort it out. I'll let you know........