The Evolution of Halloween Costumes 1980-2025

(KMDL-FM) Admittedly, it has been more than a few years since I was technically a kid. I have been immature all of my life, but in the eyes of the Lord and the law in Rayne, Louisiana, I am too old to put on a mask and go trick-or-treating. But back in the day, I was one of the best. I bet you were too. What did you dress up as?

Peer Pressure Over Halloween Costumes Is Unreal When You're a Kid

A human skeleton with an open jaw against dark foliage

That question, "What are you going to be for Halloween?" could make or break your social status as a kid. If you chose the wrong outfit, you could lose your status as a cool kid, band geek, meat, hood, or detention rat. When you were of "Halloween age," all of those social circles mattered.

Homemade Costumes Were the Rule Back in the 1970s

And so did the costumes we chose. Now, back in my day, we didn't really do a lot of store-bought outfits. We made our costumes. An old sheet over your head and you were a ghost and not the reason Al Sharpton was in your town for a press conference.

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A little dirt on your face, a bandana on a stick, and some stolen booze from your dad's liquor cabinet, and you were a hobo or an elected official in Houma. Or the ever-popular: put on your summertime t-ball uniform and go as a baseball player.

three ghost statues in the dark with their faces glowing

Around 1980 is when the store bought, gotta be themed costumes really started to manifest, and that is where we are starting our list. If you were 10 years old in 1980, then today, your back probably hurts, but you can remember every one of these costume innovations.

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You can probably remember the reasons we all wanted to put those costumes on. So, get out your Ben-Gay cream, rub it on your back, and now let's go down memory lane.