Old Woman Costume Ideas for Halloween Fun
Dress up in an old woman costume for Halloween, for a costume party, or even for fun. The costume character of the old woman is a favorite among actors, party-goers, and young people. Why? Because the old lady role is fun. Little old ladies are trotted out every day in movies, commercials, and TV shows. How many times have you seen the nosy old neighbor lady in a mystery or the busybody old woman in a movie? Old women show up as sweet grandmothers, raging hags, old crones, and wicked witches. We know them well.
Tyler Perry has built a career and a fortune from his "Madea" character, but he wasn't the first. Comic actors and comediennes have entertained us with their own versions of the old lady for years. Ruth Buzzi of Laugh-In fame captured the hearts of America with her depiction of the spinsterish Gladys whose purse packed a whallop. Later comedienne Vicki Lawrence gained fame as Mama, that razor-tongued, blue-haired angry grandma and matriarch of the Harper family in the TV show Mama's Family.
A Halloween costume challenge
Are you content to simply buy a costume and be done with it? Or would you rather accept the challenge of identifying and creating your own old woman character? Sure, you can find a frumpy dress, some baby powder to grey your hair, and a pair of orthopedic shoes. But wouldn't you like to do more? Halloween is the time to release your inner actor and take on the role of the old woman. Which old woman will it be?
Read on for more tips, suggestions and ideas to help you create your Halloween old woman costume.
Tyler Perry has built a career and a fortune from his "Madea" character, but he wasn't the first. Comic actors and comediennes have entertained us with their own versions of the old lady for years. Ruth Buzzi of Laugh-In fame captured the hearts of America with her depiction of the spinsterish Gladys whose purse packed a whallop. Later comedienne Vicki Lawrence gained fame as Mama, that razor-tongued, blue-haired angry grandma and matriarch of the Harper family in the TV show Mama's Family.
A Halloween costume challenge
Are you content to simply buy a costume and be done with it? Or would you rather accept the challenge of identifying and creating your own old woman character? Sure, you can find a frumpy dress, some baby powder to grey your hair, and a pair of orthopedic shoes. But wouldn't you like to do more? Halloween is the time to release your inner actor and take on the role of the old woman. Which old woman will it be?
Read on for more tips, suggestions and ideas to help you create your Halloween old woman costume.
- Image credit: Bartolomeo Passerotti [Public domain], Portrait of an Old Woman by Bartolomeo Passerotti via Wikimedia Commons
Not every old women is sad
Handmade costumes vs store-bought
Do you buy your costumes ready made or do you like to make them yourself?
gustaF33 says:
I dressed in an old women costume just once...so far :) Friends helped me to make the costume and I remember we used a lot of things from my grandmother...I mean borrowed :)
cinnie2 says:
Much rather make them myself. It's a matter of pride. And a matter of joy, to do with what I have, or only buy a small part, like a cat's tail for example.
How to act like an old woman
How to act the part of an old woman
Frances Bay as the old woman on Jerry Seinfeld
curated content from YouTube
Ruth Buzzi as Gladys Ormphby from Laugh-In TV show
Ruth Buzzi roasts James Stewart - Dean Martin Roast
Ruth Buzzi wowed America with her portrayal of the dowdy spinster Gladyx Ormphby on Laugh-In. Every week she'd put on that old brown dress, put up her hair in a bun, cover her hair with hairnet, and whack someone with her big purse.
curated content from YouTube
5 tips on how to act like an old lady
Create your own old woman costume and character
Transforming yourself into an old woman is more than putting on some old clothes and lining your face with wrinkles. Each old woman is different and unique. Here are some questions that will help you define your old woman character.
- What kind of personality does this old woman have? Is she happy, sad, silly, or just plain crabby?
- How does the old woman talk? Is she always flustered? Does she talk fast? Or is her speech short and stacatto as if she's mad all the time?
- Does this old woman have a lot of energy or is she a couch potato?
- How does this old woman dress? Does she care about her appearance?
- Does this old woman use a cane or a walker? Does she stoop and walk slowly, carefully? Or does she hold herself erect and act like she's a queen bossing everyone around?
Famous "Old Woman" Characters
Old Lady roles made famous by actors and comedians
Maude Frickert, Edna Turnblad, Dame Edna, Mrs. Doubtfire, and the famous Pepperpots
In addition to Ruth Buzzi and Frances Bay's famous old woman characters, many men have earned fame by donning the costume of an old woman.
- 1Jonathon Winters entertained us as the crusty Maude Frickert.
- 2John Travolta danced his way into our hearts in Hairspray with his loveable Edna Turnbald
- 3Barry Humphries made it real with Dame Edna.
- 4Robin Williams played the old woman to the hilt as Mrs. Doubtfire.
- 5The Monty Python group became Pepperpots, "screeching middle-aged, lower-middle class housewives."
- 6Tyler Perry gains fame as the infamous Mabel Simmons, otherwise known as Madea.
Monty Python - Mrs. Premise and Mrs. Conclusion
Monty Python - Mrs. Premise and Mrs. Conclusion
John Cleese is Mrs. Premise and Graham Chapman plays Mrs. Conclusion in the Monty Python sketch Mrs. Premise and Mrs. Conclusion visit Jean-Paul Sarte. Also in the sketch are Eric Idle as Mrs. Inference and Michael Palin, again, as Mrs. Sartre.
curated content from YouTube
Famous "Old Lady" characters
Tyler Perry, Ruth Buzzi, and Carol Burnett dressed up as old women
Click on the image to see the photo. For more information, clink on the link.
Faces of Old Women
Study the face of a very old woman
Learn how to look like an old woman
Today's focus is so much on the young that the value of the old has tarnished. Women today are exterminators in the battle against creases and lines that tread upon their faces. They arm themselves with needles loaded with Botox, remedies that promise the return of youth. But is what revealed of the soul when a face is allowed to age naturally?
Take a look at the photos below and you tell me.
- Photo credits for the above "old woman faces' images: 1) A Happy Old Woman By http://veton.picq.fr (Own work) [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons 2) Old woman in Lahic By Walter Callens [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons 3) Elderly African America womanvia Wikimedia Commons 4) Local woman in Ladakh, Indialicenses/by/2.0">CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons 5) Old woman from Ivatanlicenses/by/2.0">CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons 6) Old Sad Woman licenses/by/2.0">CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons 7) Old and wise woman licenses/by-sa/2.0">CC-BY-SA-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Test your knowledge of old lady characters
Who made these "old woman" roles famous?
How to look like an old woman
One actress = many faces
Frances Bay's many old woman faces
With a little bit of makeup, you can become an old woman
Dress up as an old woman, a grandma or even an old hag
This time-lapsed video shows the transformation from a young woman to an old woman, all using a few makeup tools to make it happen. Watch how it happens.
curated content from YouTube
Makeup tools to create your "old woman"
Click on image to see tool. Click on blue link under image for more information.
Old woman costume makeup for Halloween or any other time
Have an Old Lady Party using these old age makeup tricks
curated content from YouTube
Watch John Travolta become Edna Turnblad for the film Hairspray
Developing a characater with makeup effects, costumes and props
curated content from YouTube
Old woman costume props
Halloween costumes, old woman masks, old woman wigs
Click on image to see tool. Click on blue link under image for more information.
6 movies to study "old woman" roles
Old woman characters in movies
Click on image below, a link will appear below the photo for more information.
Halloween costumes, Mardi Gras balls, and costume parties
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Halloween costume balls and Mardi Gras bring out the best in masks, don't you think? Pheasant Feather Mask
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Costume chatter
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- Courtsaywhatt
- @AneonElad What would you do if I walked in there in my batgirl costume or dressed up like an old woman? You know I'd do this.
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- chrisstinaaac
- RT @NatassaC237: Old woman dressed in a giant green bean costume...... Lmaoo
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- NatassaC237
- Old woman dressed in a giant green bean costume...... Lmaoo
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- nicolestiletto
- I took a pic with her last week lol RT @KillahD: Just saw a old woman in a full body batman costume #downtown
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More about Halloween costumes
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Ready to wear an old woman costume for Halloween?
Share your rthoughts and what costumes you like
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Oneshotvariety
May 4, 2012 @ 5:08 pm | delete
- Very neat and creative lens! A good variety of costumes! :]
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Sylvestermouse
Apr 24, 2012 @ 9:32 pm | delete
- Wow! Truly a lot of great tips and advice for wearing an old woman costume. I have to admit, that is one I have never consider before :)
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WordCustard
Nov 3, 2011 @ 6:57 am | delete
- A very clever and different Halloween costume idea. I was only familiar with Mrs Doubtfire and Dame Edna, but can see many possibilities is this costume. One to try in 2012.
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I blog, write books and articles and am online at Down the Writer's Path, Writers Quote Daily, Houston Angle and Vikk Simmons On Squidoo and Online All... more »
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