During World War II, women came out of the kitchen and began working in the factories to support the war effort. "Rosie-the-Riveter" represents women who were on the front of the assembly line pumping out war munitions.
This costume pays homage to that valiant effort carried out by women during that era. The wonderful thing about this costume is the fact that it is rather easy to assemble because you can find most of the clothing and outerwear readily available in your closet.
Costume Ideas
You can create a stunning Rosie-the-Riveter look using three totally different main pieces of clothing. You really can't go wrong if you keep it simple. Don't feel like you have to spend a lot of money pulling it together. Chances are, you already have most of the pieces in your closet. To have to go out and spend a lot of money to create a costume defeats the whole purpose of creating a D-I-Y costume.Assuming you have most of the pieces you need in your closet, it's important to pull the pieces together in the most cohesive way. You don't want to use the wrong color clothing and find that nobody recognizes you as Rosie-the-Riveter. Instead, focus on pulling the main pieces together with the right color combination and adding the right accessories.
Use the "We Can Do It" WWII-era poster by J. Howard Miller as a guide. The main colorway is red, white and blue. How patriotic is that? Yellow is also an exciting color to mix in if you want to create a more modern and unique look.
With that in mind, here are the top three looks you can use to create your own Rosie-the-Riveter costume:
Look #1: Denim Shirt and Jeans
- Denim Shirt and Jeans
- Red polka-dot bandana
- narrow belt and penny loafers
This is your classic Rosie-the-Riveter outfit. During the war, most of the female factory workers wore denim pants and long-sleeve, buttoned-down chambray or denim shirts. Since nylon was rationed to save it for making parachutes, women began to wear socks more often.
Look #2: Overalls and Shirt
- Denim overalls
- Long-sleeved, buttoned-down shirt
- Red polka-dot or paisley bandana
- work boots
This look is a cute alternative to the jeans. It has been a staple in a lot of closets for many years, spanning over many different styles and eras. The denim overalls will give you great comfort and versatility. You can be a bit more daring with this combination by adding a yellow, long-sleeved, buttoned-down shirt and work boots. You can add the classic red polka-dot bandana or maybe don a red bandana with yellow polka-dots or paisleys.
Look #3: Coverall
- Long blue work coverall
- Red polka-dot bandana
- Work boots
Hairdo and Headwrap
Rosie-the-Riveter wouldn't be complete without her bandana! During the 1940s, women who worked in factories wore bandanas or snoods to cover their hair and prevent the hair from getting caught in the machinery. Although they worked in a factory, the women still took great pride in their appearance. These hard working women usually showed up for work in full make-up and nicely coiffed hair, tied up with a bandana or snood. Red lipstick was always close by for quick touch-ups.With Halloween coming up, all three of these looks will give you a Rosie-the-Riveter costume that is cute and fun to wear. It is also simple, comfortable, fashionable, inexpensive, and recycleable.
Don't forget to roll your sleeves up above the elbows and tie that classic bandana around your pretty head. And flex your muscles frequently so everyone will know that "You Can Do It", Rosie-the-Riveter!
