Grass skirts, coconut bras and Hawaiian print shirts make an easy tropical costume.
Get ready for the next tropical costume party with these colorful costumes that range from easy to elaborate. Create the costumes at home or purchase from a costume shop to save time. Both men and women can wear these costumes and they work well for couples or groups. Grab a fruity drink and head to the party. Does this Spark an idea?
Hawaiian Luau Attendee
Start the blender and get the fruity cocktails going in your easy-to-make Hawaiian luau costume. For women, wear a tropical flower-print dress or use a sarong as a dress or skirt. If wearing as a skirt, purchase a coconut bra or flower bra from a costume store to wear on top. Another option is to pair a bra or bikini top with a flowing grass skirt. Add a flower to your hair. For men, a Hawaiian-print shirt and solid color shorts are an easy combination. Wear a straw hat and sunglasses. For men and women, add sandals and a colorful lei, grab a coconut drink and head to the party.
Tropical Tourist
Add some comic relief to the tropical costume party by going as a tourist. Both men and women can wear the same costume and it works well for a couple. Pair a bright colored Hawaiian-print shirt with khaki or cargo shorts. Wear tall black or white socks with sandals. Sport a large hat and sunglasses with a camera hanging around your neck. Carry along a guide book or map and add some sunscreen to your nose. Point and take pictures of everything you see.
Chiquita Banana Lady
The Chiquita Banana logo is ubiquitous, but the costume can take many forms depending on the materials and supplies you use. While the logo is a woman, daring men can also sport the costume. Start with a blue outfit, preferably a dress but top and skirt work, too. The woman in the logo wears a blue dress with yellow trim on the sleeves, so add yellow ribbon with a glue gun or iron-on hem tape available at a craft store. The fruit-covered hat is the most important part of the costume and there are a few options for make it. Purchase a variety of plastic fruit (don't forget the bananas) from a crafts store, usually in the home decor section. The easier option is to glue the fruit to a hat. Another option is to wrap a sarong or scarf around your head and glue the fruit to the top of the wrap. Add large gold hoop earrings as a final touch.
Brazilian Carnival Dancer
Elaborate sexy costumes are an integral part of Brazilian Carnival. Recreating this look is a bit more complicated and not for the modest. The easiest option, but more expensive, is to rent a Carnival costume from a costume shop. Look for colorful beaded and feathered outfits with large dramatic head pieces. If creating this costume at home, start with a few base pieces. For women, a bikini or bikini top and skirt work well. For men, a pair of shorts or briefs will do. Purchase feathers, beads and gold or silver accent pieces from a craft store and glue them to your base pieces using a hot glue gun. For the head piece, add beads and feathers to a headband or glue pieces of cardboard to the headband and attach accessories to the cardboard. Add glitter or a touch of self-tanner to the body for a sparkling glow.
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