Have you seen costume prices lately? I’m not paying $100 for something I’ll wear for only one night. And the cheaper ones I’ve seen aren’t fun. Here are 15 TV characters you can dress up as using clothes you probably already have or can find at a thrift store.
Khadijah James (Living Single)
To be Khadijah James, you need to have FLAVA. The magazine publisher and journalist mainly wore casual attire, and she never had a bad hair day. Choose one of her many looks in the video above.
Fred Sanford (Sanford and Son)
If you want a more classic character, it doesn’t get better than Fred Sanford. Played by legendary comedian Redd Foxx, Fred really didn’t dress up much. Oh, and make sure you say, “I’m coming to join you, Elizabeth.”
Laura Winslow (Family Matters)
One of the original IT girl characters, Laura Winslow always made Steve Urkel‘s heart skip a beat. The outfit in the above video is one of my favorites.
Fran Fine (The Nanny)
One of the most iconic television characters, Fran Fine never (and I mean never) had a bad outfit. She might’ve worn a lot of designer, but you can definitely thrift one of these looks.
Cole Brown (Martin)
In the ’90s baggy clothes and funky colors were in, and no other character wore them better than Cole Brown on Martin. He wasn’t the smartest in the group, but style-wise? No one in the crew was seeing him.
B.A. Baracus (The A-Team)
We’re taking it back to the ’80s with gold chains and a mohawk. I’m talking about Mr. T’s B.A. Baracus. He never pitied a fool, so if you dress up as him, you shouldn’t either.
Steve Urkel (Family Matters)
Have everyone stop what they’re doing when you walk into the party wearing suspenders and glasses. Make sure you say, “Did I do that?!”
Lisa Turtle (Saved by the Bell)
Another ’90s IT girl who stole the scene every time she was on screen. Screech loved her for a reason.
Moesha Mitchell (Moesha)
She was always in somebody’s business, but she never looked bad while doing it. Played by Brandy, Moesha became one of the most important characters for Black girls in the ’90s.
Carlton Banks (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)
“It’s not unusual to be loved by anyone.” When you hear that lyric from Tom Jones’s song, just know someone dressed as Carlton Banks isn’t far behind. And that someone could very well be you.
Fancy Monroe (The Jamie Foxx Show)
From the moment Jamie King first laid eyes on her, Fancy had him hooked. If you’re going to a party as a duo, make sure you find your Jamie King.
Whitley Gilbert (A Different World)
Whitley was high class and never came down off her high horse, until she met Dwayne Wayne. With Netflix’s A Different World trending and these two characters as the parents of the main character, Deborah (Maleah Joi Moon), don’t be surprised if you see a lot of Whitleys.
James Evans Sr. (Good Times)
A no-nonsense character who sometimes needed to calm down, James Evans Sr. was one of the most popular TV dads in the ’70s. All you’ll need is a pair of Khaki pants.
Kim Parker (The Parkers)
If you’re a fashionista, Kim Parker is the character you need to dress up as. Played by Countess Vaughn, the character didn’t care much for school, but she was always down for a good party.
Theo Huxtable (The Cosby Show)
Pay homage to Malcolm-Jamal Warner and keep his most-known character alive. Theo Huxtable was one of the coolest kids on TV, even when he had on THAT shirt. (You know which one I’m talking about)
Header image credit: YouTube/Warner Bros. Television/NBC/Universal/CBS
