Carbon Costume

Billie Joe Armstrong is the guitarist and lead singer for legendary Oakland pop-punk trio Green Day. He has sported many looks over his long career in punk rock, but the most iconic is probably his black shirt and red tie from the American Idiot era.

In Chicago, Roxie Hart is the main character who ends up at Cook County Jail for murdering her lover. Portrayed by Renee Zellweger in the film adaptation, Roxie is an aspiring singer and showgirl who finds fame and stardom during her jail time. To distinguish her from her villainous rival, Velma, she is blonde and frequently seen in white costumes, which contrast will Velma’s dark hair and black costumes.

In Grease, Danny Zuko (John Travolta) is the leader of the Rydell High greaser gang known as the T-Birds. Confident and often arrogant, Zuko discovers that his summer fling may not be just a fling when it turns out his love interest, Sandy Olsson, transfers to his high school.

Amos Hart is the loyal but dimwitted husband of Roxie Hart in the musical, Chicago. Portrayed by John C. Reilly in the film adaptation, his major musical number, “Mr. Cellophane,” is modeled after vaudeville tramp-clowns, reflecting his put-upon place in the story line. Vaudeville clown suits are difficult to find in black, so to replicate his tattered look, distress an oversized suit or pants and jacket, tie a large, silk scarf into a bow, and use light clown makeup.

In Chicago, Mary Sunshine is the sensationalist tabloid report who follows the stories of the women on Cook County Jail’s “Murderesses’ Row.” Portrayed by Christine Baranski in the film adaptation, Mary Sunshine’s costume are in line with what a professional reporter would have worn in the 1920’s.

In the music video for “This is America”, Childish Gambino (Donald Glover) raps and dances as an expression of various themes including being black in America, gun violence, and police brutality. His gold chains are a nod to slavery, his movements to caricatures of Jim Crow, and the yellow shoes, who knows. Sew black buttons on the fly to get the pants matching as close as possible.

In Blink-182’s music video for “First Date,” Tom DeLonge assumes his alter-ego Boomer, a crude and inconsiderate dimwit. Not much is known about Boomer other than that he has kissed his own brother, and is currently in prison for “undisclosed reasons.” For this costume, pretty much any lightly-colored yellow shirt will work.

Portrayed by Queen Latifah in the Chicago’s film adaptation, Matron “Mama” Morton is the corrupt matriarch of the Cook County Jail. She takes both Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly under her wing, but also fuels the rivalry between them.