I know my last couple posts were not very happy ones. So in order to light up the mood, I thought it would be great to do some posts on the Muppets. After all, anyone who was a kid in the last 4 decades grew up with these puppets on TV and in the movies. You can see why Disney wanted to get their hands on it. I mean who can forget Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, the Electric Mayhem, Animal, Gonzo, Sweetums, Sam the Eagle, the Swedish Chef, and others? Or the cast of Sesame Street? Or Fraggle Rock? Or Labryinth? Or the Dark Crystal? Well, you might not have heard of some of these. But that’s beside the point. Yet, let’s spend some time in the puppetry world of the late Jim Henson. Yes, I know his sudden death sent a nation in mourning. Because he was such a genius who created these lovable characters in our childhood.
The term “muppet” was coined by Henson as a marionette puppet as all the muppets were constructed. The beginnings of the Muppets can be traced all the way to the 1950s. In 1955, Henson created his first muppet Kermit the Frog who would become his signature character as well as voiced him until his sudden death in 1990. Contrary to what many people would think, Henson originally conceived the Muppets as characters aimed at an adult audience. Of course, network executives thought differently. Anyway, the same year the first Muppets would be introduced on a Washington D.C. based TV show called Sam and Friends which Henson created with his eventual wife Jane. The series was notable for being the first form of puppet media that didn’t include a physical proscenium arch within the characters were presented. Instead, Henson would utilize a natural 4-sided TV frame as the program’s theater as the viewers would already be watching. During the 1960s, the characters, notably Kermit and Rowlf the Dog appeared on several late night show skits and commercials, including The Ed Sullivan Show. Soon Rowlf would become the first Muppet with a regular network TV spot as Jimmy Dean’s sidekick. Later, Joan Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett began developing an educational TV program for kids and contracted Henson to design several characters. Produced by the Children’s Television Workshop, this show would debut as Sesame Street which received critical acclaim as the muppet characters proved vital to the program’s enduring popularity. In the 1970s, Henson would do The Land on Gorch sketches on SNL and develop a series in 1976 called The Muppet Show which was a more comedic variety show aimed more toward adults. However, the show was actually filmed in London because no American network thought it could work at the time (which was why this show aired in syndication in the US). And Henson couldn’t just go to cable. While Kermit and Rowlf would appear as regulars, it also introduced characters like Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, and Animal. The rest is history.
Miss Piggy (dress: Zac Posen, shoes: Christian Louboutin, jewelry: Fred Leighton, hair: Kim Kimble) and Kermit the Frog (in Brooks Brothers) at the 84th Annual Academy Awards
Of course, since the Muppets have become a very popular global franchise, it’s only natural that people might want to dress like them for Halloween for a cosplay. Nevertheless, when it comes to fashion icon, there’s no Muppet who wears it like the glamorous diva Miss Piggy. You may see I have pictures of her and Kermit at the Oscars and on the cover of the Vogue magazine wedding edition. Sure she may be a pig but she always tries to dress elegantly for every occasion and takes great pains to appear glamorous. So if you’re Donald Trump, she’s probably the last woman you’d want to call a “fat ugly pig” to her face. Because she doesn’t take criticism like that very well. Not to mention, she’s very skilled in martial arts and won’t hesitate to use them. Then again, seeing her karate chop Trump actually seems very satisfying to me. Really, you don’t want to piss her off. Anyway, in this post, I give you a treasure trove of great muppet costumes for your reading pleasure. And I’m sure Piggy will be flattered. She better be for I don’t want to be on the receiving end of her karate chop.
- As we know from the Muppets, every frog must have his pig.
Luckily for Piggy, she’ll see plenty of costumes of moi on this post. So will Kermie who’s in a skin tight green body suit.
2. These pooches come all the way from the street.
By that, I mean Sesame Street. One dog is dressed as Oscar the Grouch. The other as Cookie Monster.
3. While Miss Piggy traditionally wears pink, she can also look chic in black.
Well, if you have a nice dress in your closet, then a Miss Piggy costume won’t be hard to do. I mean costume snouts and ears don’t cost much.
4. Pepe the King Prawn never lets a crabby day get to him.
He’s one of the later Muppets who has a heavy Spanish accent. He tends to play on many Latino stereotypes. Has been around since the 1990s.
5. This Sesame Street family loves life in this part of the neighborhood.
Parents are dressed up as Ernie and Bert. Dog is Cookie Monster. Kids are Elmo and Big Bird. The look on the dad’s face is priceless.
6. Big Bird always knows how to make an entrance.
Big Bird is a male which can’t be disputed. Yet, a lot of the Big Bird costumes I’ve seen are for women. At least the adult ones. Must be the feathers.
7. Seems like we have a visitor from another world.
Oh, those are the aliens from Sesame Street. They’re the ones that go, “Yip, yip, yip, yip, yip.” Seem like they’re quite easy to make.
8. Just give Piggy a few moments for some last touch ups.
Unfortunately, the photographer couldn’t wait. Hope it turns out well. Or else…
9. For fairy muppets on Sesame Street, young girls take to Abby Cadabby.
For the record, I’m not familiar with Abby Cadabby. I guess she’s a magical fairy with purple hair. Still, this is cute.
10. Guess Kermie and Piggy are going a bit formal.
Well, Kermie is a least wearing pants and a jacket. Piggy dons a red dress with a feather boa and tiara.
11. Now that’s what I call a well-dressed Animal.
Okay, his pants are shredded and holed up. But for someone like Animal, this is as good as it’s going to get.
12. Hey, girl, I think you might want to scram from this grouch.
Yes, that’s Oscar the Grouch all right. Basically someone who likes to be moody just for the heck of it. Sometimes it’s best to scram.
13. Miss Piggy is always very protective of her little Kermie.
This is a mother-baby Kermie and Piggy costume. And yes, it’s adorable. Love it.
14. I’m sure you’ll learn your ABC’s from this family.
Like how the parents are Big Bird and Count von Count. And how the kid is Elmo. Wonder why the Count has a big head in this.
15. For the Muppets, their cook is a renowned chef who comes all the way from the fjords.
“Yur puurt thur lobster airn der pot firlled wit boirling watur.” Guess the lobster will get the better of him. Bork, bork, bork.
16. Before she goes out, Miss Piggy just has to take a selfie.
Knowing how self-absorbed she could be, I can totally imagine Piggy doing this. Even dressed to the nines.
17. That’s what I call a real party Animal.
Yes, that’s Animal in his traditional look. Always with the drumsticks and broken chains as drummer for Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem.
18. Didn’t know the Yip-Yip aliens had families.
Then again, these costumes are probably among the easiest to make. So why not do one for the whole family?
19. And I thought these creatures came to Earth in peace.
Actually this is a zombie version of the Yip-Yip aliens. I know the arms sticking out is stick. But what can I say? It’s unique.
20. Who can remember your favorite fuzzy blue monster Grover? You know the one from Sesame Street that dresses like a superhero and doesn’t violently eat cookies.
Well, sure looks like a fuzzy Grover, all right. Of course, I’ve heard he’s a proven liability as a server in the restaurant business.
21. Seems like Bert and Ernie have returned from a Hawaiian vacation.
Yet, they wear their shirts over their regular sweaters. Doesn’t really look right. Like Elmo and Grover though.
22. This little diva knows where to put pearls before swine.
In Miss Piggy’s case, the pearls go on swine. And so do feather boas. So cute.
23. Don’t be surprised if he’s a little grouchy at the moment.
This baby Oscar is prone to get cranky once in awhile. But like he has a plastic can that says, “Scram.”
24. Don’t mind these old guys, they’re always bashing the show.
As you can see, this is a group costume of Statler and Waldorf in paper mache. They’re the Muppets’ resident hecklers.
25. Today’s special: Swedish chicken.
You may not know this, but the Swedish Chef doesn’t get a great impression in Sweden. Mostly because Swedes think he doesn’t sound Swedish and get sick of being asked about him.
26. Here we come to the costume of the guy who started it all.
I think this is based on a photo of Jim Henson with Kermit in the 1970s. Still, love the little boy’s beard.
27. Sometimes being a large bird has its moments.
I wonder how often how many times people clean up after Big Bird when he visits them. Because he probably sheds a lot of yellow feathers. Still, this one is brilliant.
28. If you want to get to Sesame Street, ask them.
Yes, this is another Sesame Street family. But the costumes look different. Like how the dad is Oscar the Grouch.
29. This baby diva always has to have the best pink dress.
Yes, Miss Piggy brings out the diva in even the smallest among us. This dress is great. So cute.
30. Doing the latest scientific research at Muppet Labs are Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and his trusted assistant Beaker.
As you know, Dr. Bunsen Honeydew is well-meaning but often uses Beaker as a guinea pig in his experiments. It’s a wonder Beaker doesn’t end up in the emergency room.
31. You see, a pig can look fabulous in outer space.
This is Miss Piggy dressed in her Space Pigs sketch outfit. Must’ve been a regular feature for the show.
32. “Presenting the further adventures of everybody’s favorite hero. A man who is faster than lightning, stronger than steel, smarter than a speeding bullet. It’s… SUPERGROVER!”
“And I am cute, too!” Still, he’s more of a parody of Superman. And Super Grover doesn’t really do much of anything other than dig himself into a hole.
33. Even big birds had to start out small.
This girl in her Big Bird costume looks like a little chick of yellow fluff. Love her little orange shoes though. So cute.
34. Seems like somebody likes things to be a little trashy.
You have to like the dad’s costume. His baby may be Oscar the Grouch. But he’s the trashcan who holds him in.
35. There’s nobody who embodies the spirit of America like Sam the Eagle.
This more of a minimalist Sam the Eagle costume design. But at any level it works beautifully.
36. For the Cookie Monster, C is for cookies, chocolate chip. M is for milk.
Now this is ingenious. Like how the mom is in white and covered in cookies. Baby Cookie Monster can’t resist.
37. This little grouch always sits in his can.
This is a clever Oscar the Grouch costume. Yes, I know I have a few of these. But I really like this one. Makes him seem like a Christmas tree in a trash can.
38. This little Cookie Monster always thinks is C is for cookie and that’s good enough for him. Or her.
And unlike what Cookie Monster does in the show, he’s eating with restraint. Still, the costume is so fuzzy.
39. Seems this guy is proud of his little frog puppet.
Well, this is a father-child Jim Henson and Kermit the Frog costume. This Jim is wearing a sweater over a collar shirt. So adorable.
40. You haven’t heard great music until you listen to Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem.
This group basically consists of a homage from 1960s and 1970s rock groups. Of course, everyone knows Animal. Yet, I’m not sure if Rowlf is because I don’t remember seeing him. But he’s a musician so who cares.
41. This baby Big Bird barely fits into the stroller.
Well, at least that looks more like Big Bird than a lot of costumes I’ve seen. Like the yellow feathers and orange leggings.
42. Zoe always tries to be as sweet as can be.
Zoe is a girly orange monster on Sesame Street from the 1990s. She’s known for her pink and purple bows. Sure she doesn’t wear shirt or necklace. But this is cute.
43. Looks like Beaker just took a selfie.
I know he doesn’t look happy in this picture. But he always looks befuddled. Then again, he’s constantly being burned up. Meep, meep.
44. What better place to pose for Bert than Ernie than in the bath tub.
Like those Bert and Ernie heads. Of course, that doesn’t stop people from thinking they’re more than friends like the New Yorker.
45. For this monster, this chocolate chip cookie is good enough to eat.
Hey, I’ve seen couple’s costumes where it’s the other way around. Still, I think this is quite creative and clever.
46. Odd to see that Camille and the Swedish Chef are on good terms.
Because they’re usually not. Mostly because the Swedish Chef wants to cook her, obviously. Like the costumes though.
47. Cookie Monster is about to try out his new cross country skis.
Well, at least a Cookie Monster costume could keep anyone warm. Still, I guess there will be free cookies at the finish line.
48. So I guess this is Nurse Janice?
From how I see it, the the one who’s wearing the costume must work in the medical field. Because Janice is the Electric Mayhem’s guitarist.
49. Zoot must be taking a break from the sax during this gig.
From what Wikipedia says, Zoot is based on a Latin jazz saxophonist Gato Barbieri. He’s not known for being particularly chatty and is kind of a burnout.
50. Beaker is all prepped up for the Muppets’ Anti-Zombie Task Force.
For some reason, I don’t normally see Beaker as a badass zombie hunter. But this is costume is clever and funny.
51. Today’s episode of Sesame Street is about the corporate tyranny of the 1%.
The letter of the day is “C” for “class warfare.” The number of the day is 99 for “We are the 99%.”
52. Guess these muppets are just lounging around for the moment.
Not sure if I’d want any of these muppets around. I mean Dr. Honeydew is always experimenting on Beaker with destructive results. The Swedish Chef chases animals to cook. Piggy is an eternal diva. And Animal well, he’s kind of out-of-control.
53. Not sure if I’d want these two around children.
Okay, I know this Bunsen and Beaker are the parents. Nevertheless, I do think the kids dressed as Piggy, Kermit, and Animal are adorable.
54. When you’re Kermit the Frog, it’s not easy being green.
I wanted to get a Kermit costume picture by himself. This is a kid one I think is simply irresistible.
55. Seems like Cookie Monster had to give into temptation.
Well, at least he’s not ripping the cookie into shreds and making a mess of himself. But Elmo and Big Bird aren’t impressed.
56. Creamy pink is always elegant for a romantic evening in the swamp.
Because Miss Piggy always has to look her finest. Because only the finest will do for moi.
57. Seems like Kermit and Piggy are ready for a night on the town.
Like how they stuck to the suits. Kermit’s even wearing a nice 3 piece. Classy.
58. Looks like some of the Sesame Street gang has come out for Halloween.
Well, I have seen the photographer on Sesame Street. But I wouldn’t be sure who he is. Still, like the costumes though. Clever.
59. Presenting Agent Beaker, Private Eye.
This has Beaker not wearing his lab coat. Not sure if I’d call him a natty dress though.
60. This Yip-Yip aliens are surely fleeced.
Well, they’re made of fleece, anyway. They’re also somewhat shredded at the bottom.
61. Remember the two Muppets that sang the chorus to “Manah Manah?” Well, here they are.
Yeah, those are the ones. They’re kind of weird looking to tell you the truth. But they’ll do.
62. Wonder what this Swedish Chef is cooking.
Well, it probably doesn’t involve animals because he’d be chasing them at this time. Still, seems to be a very popular character.
63. Here we have Dr. Teeth and his Electric Mayhem with the full lineup.
Let me say, these guys may be from the 1970s but they’re still better than bands like One Direction. Seriously.
64. For the Electric Mayhem, we have Janice on lead guitar.
She’s clearly based on Janis Joplin despite the wardrobe. But she loves to play her Les Paul.
65. Hope Zoe doesn’t mind being bright orange.
The pink doesn’t always seem to stand out in this costume. Nevertheless, so adorable.
66. This little Kermit is only a mere tadpole.
Yes, this little kid may be green. But he’s so adorable as Jim Henson’s most famous frog. So cute.
67. Sometimes a green Kermit hoodie is all you need.
On the Muppets, Kermit normally doesn’t really seem to wear anything but a collar around his neck. He doesn’t even wear pants.
68. Sometimes it takes a big dog to be a Big Bird.
Yes, this dog is covered in yellow feathers. Don’t ask. It’s just that it’s playing Big Bird.
69. A swamp frog always likes to see his piggy girlfriend well pampered and dressed.
Of course, you kind of have to wonder about Kermit and Piggy’s sex life like whether it’s even possible for them to have one. I mean he’s an frog. She’s a pig. Neither species engage in sex the same way.
70. Now those really look like strange Stormtroopers to me.
Well, there’s Kermit, Beaker, Animal, and Gonzo. Are probably bad shots, which is perfect for the Galactic Empire.
71. The Count is holding 2 fingers. 1, 2, two fingers. Mahahahaha.
This Count costume is brilliant. Like the purple paper mache face. I mean he counts all the time and he’s still a cooler vampire than Edward Cullen from Twilight.
72. Guess this grouch will have to carry his own trash can.
Well, at least this one can be carried. Like how it says, “Go Away.” So Oscar.
73. Okay, guys, I think it’s time we need to hide the cookie table.
Because Cookie Monster is the last guy you’d want around a cookie table at a party. Seriously, he’ll demolish it.
74. Not sure if you want to eat these sentient veggies.
Yes, these veggies and bag are muppets. And yes, they talk and sing. Kind of creepy if you think about it.
75. Better for Gonzo to come than never.
Finally, I have my Gonzo who’s in a suit. Known for doing crazy stuff and having relations with chicken. Consensually of course.
76. Here we have Gonzo with his one true love Camille.
You understand she’s a chicken. And it seems these two are drinking and smoking at this party.
77. On bass for the Electric Mayhem is Sgt. Floyd Pepper.
Yes, he’s certainly based on the Beatles Sgt. Pepper album cover. Yet, he’s kind of a laid back hipster.
78. The Swedish Chef is surely proud of his country.
That doesn’t necessarily mean that his country is proud of him. Because he’s kind of a controversial figure there.
79. You know him as one of the most monstrous muppets around. I give you, Sweetums.
Yes, that’s Sweetums all right. Bet you didn’t expect him to be a big hulking monster.
80. Here we come to just a nice normal muppet couple.
They’re just a generic muppet couple. They’re not based on any muppet characters. They are their own.
81. Today the Swedish Chef is making a chocolate moose.
Yes, you read that right. He’s making a chocolate moose with Hershey’s. And yes, it’s a big moose.
82. Now this is a real muppet ensemble.
Well, most of them are members of the Electric Mayhem. Yet, these are just great. Love them.
83. Seems like Statler and Waldorf are always grumpy.
Actually, they tend to get a lot of enjoyment insulting everybody. Yet, their remarks are always clever.
84. Who can resist this cuddly Fozzie Bear?
Haven’t had Fozzie Bear on this post. And I thought he was quite popular. Well, wokka, wokka.
85. To be a Big Bird, you have to have big hair.
For some reason, I think this is more of a mashup costume between Big Bird and Effie Trinket. Hell, this girl almost seems like she’s about to choose District 12 tributes for the Hunger Games. Like she’s saying, “Primrose Everdeen.”
86. This Big Bird is almost as tall as the real thing.
Wonder if this is the only guy Big Bird costume. Then again, you don’t know who’s in this thing.
87. Super Grover will protect Elmo from harm.
Then again, Super Grover is a superhero who’s bad at being one. Still, this mommy and baby costume is too much.
88. When Kermit wears a tux, he sweeps Piggy off her feet.
And it seems the tuxedo was the most expensive part of the Kermit costume. Love Piggy’s dress, too.
89. Statler and Waldorf will always have their theater box to take with them.
These two guys don’t have the distinctive Statler and Waldorf face. Also, did you know these two were named after hotels?
90. This little dog is turning into a real Animal.
Yes, it’s a little dog dressed as Animal from the Electric Mayhem. He even has drums to boot.
91. Not sure whether these two guys saw anything from the muppets they liked.
Then again, it kind of seems like Statler and Waldorf liked to troll the muppets. Still, like how these guys went with their real hair.
92. Even a small pig can be a big diva.
Well, this is a sibling pair Kermit and Miss Piggy costumes. And yes, Piggy wants the spotlight. So cute.
93. And here is Beaker stuck with a bag.
Let’s hope there’s not a bomb in it. Because God knows how many times he’s been blown up by Bunsen Honeydew’s experiments.
94. Seems this Sweetums is made from nothing but yarn.
Guess this takes up a lot of brown yarn. Not sure if making a Sweetums outfit is worth that much time.
95. This Cookie Monster costume comes with cookie hands.
Well, this is a homemade costume as you might see. Like how one of the cookies has a bite. So creative.
96. From Sesame Street, what little kid could resist the adorable Elmo?
Because I know people would complain if I didn’t include him. Since he’s such an iconic character from Sesame Street and a hit with little kids.
97. With Elmo and Big Bird, this little Abby Cadabby can’t ask for anything more.
Well, I may not know much about Abby Cadabby. But you have to like the parents’ costumes in this. So adorable.
98. Elmo is even just as fuzzy when he comes in an adult size.
Yes, this is a cute costume. However, while Elmo is one of the cutest Sesame Street muppets, his Times Square counterpart is a real bastard. Or so I hear from Stephen Colbert.
99. Seems like this grouchy father has gone to the trash.
Well, he’s Oscar the Grouch. Yet, he and Cookie Monster sure have fuzzy heads.
100. For even the smallest, Abby Cadabby can be surely magical.
Sure Abby may be a recent addition. But the dress and the little pom pom hair things are so cute. Love it.
The Lone Girl in a Crowd 