Costume ideas for The Roswell Incident

The Roswell Incident

The Roswell Incident is set in Roswell, New Mexico, in July 1947, just as rumours begin to spread about something strange crashing in the desert.

The characters include local townspeople, military personnel from Roswell Army Air Field, scientists, reporters and FBI agents. Fortunately, 1940s costumes can be relatively easy to put together: a few well-chosen pieces can quickly suggest the period without requiring a completely authentic outfit.

All characters in The Roswell Incident are ungendered, so the suggestions below are intended to work for anyone.

General 1940s costume ideas

For a straightforward 1947 look, think practical post-war clothing rather than glamorous evening wear.

Useful costume pieces include:

• High-waisted trousers
• Plain shirts or blouses
• Cardigans and knitted sweaters
• Suspenders or braces
• Simple jackets
• Knee-length skirts or dresses
• Sensible shoes or boots
• Fedoras and other brimmed hats
• Neck scarves
• Narrow ties
• Round or horn-rimmed glasses

Colours were often fairly muted: brown, grey, navy, cream, olive and burgundy all work well.

You don’t need to recreate 1947 perfectly. A recognisable occupation, combined with one or two period details, is usually enough to establish the character.

Citizens of Roswell

Mayor Weinrib – Roswell’s mayor

Mayor Weinrib should look respectable, prosperous and ready to greet visiting dignitaries—or reassure worried townspeople.

• Smart suit or jacket and trousers
• Shirt or blouse
• Tie, scarf or other formal accessory
• Fedora or smart hat

Sheriff Jackson – Roswell’s police chief

Sheriff Jackson should be immediately recognisable as local law enforcement.

• Khaki, tan or brown shirt
• Dark trousers
• Boots
• Wide-brimmed hat
• Sheriff badge
• Leather-style belt
• Notebook and pencil

Dr. Blake – local vet

Dr. Blake runs a veterinary practice opposite the sheriff’s office, so a mixture of professional and practical clothing works well.

• White shirt or blouse
• Rolled-up sleeves
• Plain trousers or skirt
• Waistcoat, cardigan or simple jacket
• White laboratory coat, if available
• Stethoscope

Turner – cattle rancher

Turner is a cattle rancher living north of Roswell and originally comes from England. A practical ranching outfit is ideal.

• Checked or plain work shirt
• Jeans or hard-wearing trousers
• Leather belt
• Cowboy boots or work boots
• Cowboy hat or broad-brimmed work hat

Karns – mechanic and junkyard owner

Karns is a chain-smoking mechanic who owns a junkyard, so their outfit can look distinctly less polished than most of Roswell’s citizens.

• Overalls or boiler suit
• Work shirt
• Grease-stained trousers
• Heavy boots
• Work gloves
• Rag tucked into a pocket

Finley – Roswell Courier reporter

Finley is a local newspaper reporter and should look ready to chase a story at a moment’s notice.

• Shirt or blouse
• High-waisted trousers or skirt
• Suspenders or braces
• Jacket or cardigan
• Fedora or practical hat
• Notebook and pencil
• Press card
• Camera

Roswell Army Air Field

Major Collins – US Army major

Major Collins should look authoritative and unmistakably military.

• Olive-drab or khaki shirt
• Matching trousers
• Military-style jacket
• Dark tie
• Polished shoes or boots
• Officer’s cap
• Rank insignia
• Sunglasses

Sgt. Baker – Major Collins’ driver

Sgt. Baker should have a more practical military appearance than Major Collins.

• Khaki or olive-drab shirt
• Military-style trousers
• Webbing or plain belt
• Boots
• Garrison cap
• Sergeant stripes
• Leather gloves
• Sunglasses

Dr. Fowler – Shark Systems Inc scientist

Dr. Fowler is a scientist working for Shark Systems Inc, so their costume can blend 1940s professional clothing with the classic secret-project scientist look.

• Shirt or blouse
• Tie, bow tie or neck scarf
• High-waisted trousers or skirt
• Cardigan or jacket
• White laboratory coat
• Round or horn-rimmed glasses
• Pens in a breast pocket

Visitors

Prof. Kraushaar – physicist

Professor Kraushaar is a physicist at the University of New Mexico. An academic look suits the character perfectly.

• Shirt or blouse
• Tie, bow tie or scarf
• Tweed-style jacket or cardigan
• High-waisted trousers or skirt
• Glasses

Zivojinovič – junior reporter

Zivojinovič works for the Albuquerque Chronicle and is still relatively junior, so their outfit might be smart but inexpensive.

• Shirt or blouse
• Plain trousers or skirt
• Suspenders or braces
• Simple jacket or cardigan
• Fedora
• Notebook and pencil
• Press card
• Camera

Agent Franz – FBI agent

Agent Franz should look sober, professional and slightly intimidating.

• Dark suit
• White or pale shirt
• Conservative tie or scarf
• Dark shoes
• Fedora
• Trench coat
• Sunglasses
• FBI identification

Agent Deacon – junior FBI agent

Agent Deacon can dress much like Agent Franz, although perhaps slightly less confidently or less expensively.

• Dark or grey suit
• Shirt or blouse
• Conservative tie or scarf
• Fedora
• Trench coat
• Plain shoes
• FBI identification

Keep it simple

You don’t need an authentic 1947 wardrobe to enjoy The Roswell Incident. Start with clothes you already own, then add one or two distinctive accessories—a sheriff’s badge, military cap, press card, laboratory coat or fedora.

Those small details usually do far more to establish a character than an expensive costume.

And with reporters hunting stories, soldiers guarding secrets and strange events unfolding in the New Mexico desert, looking the part is only the beginning…