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# Hilarious Literal Literary Costumes
This Shades of Grey Costume Spoofs the Popular Erotic Novel

By Nicole Ballantyne-Choo | Published 2013-10-26 | Special
Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shades-of-grey-costume
References: [incrediblethings](http://www.incrediblethings.com/style-and-gear/50-shades-of-grey-costume/) & [schleckysilberstein](http://www.schleckysilberstein.com/2013/10/50-shades-grey-der-bestseller-als-kostum/)

With the announcement of Jamie Dornan as the new Christian Grey, this [shades of grey costume](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/beetlejuice-beetlejuice-costumes) is for people who wish they could be the dreamy character.

However, instead of a sultry costume to make ladies swoon, this one hilariously pokes fun and takes ‘50 shades of grey’ literally. To pull off this look, all you’ll need is a grey tee that you don’t mind getting crafty with. To complete the costume, go to your local home improvement store and grab a variety of shades of grey paint samples and stick them all over your shirt either with glue, tape or staples; instantly, you are now literally 50 shades of grey.

The [DIY outfit](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aldi-and-elladoesfx) is extremely easy to make and guaranteed you’ll be getting laughs and compliments all night long.

## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter)

- Score: 5.6/10
- Popularity: 81% | Activity: 80% | Freshness: 8%
- Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women
- Primary generations: Millennial
- Top markets: North America

## Categories

[Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Special](https://www.trendhunter.com/special)

## Key Themes

### Key Themes Behind This Trend

- **Literal Costumes:** Creating costumes that take a literal interpretation of a concept or idea, resulting in humorous and creative outfits.
- **Pop Culture Spoofs:** Designing costumes that parody or mock popular books, movies, or TV shows, adding a humorous twist to recognizable characters or themes.
- **DIY Costumes:** Embracing the do-it-yourself trend in costume-making, encouraging creativity and customization through accessible materials and easy construction.

### Where This Applies

- **Fashion Retail:** Opportunity for retailers to provide materials (such as paint samples) and inspiration for customers to create their own unique and humorous costumes at home.
- **Event Planning:** Potential for event planners to incorporate themes and activities centered around costumes that mix humor, pop culture references, and creativity.
- **Online Communities:** Opportunity for online communities or platforms dedicated to costume enthusiasts to share ideas, tutorials, and photos of literal literary costumes, fostering a sense of community and inspiration.

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