Music Groups

• Musical groups and rock bands are often famous for their flamboyant sense of style. With a couple of mop tops and matching suits your group can look like the early Beatles or wear bright psychedelic colors to dress like the band's later look. The best bands for group costumes feature members with a unique sense of style, like the Spice Girls, or elaborate costumes and makeup like Kiss. You don't have to pick any established band, either -- create your own '80s hair band and wear big wigs, tight animal-print pants and leather clothing.
  
  

Superheroes and Villains

• The comic-book world is filled with colorful costumes for groups. Dress like a superhero team such as the X-Men or a group of villains like the Brotherhood of Mutants. Some superhero groups, like the Fantastic Four, wear matching outfits making it easy to coordinate with one another. Other superhero groups, like the Justice League, are comprised of several heroes wearing an assortment of costumes, making it easier to find costumes that will match the body type of each member of your group.
  
  

Movie Characters

• The majority of movies feature multiple characters, so pick your favorite flick and coordinate costumes around it. Dorthy and her friends Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion from "The Wizard of Oz" are perfect for a foursome, but if you have more people you can also add characters like the Wicked Witch, the Wizard or Glinda, the Good Witch. Movie costumes are good for a group because they can adapt to a number of different body types. For example, the characters from the Lord of the Rings movies range from tall and lanky elves to short and pudgy hobbits.
  
  

Cartoon Characters

• A group costume centered around cartoon characters can be a blast from the past. The heroes from "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" make a fun costume for a group of guys, and the glam rockers from "Jem" make a truly outrageous costume for a group of girls. Fred, Barney, Wilma and Betty from "The Flintstones" make a cute ensemble for two couples. Other cartoon group costume ideas include the meddling teens and their dog from "Scooby-Doo," a royal gathering of Disney princess characters and the little blue creatures known as "The Smurfs."