Many iconic celebrities create a brand around their image, making them instantly recognizable to even the most casual pop-culture observer. Your face and body do not need to bear any resemblance to many of these pop-culture icons to create a celebrity look-alike costume based on the image they project to the public. Visualize the celebrity you intend to emulate and note any iconic fashion and trademark accessories.
"Jersey Shore"
The popularity of MTV's "Jersey Shore" reality show created stars out of its cast. Create an image in the likeness of any of the cast members and use your own personality or quotations to distinguish which particular cast member your costume depicts. Spray tan yourself to give your skin that orange glow associated with all the members of the cast. Wear a graphic T-shirt or trucker hat with a lot of design attitude. Glitter-adorned and studded shirts and hats convey the point. Girls can place a plastic insert, like the Bumpit, in their hair to simulate Snooki's iconic bouffant style. Apply bronzer and thick eye makeup, including fake eyelashes, to set up the "Jersey Shore" facial image. Wear a short dress that fits tightly around your curves and put on some high heels to complete the ensemble.
Dolly Parton
Both sexes can pull off a Dolly Parton look-alike costume as long as they are comfortable donning the attire. Put on a bleached blond wig; curls are preferable to give you that down-home look. Apply heavy makeup, emphasizing the red rouge, red lipstick and big eyelashes. Wear a dress with lots of fringe adornments that evokes a classic Western image. Alternately, a 1980s prom dress with big shoulders can mask anything you need to use to fill in your chest area. Stuffing will add the curves that have defined the iconic body of one of country music's biggest stars.
Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin, the former governor of Alaska, entered the national spotlight when she ran for vice president during the 2008 elections. Wear long brown hair with highlights and place it in a bun to emulate her signature hair style. Dress yourself in a black knee-length skirt, red blazer and slim-frame eyeglasses. Accessorize the outfit with items that evoke Alaskan imagery or her past. Add a sash and tiara to your ensemble to evoke Palin's beauty pageant history. Carry a drill around to satirize her "drill, baby, drill" rally cry during her vice presidential bid.
Lil' Wayne
Lil' Wayne is the New Orleans rapper famous for pop hits such as "Lollipop" and "Fireman." Anyone can emulate his iconic look by integrating key identifying accessories into the ensemble. Wear dreadlocks with a red baseball cap on top of your head and draw in a teardrop tattoo on your face. Wear baggy jeans that sit below your natural waistline, exposing your underwear. Accessorize this look with a wallet chain and a scarf tied around your neck. For extra emphasis, carry around a lollipop in reference to his hit song.
