Nostalgia is a powerful drug. Honestly, if you grew up in the nineties or early two-thousands, just hearing a specific upbeat brass theme song probably triggers a very specific mental image of two giant pieces of fruit walking down stairs. B1 and B2. They’re icons. It’s why, decades after the original ABC show first aired in Australia, the bananas in pyjamas costume remains a perennial favorite at Halloween, themed birthday parties, and university pub crawls.
People love it because it’s recognizable. It’s simple. It’s fundamentally absurd. There is something inherently hilarious about a grown adult encased in a giant yellow foam structure, wearing blue-and-white striped pajamas that are definitely not designed for high-performance movement. But there’s a trick to it. You can't just throw on any old yellow shirt and call it a day.
Getting the "Bananas" look right involves a weird mix of costume engineering and a willingness to look slightly ridiculous for several hours. Whether you’re buying a licensed version or going the DIY route, you’re dealing with proportions that don’t exist in nature. Bananas are tall. Humans have necks. Reconciling those two facts is where most costumes succeed or fail.
The Evolution of the Blue and White Stripes
We have to talk about the history of the show to understand why the costume looks the way it does. The characters actually started as a song written by Carey Blyton in 1967. It wasn't until Play School featured them as "peg people" or puppets that the visual identity we know today—the vertical stripes and the oversized heads—really took hold. When the standalone show launched in 1992, the costumes were massive.
The original TV suits were actually quite sophisticated for their time. They had to be breathable because the actors inside were essentially trapped in a sauna. If you're looking at a modern bananas in pyjamas costume, you'll notice they usually try to mimic that 90s aesthetic: the stark white collar, the large buttons, and that specific shade of "sun-ripened" yellow.
Back then, the costumes used a lot of foam padding to create that rounded, tubular shape. Today's commercial versions often use lightweight polyester, which is way more comfortable but sometimes lacks the "structure" of the original. If the fabric is too thin, you just look like a person in pajamas with a yellow hat. You want that rigid, slightly awkward silhouette to really sell the character.
What Makes the Costume Work?
Is it the stripes? Maybe. But mostly, it's the duo factor.
You almost never see a lone B1 or B2. The entire concept relies on the "twin" dynamic. If you show up to a party alone in a bananas in pyjamas costume, people just think you're a fruit enthusiast who forgot to get dressed. If you show up with a partner, you're a cultural touchstone. It's the ultimate low-effort, high-impact group costume.
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I’ve seen people try to modernize it. They try "sexy" versions or "gritty" versions. They usually fail. The charm is in the clunky, child-friendly innocence of the original design. You want the big, goofy eyes and the stitched-on smiles. Anything else just feels like a fever dream.
Buying vs. DIY: The Great Banana Debate
When you're hunting for a bananas in pyjamas costume, you basically have two paths. You can go to a big-box retailer or an online costume shop and buy the licensed poly-foam kit. These are usually "one size fits most," which is a lie, but they get the job done. They usually include the tunic with the attached collar, the trousers, and the headpiece.
But then there are the DIYers. These are the people who spend weeks hunting for the exact shade of blue-and-white striped fabric.
If you're going DIY, you have to nail the head. Most people use yellow felt or even painted foam. The secret? Use a hula hoop or a wire frame inside the torso to keep the "banana" shape from collapsing. If you just wear an oversized yellow hoodie, you lose the "tubular" essence of B1. It needs to look like a cylinder.
- Fabric choice: Stick to cotton or felt. Shiny satin makes you look like a discarded candy wrapper.
- The Buttons: The buttons on the original costumes were huge. Don't use real buttons; use circles of black felt or painted cardboard. They need to be visible from across a crowded room.
- The Numbers: This is the most important part. B1 and B2. You can't both be B1. It causes existential confusion. Use iron-on transfers or fabric paint to get the numbers onto the collars.
Why This Costume Dominates Festivals and Group Events
There’s a reason you see these at the Sydney Cricket Ground or at 7s rugby tournaments. They’re durable. Sorta.
Actually, they're terrible for sitting down. Have you ever tried to sit in a foam banana suit? You basically have to lean back at a 45-degree angle or risk folding your own head into your chest. It’s a commitment. But that's part of the fun.
The bananas in pyjamas costume is also "safe." It’s one of the few costumes that works for a 5-year-old’s birthday party and a 21st birthday pub crawl. It’s nostalgic for the parents and recognizable for the kids (thanks to the 2011 CGI revival, though purists will argue the original suits were superior).
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The Comfort Factor (Or Lack Thereof)
Let's be real. It gets hot. If you are wearing a full-head foam mask, you are essentially breathing your own CO2 for four hours.
Modern licensed costumes have moved toward "open face" designs where your face peeks out from the banana's "mouth." It’s way more practical for eating and drinking, but you lose some of that surrealist magic. If you go for the full-head version, make sure there’s a mesh screen in the "eyes" that actually aligns with your own. There is nothing worse than a B2 who keeps walking into walls because their eye holes shifted to their forehead.
Sourcing the Perfect Fit
When shopping, pay attention to the "tunic" length. If the tunic is too short, the proportions look off. A proper bananas in pyjamas costume should have a tunic that ends somewhere around the mid-thigh. This allows the striped trousers to do the rest of the work.
Check the reviews for "fabric thickness." Since you're likely wearing this over your actual clothes (because the costumes are often scratchy), you don't want something so thin it's translucent. You also want to make sure the stripes are vertical. I’ve seen some knock-off versions with horizontal stripes. That’s not a Banana in Pyjamas; that’s a yellow sailor.
Practical Tips for Your Banana Debut
If you’re heading out in a bananas in pyjamas costume, you need a game plan.
First, coordinate with your partner. Decide who is B1 and who is B2 before you arrive. It sounds silly, but it saves a lot of "who are you?" conversations.
Second, think about your footwear. The characters in the show wore oversized yellow shoes that looked like feet. Most costumes don't include these. Plain white sneakers or yellow Crocs actually work surprisingly well. Avoid black boots; they break the "cartoon" look and make you look like a banana with heavy-duty construction equipment.
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Third, hydration. If you're in a foam suit, you’re going to sweat. If you’re at a party, bring a straw. Trying to drink anything while wearing a giant foam banana head is a recipe for a stained costume and a frustrated B1.
Maintenance and Storage
Foam costumes are notorious for "creasing." If you buy a bananas in pyjamas costume online, it will arrive vacuum-packed and looking like a wrinkled lemon.
Do not iron it. You will melt the polyester.
Instead, hang it up in the bathroom while you take a hot shower. The steam will help the foam regain its shape. If the head is particularly squashed, stuff it with towels for 24 hours to "re-mold" the cylinder.
Taking the Look to the Next Level
Want to win the costume contest? Don't just stand there.
The Bananas had a very specific way of moving—sort of a waddle-shuffle. And if you really want to commit, you need a third friend to go as Rat in a Hat. This completes the trifecta. While the bananas in pyjamas costume is the star, having a "Rat" with a bow tie and a sharp hat adds that layer of "lore" that shows you really know your 90s Australian television.
Most people forget that the Bananas were actually quite helpful characters. They were always trying to solve problems, usually unsuccessfully. Lean into that. If you see someone struggling to find the snack table, "help" them with the exaggerated movements of a giant piece of fruit.
Actionable Steps for Your Costume Search
- Measure your height: Most adult banana suits are tall. If you’re on the shorter side, the "tail" of the banana might hit the back of your knees, making it hard to walk. Look for "standard" vs "XL" sizes.
- Check the "Head" style: Decide if you want a full-mask (better photos) or an open-face (better for actually having a good time).
- Verify the Stripe Pattern: Ensure the blue stripes are the correct "royal blue" and not navy or light blue. The contrast is what makes the costume pop.
- Buy in Pairs: If you’re buying online, many retailers offer a discount if you buy two at once. It’s almost impossible to find a friend who already has the matching half of the duo.
- Plan for the "Wobble": If you’re making your own, use a lightweight internal structure like "boning" used in dressmaking or even thin PVC piping to keep the banana from sagging.
Whether you're doing it for the "likes" or just because you have a deep-seated love for 90s nostalgia, the bananas in pyjamas costume is a solid choice. It's one of the few outfits that is guaranteed to make people smile (or at least hum the song) the moment you walk into the room. Just remember: B1 always leads the way. It's the rules.