Clown Costumes

Clown Costumes

Sources of Clown Costuming

Locally produced clothing
• Commercial patterns found in fabric store pattern books
• Modified pajama patterns

Existing Clothing – New
• Painter's pants
• Athletic socks or ladies knee socks – patterned or striped

Existing Clothing – Used
• Tuxedo – available from rental house
• Rummage sales are a source for baggy pants and colorful tops
• Second hand stores

Commercially Available Clown Clothing
• Clown stores
• Clown vendors at conventions
• Mail order catalog

Types of Clown Costuming

Main
• One-piece jumper (patterns available at fabric stores)
• Bib overalls
• Baggy pants/baggy oversized coat
• Tux suit
o Regular
o Modified

Shirt
• Turtlenecks
• Dickies/fake fronts
• Smock-type shirts
• Billowy oversized shirts

Neckwear
• Ruffs
• Neckties – bow ties – long ties
• Bibs

Characteristics of Clown Costuming

Size
• Too large – oversized coats and baggy pants
• Too small – pant/arm lengths too short

Color
• Bright colors
• Use of "flash" type materials
• Mismatched patterns and colors

Skin Coverage
• Whiteface – all
• Auguste, hobo, and tramp – face

 

Top Dressing

Wigs
• Locally produced
• Material
o Fake fur – make your own pattern
o Yarn

• Commercially produced
o Afro
o Bald Curly
o Bald Straight
o Curly (Harpo)
o Jiggs
o Bald Pate
o Silly Boy

Hats
• Large
• Small
• Comic

Footwear
• Clown shoes – purchased from clown shoe vendor
• Large tennis shoes decorated

 

Practical Costuming

Dress for the Occasion
• Parade/walkaround
• Stage/center ring
• Hot day/cold day
• Skits
• Functional
• Tough (for rough-n-tumble activities)
• Color and style to compliment face and wig

Designing Your Own Costume
• Patterns which are helpful
• Modifying existing clothing
• Adding "flash" to costuming
• How much material should I buy for an average costume?

Costume Care
• Laundering/dry cleaning
• Packing
• Repairing/inspecting

Dressing for Competition
• Clean, ironed, and neat costume
• Costume, makeup, and shoes appropriate to clown character
• Pay particular attention to small details
• Wig combed out
• Gloves, hat, socks, and accessories as appropriate

CREATE YOUR OWN COSTUME

Your costume should be roomy, comfortable, cover you, be appealing to look at, and large enough to wear over a heavy sweater or coat. It should be easy to care for, washable, and it's really nice if it is made of permanent press fabric. It should have lots of pockets. It should have a high collar, turtleneck, or ruffle collar (if you are a whiteface clown.) Your makeup must come down beyond your collar so NO skin can be seen. Your ears are no exception; if your hat or wig doesn't cover your ears, then your makeup should cover them.

The pattern you select will depend on what type of clown you are going to be. Your costume can be of one or more pieces. If you are a tramp, you may want to obtain used clothing and make them a little more used or ragged, but clean please! (You want to look like a tramp, not smell like one!) You may want to sew on patches or have some paint spilled here and there. Rummage sales, thrift stores, or clothes you could salvage from friends, neighbors, or relatives are sources for clown outfits.

Most places that sell yard goods will have pattern books which will have one or more clown costumes. But it is not necessary to buy a clown pattern. Maybe you have a favorite nightgown, smock, or dress pattern that you could adapt for the top. The bottoms could be made to match or coordinate by having an elastic waist, and probably elastic in the legs to form a ruffle. They do not have to come all the way to your ankles; you m ay want to wear them shorter like knickers and wear either wild socks or unmatched socks. You do not have to purchase new yard goods; you can use sheets, old curtains, or dresses. Once again, visit that thrift shop or rummage sale! The brighter the material, the better the clown outfit.

Remember, when you are selecting your costume, you want to look neat and clean. You'll want something that will be easy upkeep and will look well after many washings. It shouldn't be too heavy a material and not too transparent. It can get mighty hot walking in a parade. You may want to wear your bathing suit or shorts under your clown outfit, so bring along some street clothes to wear after you take off your face and costume.

Pockets: Lots of pockets!! You can't have too many pockets. Pockets are for your treasures and your personal items; no one should be allowed in these but you! Your pockets should be large enough for easy access to your treasures. Things clowns my have in their pockets: noisemaker, squeaky toys, balloons, candy and other props, breathmints, something for an upset stomach or headache, facial tissues, toothpicks, touch-up makeup, sunglasses, money for a payphone or lunch, safety pins, house or car keys, and finally, personal items you may wish to carry with you. A hidden pocket with a zipper or snap closing is especially nice for keeping those personal items.

Trim: You may wish to trim your costume with patches, ribbon, lace, or fancy stitching; however, this does increase the cost of your outfit.

Hat: Most clowns wear a hat of some type—large, small, or in between. You may prefer a flower pot or some such thing. You will need to purchase a thin rubber elastic that is sold at sewing counters to attach to your hat to keep it in place. Most clowns wear a wig also, either hair, yarn, feather, or bald.

Gloves: Gloves should be worn at all times, especially if you are a white face clown. They should be clean at all times, so carry a spare pair with you. If you are a tramp or work with balloons, then you will need to cut the fingers out of the gloves in order to work. Gripper gloves are also available.

Name Tag: This is a part of your costume. It identifies you. Your name should be short, easy for kids to say and read. Check around with other clowns to see what names are used a lot; maybe you would prefer not to use those.

Jewelry: Don't wear your rings, watches (unless it's a clown watch), earrings, etc. Leave valuable items at home.

Glasses: For those who must wear glasses, you may want to decorate them and design your face to be worn with your glasses.

Shoes: They should be comfortable! Clowns walk a lot! The can be old ones, or gym shoes. They may be gym shoes bigger than you need and can be dyed and have paint on them or patches glued on them. Sometimes you can wear them over your regular shoes. If you know clowning is something you are going to commit to, you will want to check into getting regular clown shoes.

General: Rummage sales are great place to watch for "goodies" to use with your costume or whatever--old toys, hats, wigs, just all kinds of props. Remember to make them look clownish, not junkish.

You may have more than one costume.

Use your imagination and resourcefulness in creating your outfit. Don't be afraid to ask for help. It's FUN!

HAPPY CLOWNING!!