How to Make a Ringmaster Costume for Kids

Ringmaster costumes can be crafted by using easily found clothing items.

Dressing up, whether for holidays or parties, involves deciding what character to be. Kids costumes range from thematic to dramatic; with circus themes being one option for kids of all ages. A ringmaster, the leader of a circus, is one costume option both boys and girls can enjoy to help celebrate and showcase the fun and excitement associated with the circus.

Things You'll Need

• Pants
• Jacket in matching or contrasting color to pants (either long tail or cropped jacket)
• Glitter
• Glue
• Rhinestones and gemstone embellishments
• Black top hat
• White gloves
• Boots (black, preferably knee high)
• Whip

Instructions

1. Choose the base suit portion of the costume for the ringmaster outfit. Match basic black or white pants with a jacket in colors such as red or purple. Shop in thrift stores or the boys section of clothing stores for suit separates. Choose either a cropped jacket or one with long tails in the back.

2. Change the buttons on the jacket to some that are bold and bright. Use large buttons of gold or silver to help accentuate the jacket, making the jacket the focal point of the costume. Decorate the jacket with zigzags, circles or starbursts made of glitter or rhinestones . Match the glitter and rhinestones to the color of the buttons.

3. Use a plain white button down or cotton t-shirt under the outfit. When using a button down shirt, loop a brightly colored scarf in colors such as red and purple through the collar and tie in to a bow or knot.

4. Decorate the top hat with glitter or bands of satin ribbon. Use glue to attach the adornments to the ringmaster's hat and opt for colors matching the jacket, buttons and scarf.

5. Dress the child in the costume. Add knee-high boots in black and a pair of white gloves to complete the look. Make sure to add accessories such as a megaphone and a black whip to complete the costume. You can find a whip at a costume shop, riding store or craft your own out of a skinny black leather belt and a piece of black plastic pipe.

Tips & Warnings

• Sketch the outfit out on paper before attaching any decorations to the costume to make sure the color combination is what you want.

• Use caution when using a real whip as a prop for younger children as these might cause injury if played with incorrectly.

References

• Scholastic: Ringmaster
• Ringling Bros.-Barnum & Bailey: Ringmasters

Resources

• Scholastic: It's Circus Season