How to Make a Circus Ringmaster Costume

Ringmaster costumes are great for parties year round as well as for Halloween and circus theme parties. Anyone can make great ringmasters. The costume can easily be made up with items from your closet, the thrift store, and a few accents from the local sewing or crafts store.

Things You'll Need

• Tuxedo or tuxedo separates
• Sequence and trim
• Needle and thread

Instructions

Ringmaster Costume for Kids

1. Get a white or red lightweight suit jacket to start this costume. You can choose to add gold sequins to the lapels to make it more flashy.

2. Add white slacks or riding pants to the costume. White shorts will also work well for girls.

3. For the shirt, choose a white poet shirt with ruffled collar, or a standard white button down shirt. If you use a button down shirt, you will want to add a bowtie to match the jacket.

4. Accessorize the ringmaster's costume by adding a top hat (that you can get at any costume shop or online), add a cane or whip, and have the child wear white or black dress shoes. For boys, you can add a fake mustache as well.

Ringmaster Costume for Men

1. Use a tuxedo jacket with long tails, and it should preferably be in a bold color like white, gold or red. To jazz up your tuxedo jacket a bit more, you can add gold trim to your standard tuxedo jacket.

2. Use standard tuxedo pants, horse riding pants, or white dress pants.

3. Add a bold cummerbund to your outfit or a flashy tuxedo vest. Red and white stripes would be ideal.

4. Add a top hat in black or white, a bow tie or ascot, a white shirt, a whip or cane, a cape, and knee boots or black shoes. A handlebar mustache is also a nice touch.

Ringmaster Costume for Women

1. Find a tuxedo jacket with tails for the basis of your costume. You should be able to find one at a thrift store. It can be your standard black tuxedo or any bold color. Sew sequins to the collar and lapel of the jacket. You can choose to forgo the jacket if you wish and wear a striking vest instead.

2. Wear a black body suit leotard under the tuxedo jacket with fishnet stockings. If you want to go a bit more modest, you can wear black shorts, or a skirt of any length you are comfortable. Even a pair of dress slacks is appropriate for the costume.

3. Accessorize the costume. High-heeled shoes or boots will make the costume more striking as will a top hat, a cane or whip. Use gold chairs or trim to decorate the front of the costume. A corset is also a nice touch instead of a vest for a woman's ringmaster costume.

References

• Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Baily Ringmasters

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Ringmastercostume.org: Ringmaster Costume Ideas