How to Make a Period Jester Costume
In the late middle ages, jesters were a prime symbol of the royal court. These early clowns were seen as professional comics who entertained kings with jokes and acrobatic performances. Today, creating a period jester costume for Halloween, a stage performance or a Mardi Gras celebration can easily be done with a few household materials.
Things You'll Need
- Graduation gown or bathrobe
- Tights
- Lightweight beads
- Bells
- Safety pins
- Fiberfill
- Colored cotton balls
- Baseball cap
- Glue
- Scissors
- Facepaint
- Foil
Instructions
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Visit a thrift shop or a rummage sale to find a low-budget tunic for your jester costume. A brightly colored graduation gown or old bathrobe can also work.
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Cut the bottom of the gown in a zig-zag shape. To create a pointed neckline for your costume, either glue the fabric cut from the tunic's bottom onto the collar or cut out a zig-zag pattern on a separate piece of material or clothing and glue onto neckline.
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Use trim to make the costume stand out, especially if using the same color fabric for the entire costume. Period jesters were known for their gaudy and elaborate appearances---use bright colors like green and saffron. Holiday garlands make excellent trims. Snip off garland strips and glue to edges of gown. Add a strip of material for belt or use additional trim pieces.
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Attach bells and/or colored cotton balls to sleeves of gown and onto collar with safety pins. Bells are a traditional part of the jester costume. Carrying a scepter also makes for a more authentic costume. Buy one or make your own by wrapping a toy wand or baton with aluminum foil.
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Cut three triangles of material and fill with Fiberfill. Stitch or hot glue each triangle roll together to hold the Fiberfill inside. Cut the brim off a baseball cap and attach triangle cones with glue. Attach bells to ends with safety pins. A traditional period jester hat has three points to symbolize the ears and tail of a donkey.
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Finish your costume off with a pair of tights in gold, red or green. Traditional jesters also wore colorful, pointed shoes. Buy an inexpensive pair at a local costume shop or use your own sandals or ballet slippers. Wrap triangular pieces of material around the end of the shoes and glue to create points. Add bells.
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Use red or white facepaint to give yourself red lips or a white-colored face. Remember, glitter did not exist in ancient times.
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Tips & Warnings
Check out old holiday decorations for beads, bells and other add-ons for your jester costume. Keep in mind, period jesters usually performed certain skills for the high court such as jugging, acrobatics, puppetry, magic and working with animals. To make your look more traditional, include accessories that would add to the above mentioned talents.
Judge your style tunic based on weather. Especially during Halloween time, a bathrobe might work better for chillier temperatures and trick-or-treating. In warmer weather, a thinner gown is advised.
