How to Dress Like Johnny Appleseed
John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, is a legend of American history. Chapman walked across much of the eastern and midwestern United States of his day, planting apple seeds as he went.
Johnny Appleseed was a true eccentric, often walking barefoot and reportedly sometimes wearing a kettle as a hat. These traits make him a natural for a costume choice that others will quickly recognize. You can easily dress like Johnny Appleseed.
Things You'll Need
- Casual shirt
- Overalls or pants with suspenders
- Fabric for patches (optional)
- Bandana
- Branch to tie bandana to
- Walking stick
- Shoes (optional)
- Kettle
Instructions
-
-
1
Find a shirt. Good choices would be plaid flannel or another shirt that looks appropriate for a farmer or other outdoor worker in the 1800s. Good fabrics would be cotton or linen (no polyester). Most shirts of the day had a button or two at the top front but did not button all the way down.
The shirt does not need to be new; it is better that it be used and looks a bit worn. Roll the sleeves up to the elbows.
You can sew (or iron) a patch or two to the shirt for a more rugged look if desired.
-
2
Gather up a pair of overalls or a pair of worn-looking pants in a solid print. If you decide on pants, add a pair of solid-color suspenders to create a pioneer look. As with the shirt, you may want to sew fabric patches to the pants or overalls to create a more worn look. Do not wear a belt as they were not used during the 1800s.
Roll up pant legs; try the legs different lengths.
-
-
3
Go barefoot. Most reports about Johnny Appleseed state that he wore no shoes. There are a few anecdotes of him wearing mismatched shoes, so if you need to wear shoes for your costume, choose two in different styles.
-
4
Find a tree branch approximately three feet long. Tie a bandana to the end of this branch and fill the bandana with seeds (crumpled paper can substitute for seeds). Carry this over one shoulder.
-
5
Find another branch, this one perhaps four feet long, to use as a walking stick. You will carry this with your free hand (your other hand will be busy with the appleseed stick).
-
6
Place a kettle upside-down on your head. You may need to experiment to find a kettle that fits your head securely enough to stay in place as you walk.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Thrift shops are a great place to find used shirts, pants or overalls for a Johnny Appleseed costume.
