Clown Costumes

Clowns have existed since the Middle Ages, when they were known as jesters or harlequins and entertained the royal courts. The clown costume has long been a Halloween favorite for both children and adults.

Fast Facts

1. Famous movie clowns include Abbot and Costello, The Marx Brothers, Laurel and Hardy, The Three Stooges and Charlie Chaplin¹
2. Whiteface clowns, such as Bozo the Clown, wear white face paint and a one piece jumpsuit²
3. Auguste clowns, such as Emmett Kelly, wear over sized, colorful, mismatched clothing²
4. The character clown is a humorous, exaggerated adaptation on a theme, such as the hobo or tramp clown²
5. Mimes dress in black and white and wear white face paint with black accents

Clown Costumes Tips

There are many variations on the clown costume, making it easy to create your own unique costume. The basis of most clown costumes is exaggeration, so think big: Wear over sized clothing, big floppy shoes and use colorful face paint to exaggerate facial features. To dress as a scary clown, add fake blood, fangs and other spooky elements to a traditional clown costume.

More Halloween Costumes

Harry Potter and the whole Hogwarts gang offer plenty of costume inspiration!

For those with a bouncing bundle of joy in their lives, we have baby costume ideas galore

If you love Hannah Montana, hurry to our page about Hannah Montana costumes

For more detailed tips, we provide ideas for you to have the best Halloween costume

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