A Clockwork Orange Costume
Recreate the dystopian look of Alex DeLarge with this striking guide.
Step into the dystopian world of Stanley Kubrick's 1971 classic, A Clockwork Orange, with the iconic outfit of Alex DeLarge. This look is instantly recognizable due to its stark contrast of clean white garments paired with dark, menacing accessories. It is a favorite for film buffs and Halloween enthusiasts looking for a costume with a psychological edge.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $40–90
Try it on
See yourself as A Clockwork Orange
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What you need for a A Clockwork Orange costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete A Clockwork Orange costume — one box instead of 8 pieces.
White long-sleeve shirt
A plain, crisp white button-down dress shirt or thermal shirt.
DIY: Use any plain white long-sleeve shirt you already own.
White slim-fit trousers
Matching white jeans, chinos, or scrub pants.
DIY: Dye an old pair of light-colored pants pure white.
White codpiece
An athletic cup worn on the outside of the trousers, painted or covered in beige/off-white fabric.
DIY: Cover a standard sports athletic cup with beige fabric or masking tape and secure it over your pants.
White suspenders
Y-back or X-back elastic suspenders with metal clips.
DIY: Use white elastic bands pinned to the waistband of your pants.
Black bowler hat
A classic black felt derby or bowler hat.
Black combat boots
Heavy-duty black leather boots, polished.
DIY: Use any heavy black work boots or high-top black sneakers.
Eyeball cufflinks
Cufflinks featuring a blue bloodshot eyeball design, worn on the shirt cuffs.
DIY: Draw a blue eyeball on white cardstock, cut it out, and pin it to your shirt cuffs.
Walking cane
A dark brown or black wooden walking cane with a silver handle.
DIY: Paint a wooden dowel black and wrap the top in silver foil.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made A Clockwork Orange costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the white long-sleeve button-down shirt and tuck it tightly into the white trousers.
- 2
Secure the white athletic cup (codpiece) over the outside of your trousers using its waistband.
- 3
Attach the white suspenders to the front and back of the trousers, adjusting them so they sit straight over your shoulders.
- 4
Fasten the eyeball cufflinks to the cuffs of your shirt, or pin your DIY versions in place.
- 5
Lace up the black combat boots and tuck the hems of the white pants slightly into the boot tops.
- 6
Apply the signature single-eye makeup (see Makeup & Hair section).
- 7
Place the black bowler hat firmly on your head and carry the walking cane to complete the look.
Makeup & hair
Apply thick, long false eyelashes (or draw them with black liquid eyeliner) exclusively on and around your right eye, leaving the left eye completely bare. Keep your hair styled in a slightly messy, mid-length side part peeking out from under the bowler hat.
A Clockwork Orange for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with someone dressed as another 'Droog' member in matching white gear, or a victim in 1970s retro attire.
- group
- Gather a group of four to dress as the full gang of Droogs (Alex, Pete, Georgie, and Dim) in matching white outfits and bowler hats.
- kids
- A simplified version with white pants, a white shirt, suspenders, and a bowler hat, omitting the codpiece.
- Plus size
- Opt for relaxed-fit white cargo pants or painter's pants paired with a stretchy white long-sleeve shirt for maximum comfort.
- pet
- A small black bowler hat headband and a white pet t-shirt with drawn-on suspenders.
Tips
- Ensure your white pants are opaque; wear light-colored undergarments beneath them.
- Practice walking with the cane to keep your posture upright and menacingly theatrical.
- Keep a makeup wipe handy in case the heavy eyeliner on your right eye smudges during the night.
A Clockwork Orange costume FAQ
- Why does Alex wear a codpiece?
- In the film, the costume designer Milena Canonero used the codpiece as a subversive, stylized symbol of aggression and rebellion for the Droogs gang.
- Which eye gets the makeup in A Clockwork Orange?
- The dramatic false eyelashes are worn exclusively on the right eye.
- Can I make this costume last-minute?
- Yes! You can easily pull this off with white jeans, a white shirt, suspenders, and a black bowler hat, using black eyeliner to draw the eyelashes on your right eye.
Did you know? The iconic Droogs costume was designed by Milena Canonero in her very first film gig; she went on to win four Academy Awards for costume design throughout her career.