Card Soldiers Costume
Paint the roses red in this classic playing card soldier look.
The Card Soldiers are the loyal, rose-painting guards of the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland. This iconic look is a popular choice for group costumes and Disney fans because of its graphic, instantly recognizable design. The costume centers around a large playing card tunic paired with a red hood, gloves, and matching undergarments.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $20–60
Try it on
See yourself as Card Soldiers
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What you need for a Card Soldiers costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Card Soldiers costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Playing card tunic
A white rectangular tunic printed with an Ace of Hearts, Spades, Clubs, or Diamonds design.
DIY: Cut two large rectangles of white foam board or felt, paint a large Ace symbol in the center, and attach shoulder straps.
Red hood or balaclava
A solid red fabric hood or balaclava that covers the head and neck, leaving the face exposed.
DIY: Use a red hoodie and pull the hood up tight, tucking the drawstrings inside.
Red long-sleeve shirt
A basic, solid red crewneck shirt or sweatshirt worn underneath the tunic.
Red pants or leggings
Solid red pants, leggings, or tights to complete the uniform base.
White gloves
Simple white cotton or spandex costume gloves.
Spear or paintbrush prop
A toy spear or a large paintbrush dripping with red paint.
DIY: Attach a large paint brush to a wooden dowel and dip the bristles in red acrylic paint.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Card Soldiers costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the solid red long-sleeve shirt and matching red pants or leggings.
- 2
Pull the red hood or balaclava over your head, ensuring it fits snugly around your face.
- 3
Slip the playing card tunic over your head so it hangs evenly at your front and back.
- 4
Put on the white costume gloves.
- 5
Carry your toy spear or paint-dipped brush prop to complete the guard look.
Makeup & hair
Keep makeup minimal or paint a small red heart, spade, club, or diamond on one cheek. Since the red hood covers your head entirely, hair styling is not necessary.
Card Soldiers for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with the Queen of Hearts or Alice.
- group
- Have four friends dress as the Ace of Hearts, Spades, Clubs, and Diamonds to form the Queen's guard.
- kids
- Use smaller foam board panels to create a lightweight, kid-sized sandwich board card.
- Plus size
- A loose-fitting sandwich-board style tunic fits comfortably over any base clothing.
- pet
- A small white felt rectangle painted like an Ace card can be strapped gently around a dog's torso.
Tips
- If making a DIY foam board tunic, use elastic straps for the shoulders so the card can bend slightly as you move.
- Wear comfortable red sneakers or black boots since you will be standing guard.
- For outdoor events, wear warm thermal layers under your red shirt and pants.
Card Soldiers costume FAQ
- How do you make a DIY Card Soldier costume?
- Cut two large rectangles of white foam board, paint a large Ace symbol in the center of each, and hot glue elastic straps to hang them over your shoulders like a sandwich board.
- What do the Card Soldiers carry?
- They typically carry spears with heart-shaped tips or large paintbrushes dripping with red paint to 'paint the roses red'.
- Is this costume comfortable for walking around?
- Yes, fabric tunics are highly flexible. If using foam board, keep the panels slightly above the knee so you can walk and sit easily.
Did you know? In Lewis Carroll's original book, the Card Soldiers were actually the Queen's courtiers, while the clubs were soldiers, the diamonds were courtiers, and the hearts were members of the royal family.