Carol Burnett Curtain Dress Costume
I saw it in the window and I just couldn't resist!
This costume recreates Carol Burnett's legendary parody of Scarlett O'Hara's velvet drapery dress from the classic Carol Burnett Show sketch, 'Went with the Wind!' Designed by Bob Mackie, this look is a masterpiece of television comedy history. The costume features a green velvet gown complete with an actual curtain rod worn across the shoulders.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~120 min
- Budget
- $40–120
Try it on
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What you need for a Carol Burnett Curtain Dress costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Carol Burnett Curtain Dress costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
Green velvet fabric or drapes
Forest green velvet or velour fabric to drape as the main dress body and skirt.
DIY: Repurpose actual thrifted green velvet window drapes.
Gold curtain rod
A lightweight plastic or wooden curtain rod with decorative gold finials on the ends.
DIY: Paint a lightweight PVC pipe gold and hot glue plastic finials to the ends.
Gold tassel cord tiebacks
Thick gold braided rope with large tassels to use as a waist sash.
DIY: Braid thick yellow yarn and attach gold-fringe tassels to the ends.
Hoop skirt or petticoat
A structured white hoop skirt to wear underneath to give the dress its wide, dramatic shape.
DIY: Wear a wide, flared A-line skirt with layers of stiff tulle.
Dark brown curly wig
A brunette wig styled in 1860s-style ringlets or pulled back with curls cascading down.
DIY: Style your own hair in tight ringlet curls and pin the top back.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Carol Burnett Curtain Dress costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the hoop skirt or petticoat to establish the wide, bell-shaped silhouette.
- 2
Drape the green velvet fabric over the hoop skirt to form a long, floor-length skirt, securing it at the waist.
- 3
Position the gold curtain rod horizontally across your shoulders, securing it to a base shirt or harness with safety pins or straps.
- 4
Drape additional green velvet fabric over the curtain rod on your shoulders, letting it hang down like window valances.
- 5
Tie the thick gold tassel cord around your waist, letting the tassels hang down the front of the skirt.
- 6
Put on the dark brown curly wig, ensuring the ringlets frame your face.
- 7
Deliver the classic line: 'I saw it in the window and I just couldn't resist!'
Makeup & hair
Apply classic 1970s-does-1860s makeup with defined eyebrows, neutral eyeshadow, and a warm peach or red lipstick. Hair should be dark brown, styled in tight Civil War-era ringlets with a center part.
Carol Burnett Curtain Dress for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair with someone dressed as Rhett Butler (Captain Ratt Butler) in a white suit with a mustache.
- group
- Add characters from other Carol Burnett Show sketches, like Mrs. Wiggins or Eunice Higgins.
- kids
- A miniature version using a lightweight dowel rod and a green velvet toddler dress.
- Plus size
- Velvet drapes are highly adjustable; use extra fabric panels to drape comfortably over any size hoop skirt.
Tips
- Use a lightweight plastic curtain rod rather than heavy metal to keep the costume comfortable to wear on your shoulders all night.
- Secure the curtain rod to your bra straps or a tank top underneath using heavy-duty safety pins to keep it from sliding.
- Make sure the skirt hem clears the floor slightly so you don't trip while walking.
Carol Burnett Curtain Dress costume FAQ
- Who designed the original curtain dress?
- The iconic dress was designed by Bob Mackie for the 1976 Carol Burnett Show parody of Gone with the Wind.
- How do you attach the curtain rod?
- You can sew fabric loops onto the shoulders of a green undershirt to slide the rod through, or secure it firmly with zip ties to a hidden harness.
- What is the famous quote from this sketch?
- When asked about the dress, Starlett O'Hara replies, 'Thank you. I saw it in the window and I just couldn't resist!'
Did you know? The original curtain dress designed by Bob Mackie is now preserved in the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.