Clara Costume
Bring the magic of the holiday ballet to life as Clara.
Clara Stahlbaum is the beloved protagonist of the classic holiday ballet, The Nutcracker, who journeys to the Land of Sweets. This costume is a popular choice for holiday parties, dance recitals, and Christmas events. The look centers on a vintage-style Victorian nightgown or party dress, ballet slippers, and a wooden Nutcracker doll.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~30 min
- Budget
- $35–120
Try it on
See yourself as Clara
One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.
One render, $1. No account needed — if it fails you're not charged. Pricing.
Your photo is sent to Google's Gemini API to make the render and isn't used for training. Renders are AI-generated and labelled.
Want a different costume on this photo, or a whole group in costume? Open the Try-On Studio.
What you need for a Clara costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Clara costume — one box instead of 4 pieces.
Victorian Nightgown or Party Dress
A white, light pink, or lavender long-sleeved nightgown with lace trim, ruffles, and a satin ribbon sash.
DIY: Use a plain white maxi dress and tie a wide pink satin ribbon around the waist as a sash.
Hair Ribbon
A wide satin bow in pink, red, or blue to match the dress sash.
DIY: Cut a length of satin ribbon from a craft store and tie it directly into your hair.
Ballet Flats
Classic pink or white ballet slippers with ribbon ties that wrap around the ankles.
DIY: Attach pink satin ribbons to a pair of plain pink slip-on shoes or flats.
Wooden Nutcracker Toy
A classic wooden soldier nutcracker prop, ideally 12 to 15 inches tall.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Clara costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the Victorian-style white or pastel nightgown, ensuring it falls to mid-calf or ankle length.
- 2
Tie the wide satin ribbon sash around your waist, securing it with a neat bow at the back.
- 3
Style your hair into half-up curls or a high ponytail, and secure the matching satin hair bow at the crown of your head.
- 4
Slip on the ballet flats, wrapping the ribbons around your ankles and tying them in a delicate bow.
- 5
Hold the wooden Nutcracker doll in your arms to complete the iconic ballet look.
Makeup & hair
Keep makeup soft, natural, and rosy with pink blush and lip gloss. Style hair in soft, bouncy Victorian-style curls, either half-up or down with a center part.
Clara for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair with the Nutcracker Prince in a red military jacket and gold epaulets.
- group
- Add the Sugar Plum Fairy in a pastel tutu and the Mouse King in a grey velvet tunic and crown.
- kids
- A comfortable cotton white nightgown with a red sash and a small plush nutcracker toy.
- Plus size
- Choose an empire-waist Victorian nightgown with elastic smocking for a comfortable, flexible fit.
- pet
- Dress a small dog in a red soldier jacket to act as the Nutcracker Prince.
Tips
- Wear skin-toned undergarments or a slip beneath white cotton nightgowns to ensure they aren't see-through.
- If wearing this costume outdoors, swap ballet slippers for sturdy white or pink flats with rubber soles.
- Hold the Nutcracker cradled in your arms like a doll for photos to mimic the classic ballet poses.
Clara costume FAQ
- What color is Clara's dress in The Nutcracker?
- Clara's dress is traditionally white, light pink, or lavender, often featuring lace trim, ruffles, and a contrasting satin sash.
- How do you style hair for a Clara costume?
- Style your hair in soft, romantic curls, pulled half-up and secured with a large satin bow that matches your dress sash.
- What props do I need for a Clara costume?
- The essential prop is a classic wooden soldier nutcracker, which Clara cradles throughout the ballet.
Did you know? In some versions of the ballet, particularly in Russia, the character of Clara is instead named Marie or Masha.