Colonial Costume
Step back in time with a classic 18th-century historical look.
A colonial costume brings early American history to life, making it a popular choice for school plays, historical reenactments, and Halloween. The classic look typically features a structured frock coat, breeches, a ruffled jabot, and a distinctive tricorn hat. Whether you want to channel a Founding Father or a simple early settler, this guide covers the essential pieces.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $40–120
Try it on
See yourself as Colonial
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What you need for a Colonial costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Colonial costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Colonial frock coat
A long, structured coat in navy blue, black, or brown velvet or polyester with decorative buttons.
DIY: Use a long modern trench coat or blazer and sew gold buttons along the lapels.
Knee breeches
Matching or contrasting trousers that end and fasten just below the knee.
DIY: Cut a pair of old dress pants just below the knee and hem them with elastic.
Ruffled jabot and cuffs
A white lace or ruffled fabric neckpiece and matching wrist inserts.
DIY: Gather white lace trim or coffee filters and safety-pin them to the collar of a white shirt.
White knee-high socks
Snug, long white socks or stockings to cover the calves.
DIY: Use plain white soccer socks pulled up high.
Tricorn hat
A black felt or faux leather three-cornered hat, often accented with gold trim.
DIY: Take a wide-brimmed black felt hat, fold three sides upward to the crown, and pin them in place.
Shoe buckles
Gold or silver metallic buckles designed to slide over the laces of black dress shoes.
DIY: Cut buckle shapes out of cardboard, wrap them in aluminum foil, and slide them onto your shoe laces.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Colonial costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on a white collared dress shirt as your base layer.
- 2
Fasten the ruffled white jabot around your neck and secure the matching ruffled cuffs at your wrists.
- 3
Pull on the knee-high white stockings, ensuring they fit snugly up to your knees.
- 4
Put on the colonial breeches, buttoning or tying them securely just below the knee over the stockings.
- 5
Layer a matching waistcoat or vest over your shirt, then put on the long colonial frock coat.
- 6
Slip on black dress shoes and attach the metallic shoe buckles over the laces.
- 7
Place the tricorn hat on your head, optionally over a white powdered colonial wig.
Makeup & hair
Keep makeup minimal and natural. For hair, pull it back into a low ponytail secured with a black ribbon, or wear a white, powdered colonial-style wig with side rolls.
Colonial for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair a colonial man in a frock coat with a colonial woman wearing a long-sleeved modest dress, white apron, and mob cap.
- group
- Assemble a group of Founding Fathers representing the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
- kids
- A simple colonial boy outfit with brown breeches and a white shirt, or a colonial girl dress with a white bonnet.
- Plus size
- Look for elastic-waist breeches and a relaxed-fit waistcoat for comfort and ease of movement.
- pet
- A small tricorn hat and a white ruffled collar for a patriotic dog or cat.
Tips
- Use safety pins to keep the ruffled jabot and cuffs securely attached and aligned.
- If you don't want to buy colonial shoes, simple black loafers with slide-on costume buckles work perfectly.
- Opt for lightweight fabrics if wearing this costume indoors or during warm weather, as historical layers can get hot.
Colonial costume FAQ
- What did colonial men wear?
- Colonial men typically wore a linen shirt, a waistcoat (vest), knee breeches, long stockings, a frock coat, and a tricorn hat.
- How do I make a DIY colonial hat?
- You can make a tricorn hat by folding three sides of a wide-brimmed black felt hat upward and pinning or sewing them to the crown.
- What shoes should I wear with a colonial costume?
- Wear plain black dress shoes or loafers, and add gold or silver clip-on costume buckles to mimic historical footwear.
Did you know? The iconic tricorn hat wasn't just a fashion statement; its folded brim acted like gutters, directing rainwater away from the wearer's face.