Colonial Costumes Costume
Bring early American history to life with classic 18th-century style.
Colonial costumes recreate the fashion of 18th-century early America, making them a staple for historical reenactments, school plays, and Halloween. This guide covers the two most iconic looks of the era: the men's Revolutionary War-style frock coat with breeches, and the women's long-sleeved colonial dress with a white apron and mob cap. Both styles rely on structured layers, muted historical colors, and classic period accessories.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $40–120
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What you need for a Colonial Costumes costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Colonial Costumes costume — one box instead of 7 pieces.
Colonial frock coat or dress
A navy blue, brown, or burgundy long-sleeved coat with gold buttons, or a long-sleeved, floor-length cotton dress in a solid muted color.
DIY: Use a long trench coat with gold buttons sewn on, or a long maxi dress paired with a white shawl.
White cravat or neck scarf
A ruffled white fabric neckpiece worn under the coat collar.
DIY: Fold a white strip of lace or cotton fabric and pin it at the neck of a white button-down shirt.
Knee breeches or long skirt
Black or brown knee-length pants for men, or a matching petticoat skirt for women.
DIY: Tuck black sweatpants or trousers into long white socks just below the knee.
White mob cap or tricorn hat
A gathered white cotton bonnet for women, or a black felt three-cornered hat for men.
DIY: Cut a large circle of white fabric, sew an elastic band near the edge to gather it into a bonnet shape.
White apron
A simple white cotton waist apron worn over the dress.
DIY: Tie a square piece of white cotton fabric around the waist using a white ribbon.
White knee-high socks
Plain white tall socks worn pulled up to the knee.
Black shoes with buckles
Simple black loafers or dress shoes, optionally fitted with gold or silver buckle clips.
DIY: Cut buckle shapes out of gold cardboard or felt and tape them to the tongues of plain black shoes.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Colonial Costumes costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on a white collared button-down shirt or a simple long-sleeved undershirt.
- 2
For the masculine look, put on the knee breeches and pull the white knee-high socks up to meet them. For the feminine look, put on the long colonial dress.
- 3
Layer the colonial frock coat over the shirt, or tie the white apron securely around the waist of the dress.
- 4
Wrap the white cravat around the neck and tuck it into the front of the coat or dress neckline.
- 5
Place the tricorn hat on your head (optionally over a white powdered wig) or secure the white mob cap over your hair.
- 6
Slip on plain black shoes, attaching the gold or silver buckle clips to the front laces or straps.
Makeup & hair
Keep makeup minimal and natural. For hair, men can pull hair back into a low ponytail tied with a black ribbon or wear a white powdered colonial wig, while women should tuck their hair completely inside the white mob cap.
Colonial Costumes for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Go as a colonial couple, with one person wearing a blue Revolutionary War officer uniform and the other in a Martha Washington-style floral gown.
- group
- Assemble a group of Founding Fathers, featuring historical figures like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin.
- kids
- Kids can wear simplified versions with elastic-waist breeches or a simple slip-on colonial dress with an attached apron.
- Plus size
- Look for historical gowns with adjustable lace-up corsets or elastic waistbands, and frock coats with open fronts for a comfortable fit.
- pet
- A small black tricorn hat with an elastic chin strap paired with a white ruffled collar makes a quick pet-friendly colonial look.
Tips
- To keep the tricorn hat secure in the wind, use bobby pins to anchor it to your hair or wig.
- If you don't want to buy a wig, use temporary white hair-color spray on your natural hair pulled back into a ponytail.
- Choose breathable cotton fabrics if you plan to wear this costume to outdoor historical reenactments or warm daytime events.
Colonial Costumes costume FAQ
- What did colonial women wear on their heads?
- Colonial women typically wore a white cotton bonnet called a mob cap to keep their hair clean and tidy during daily chores.
- How do you make a quick DIY tricorn hat?
- You can make one by taking a wide-brimmed black felt hat and pinning or stitching the brim up in three equal sections to form a triangle.
- What kind of shoes are best for a colonial costume?
- Plain black leather loafers, dress shoes, or boots work best. You can easily buy inexpensive metal buckle clips to slide onto your existing shoes.
Did you know? The iconic tricorn hat wasn't just a fashion statement; its triangular shape acted like a gutter, channeling rainwater away from the wearer's face and shoulders.