Goblin King Costume
Dance the magic dance in Jareth's iconic 1980s fantasy look.
Jareth the Goblin King, played by David Bowie in the 1986 fantasy classic Labyrinth, is a legendary pop-culture icon. Fans choose this costume to channel Bowie's charismatic, dramatic energy and theatrical style. The look is defined by a flamboyant high-collared shirt, tight pants, a dramatic wig, and his signature crystal ball.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $50–150
Try it on
See yourself as Goblin King
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.
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Want a different costume on this photo, or a whole group in costume? Open the Try-On Studio.
What you need for a Goblin King costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Goblin King costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
White ruffled poet shirt
A loose-fitting white satin or cotton shirt with a deep V-neck, ruffled collar, and billowy sleeves with ruffled cuffs.
DIY: Use an oversized white button-down shirt, cut off the collar, and sew or safety-pin white lace ruffles along the placket and cuffs.
High-collared silver or black doublet vest
A structured, sleeveless vest or doublet with a high standing collar, preferably in a metallic silver, brocade, or deep black fabric.
DIY: Take a standard black vest and fabric-glue silver sequins or metallic fabric paint designs onto the lapels.
Tight grey or black riding pants
High-waisted, form-fitting leggings or slim-fit trousers in light grey or black.
DIY: Use tight grey skinny jeans or athletic leggings.
Wide black leather waist belt
A wide, multi-buckled black leather belt or cincher worn high on the waist.
DIY: Layer two or three thin black belts closely together around your waist.
Knee-high black boots
Tall, fitted black leather boots, preferably with a slight heel or cuff at the top.
DIY: Wear black combat boots with tall black socks pulled up and folded over the top.
Clear acrylic contact juggling ball
A solid, clear acrylic sphere (70mm to 90mm) to mimic Jareth's crystal ball.
DIY: Use a clear glass Christmas ornament with the metal cap removed, or a solid clear plastic toy sphere.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Goblin King costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the tight grey riding pants and tuck them securely into the knee-high black boots.
- 2
Put on the white ruffled poet shirt, leaving the top few buttons open to create a deep V-neck.
- 3
Layer the high-collared vest or doublet over the shirt, ensuring the shirt's ruffles spill out of the front and cuffs.
- 4
Fasten the wide black leather belt tightly over the waist of the pants and the bottom of the vest.
- 5
Style and put on the spiky blonde mullet wig, securing it with a wig cap.
- 6
Apply the dramatic 1980s fantasy makeup, focusing on the stylized eyebrows and blue eyeshadow.
- 7
Carry the clear acrylic ball in one hand, practicing resting it on your palm or fingertips.
Makeup & hair
Style a blonde mullet wig with wild, spiky volume on top and long, straight strands falling past the shoulders. For makeup, draw thin, steeply arched, dramatic eyebrows, apply shimmering blue eyeshadow blended outward toward the temples, and finish with a neutral or pale pink lip color.
Goblin King for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair with Sarah in her white, puffy-sleeved masquerade ballgown.
- group
- Add Hoggle, Ludo, and Sir Didymus for a full Labyrinth group.
- kids
- A mini Jareth with a soft plush Goblin toy.
- Plus size
- Opt for a stretch-satin poet shirt and high-waisted stretch leggings for comfort.
- pet
- A small dog dressed as Sir Didymus riding a fluffy Ludo-style coat.
Tips
- Keep the crystal ball safe by carrying a small pouch or pocket to store it in when you need your hands free.
- Use plenty of hairspray to keep the wig's top spikes standing upright throughout the night.
- Wear comfortable compression shorts under the tight pants to maintain a smooth silhouette.
Goblin King costume FAQ
- What kind of wig do I need for Jareth?
- You need a 1980s-style blonde mullet wig with short, heavily teased spikes on top and long, straight layers reaching down to the shoulder blades.
- How do I hold the crystal ball like the Goblin King?
- Jareth performs contact juggling. You can mimic this by balancing a clear acrylic ball flat on your palm or rolling it gently along the back of your hand.
- Is the Goblin King costume comfortable for warm weather?
- The layers of a vest, ruffled shirt, and tall boots can get warm. Opt for a lightweight cotton poet shirt instead of heavy polyester satin to stay cool.
Did you know? The mesmerizing crystal ball manipulations in the film weren't performed by David Bowie; contact juggler Michael Moschen stood behind Bowie and performed the tricks completely blind.