Joe Exotic Costume
Unleash your inner Tiger King with sequins, a mullet, and attitude.
Joe Exotic, the eccentric star of Netflix's breakout docuseries Tiger King, remains one of the most recognizable pop culture figures of recent years. People choose this costume for its loud, hilarious, and instantly recognizable aesthetic. The look centers around a flashy animal-print or sequined button-down shirt, a signature blonde mullet, and plenty of faux-safari accessories.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~20 min
- Budget
- $30–75
Try it on
See yourself as Joe Exotic
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What you need for a Joe Exotic costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Joe Exotic costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Sequined or Metallic Button-Down Shirt
A loud, shiny button-down shirt, preferably in blue with silver accents, leopard print, or bright sequins.
DIY: Take an old button-down shirt and fabric-glue gold or silver sequins to the collar and cuffs.
Blonde Mullet Wig
A bleached-blonde wig that is short and choppy on top and long in the back, with dark roots showing.
DIY: Trim a cheap long blonde wig, cutting the top and sides short while leaving the back long.
Trucker Hat
A solid black or camouflage trucker hat, worn slightly high on the head.
DIY: Use any dark baseball cap you own and pin a fake animal park patch to the front.
Clip-on Piercings and Mustache
A horseshoe mustache (or brown eyebrow pencil to draw one) and clip-on silver hoops for the ears and eyebrow.
DIY: Draw a thin horseshoe mustache using a brown eyeliner pencil.
Plush Tiger Toy
A stuffed tiger plush to carry around as your star attraction.
Jeans and Belt
A pair of fitted blue jeans secured with a large, western-style belt buckle.
DIY: Wear your favorite worn-in blue jeans and a thick leather belt.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Joe Exotic costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the fitted blue jeans and secure them with a belt featuring a large western buckle.
- 2
Put on the shiny sequined button-down shirt, leaving the top three or four buttons open to show off chest hair or a chain necklace.
- 3
Adjust the blonde mullet wig so the dark roots sit at your hairline, then place the trucker hat on top, letting the long back of the wig hang free.
- 4
Apply the fake horseshoe mustache to your upper lip, or draw one on carefully with a brown makeup pencil.
- 5
Attach clip-on silver hoop earrings to your ears and a clip-on hoop to your right eyebrow.
- 6
Tuck the plush tiger toy under your arm to complete the exotic zookeeper look.
Makeup & hair
Keep makeup minimal, focusing on drawing a thin, downward-curving horseshoe mustache with a brown eyebrow pencil. Style the blonde mullet wig by shaking it out for maximum volume and fluffing up the short layers on top.
Joe Exotic for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with someone dressed as Carole Baskin in a flower crown and leopard print, or someone in a full tiger onesie.
- group
- Add characters like Doc Antle, John Finlay, and several friends in tiger suits to form a complete zoo crew.
- kids
- A mini zookeeper outfit paired with a plush tiger makes a comfortable, family-friendly version.
- Plus size
- Opt for a loose-fitting, breathable satin or sequin shirt worn open over a black tank top for comfort.
- pet
- Dress your dog in a simple striped tiger mane or a tiger-striped dog sweater.
Tips
- Leave the shirt unbuttoned slightly and wear a simple silver chain necklace to match Joe's style.
- Keep a pair of aviator sunglasses in your front pocket or hanging from your collar for an extra prop.
- If you are attending an outdoor event, the trucker hat and wig will keep you warm, but choose a breathable shirt fabric if you'll be indoors.
Joe Exotic costume FAQ
- What kind of shirt does Joe Exotic wear?
- He is famous for wearing bright, shiny, sequined button-down shirts, often in shades of blue, gold, or animal prints.
- How do I style the hair for a Joe Exotic costume?
- The key is a bleached-blonde mullet wig with dark roots. Wear a trucker hat over it to hold it in place and complete the look.
- What are some easy props for this costume?
- A plush stuffed tiger, a fake zookeeper staff ID badge, and aviator sunglasses are perfect, low-cost props.
Did you know? Joe Exotic's real name is Joseph Allen Maldonado-Passage, and his flamboyant outfits were actually purchased from local western wear stores and customized for his show.