Josephine Baker Costume
Channel the jazz age icon in her legendary banana skirt look.
Josephine Baker was a groundbreaking American-born French dancer, singer, and French Resistance spy who took Paris by storm in the 1920s. Her most famous look features the iconic rubber banana skirt from her performances at the Folies Bergère. This costume captures her boundary-pushing style, blending vintage glamour with theatrical performance art.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~60 min
- Budget
- $40–120
Try it on
See yourself as Josephine Baker
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 Josephine Baker costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Josephine Baker costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Banana skirt
A skirt or belt featuring a row of structured, curved yellow rubber or fabric bananas that flare outward.
DIY: Attach lightweight toy yellow bananas to a thick gold fabric belt using hot glue or heavy-duty thread.
Nude or gold crop top
A minimalist, fitted crop top or bralette in a nude tone or metallic gold to mimic her performance top.
DIY: Decorate a simple beige or gold bra with gold sequins or rhinestones.
Chunky gold statement necklaces
Multiple layered, thick gold collar necklaces or beaded chokers.
Matching gold bangles
Thick gold cuff bracelets worn on both wrists and upper arms.
Slicked-back finger waves wig
A short, black, high-shine wig styled in tight 1920s finger waves flat against the head.
DIY: Style your own short hair using strong-hold hair gel, shaping wet hair into 'S' curves and pinning them to dry.
Gold hoop earrings
Large, thin gold hoop earrings to frame the face.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Josephine Baker costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the nude or gold metallic crop top or bralette.
- 2
Secure the banana skirt around your waist, ensuring the bananas flare outward evenly.
- 3
Layer the chunky gold collar necklaces around your neck to create a heavy, jeweled bib effect.
- 4
Slide the gold cuff bracelets onto your wrists and upper arms.
- 5
Put on the pre-styled black finger wave wig, securing it with bobby pins and a wig cap.
- 6
Add the large gold hoop earrings to complete the jewelry ensemble.
- 7
Apply vintage 1920s makeup, focusing on defined, thin eyebrows and dark red lipstick.
Makeup & hair
Style hair in sleek, high-gloss black finger waves pressed flat against the scalp. For makeup, draw thin, downward-sloping dark eyebrows, apply smoky eyeshadow, and finish with a deep red or plum lipstick.
Josephine Baker for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair with a partner dressed in a 1920s tuxedo or a French Resistance officer uniform.
- group
- Create a 1920s Parisian cabaret group with flappers, jazz musicians, and Folies Bergère dancers.
- Plus size
- Use a supportive gold metallic crop top and a custom-spaced banana belt over nude shapewear for comfort.
Tips
- Wear nude-colored dance trunks or high-waisted briefs under the banana skirt for comfortable coverage.
- Ensure the bananas are securely fastened to the belt so they bounce dynamically when you move or dance.
- Keep a strong-hold hairspray or gel on hand to keep the finger waves perfectly flat and shiny all night.
Josephine Baker costume FAQ
- What did Josephine Baker wear in her most famous performance?
- She wore a skirt made of 16 bananas strung together on a belt, paired with heavy gold jewelry and a sleek finger-waved hairstyle.
- How do I make a DIY Josephine Baker banana skirt?
- You can attach lightweight plastic or foam toy bananas to a thick gold ribbon or belt using hot glue, spacing them evenly so they flare outward.
- What makeup is best for a Josephine Baker costume?
- Opt for classic 1920s makeup: thin, arched eyebrows, dark smoky eyes, and a bold, dark red or berry lip.
Did you know? Josephine Baker's famous banana skirt was designed by Jean Cocteau for her performance in the 'La Folie du Jour' show at the Folies Bergère in 1926.