Mad Hatter Costume
Bring Wonderland to life with this whimsical, colorful Mad Hatter look.
The Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland is a beloved choice for costume parties and conventions due to his eccentric, colorful, and chaotic style. This guide focuses on the iconic live-action version, featuring mismatched patterns, vibrant colors, and a signature oversized top hat. The final look is a wonderfully chaotic blend of Victorian tailoring and whimsical haberdashery.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $60–160
Try it on
See yourself as Mad Hatter
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What you need for a Mad Hatter costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Mad Hatter costume — one box instead of 7 pieces.
Oversized dark green top hat
A tall, flared top hat in dark green or brown, featuring a peach-colored satin sash and a '10/6' price card tucked into the band.
DIY: Wrap a peach fabric ribbon around a standard black top hat and insert a handmade card labeled '10/6' on tea-stained paper.
Vibrant orange curly wig
A wild, frizzy, shoulder-length synthetic wig in a bright neon orange shade.
DIY: Tease and brush out a cheap orange costume wig to give it a frizzy, chaotic texture.
Brown frock coat or velvet jacket
A long, Victorian-style frock coat in chocolate brown, dark teal, or textured velvet with wide lapels.
DIY: Use a thrifted oversized brown blazer and sew colorful lace or patterned fabric trim onto the cuffs.
Striped or patterned trousers
Ankle-length trousers with vertical pinstripes, preferably in dark brown, black, or grey.
DIY: Draw vertical stripes onto a pair of old brown or grey slacks using a fabric marker.
Thread spool bandolier sash
A cross-body sash made of colorful wooden thread spools strung together on a thick cord.
DIY: String empty wooden thread spools wrapped in colorful yarn onto a long piece of brown twine.
Large patterned bow tie
An oversized floppy bow tie featuring a colorful, chaotic pattern like plaid, polka dots, or floral print.
DIY: Tie a wide strip of colorful, patterned satin fabric into a large, floppy bow around your collar.
Fingerless gloves
A pair of fingerless knit or lace gloves, preferably mismatched or in a dark, worn color.
DIY: Cut the fingers off a pair of old brown or black knit gloves.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Mad Hatter costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on a light-colored collared shirt, then pull on the striped trousers and secure them with suspenders.
- 2
Tie the oversized patterned bow tie loosely around your shirt collar, letting the ends drape down.
- 3
Put on the brown frock coat and drape the thread spool bandolier diagonally across your chest from shoulder to hip.
- 4
Apply the pale face makeup, colorful eyeshadow, and bright orange eyebrows.
- 5
Put on the orange curly wig, adjusting it to sit comfortably and frame your face.
- 6
Place the oversized green top hat on your head, tilting it slightly to one side.
- 7
Slip on the fingerless gloves, put on dark boots, and grab a teacup prop to complete the look.
Makeup & hair
Apply a pale white foundation or face powder to your entire face. Use bright pink, blue, and purple eyeshadow around your eyes, and paint your eyebrows bright orange to match the wig. Finish with a light pink or peach lipstick.
Mad Hatter for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with Alice in her classic blue dress or the Red Queen in her heart-themed royal gown.
- group
- Form a Wonderland tea party group with Alice, the White Rabbit, the Cheshire Cat, and the March Hare.
- kids
- Use a simplified version with a green t-shirt, a felt top hat headband, a pre-made fabric bow, and orange hair spray.
- Plus size
- Look for a velvet coat with a flared A-line cut and adjustable corset-style lacing at the back for a comfortable fit.
- pet
- Dress your dog in a tiny green top hat collar attachment and a miniature colorful bow tie.
More ways people search for this costume
The most-searched variations of “Mad Hatter costume”, and how this look adapts to each.
Mad hatter diy costume
- Skip the store: Wrap a peach fabric ribbon around a standard black top hat and insert a handmade card labeled '10/6' on tea-stained paper. Tease and brush out a cheap orange costume wig to give it a frizzy, chaotic texture. Use a thrifted oversized brown blazer and sew colorful lace or patterned fabric trim onto the cuffs.
Tips
- Carry a plastic or thrifted ceramic teacup and saucer as a fun, interactive prop for photos.
- Wear comfortable, broken-in boots since this costume involves heavy layers and a lot of walking.
- If the wig gets too hot, use orange temporary hair color spray on your natural hair instead.
- Secure the heavy top hat to your wig using bobby pins or a hidden elastic strap to keep it from falling off.
Mad Hatter costume FAQ
- What does the 10/6 on the Mad Hatter's hat mean?
- The '10/6' is a price tag representing the cost of the hat in pre-decimal British currency: 10 shillings and 6 pence.
- How do I make a cheap Mad Hatter bandolier?
- You can string empty wooden or plastic thread spools onto a piece of rope, wrapping each spool in a different color of cheap yarn or embroidery floss.
- What kind of makeup does the Mad Hatter wear?
- He wears a pale white face base, mismatched vibrant eyeshadow (typically pink, blue, and lavender), white eyelashes, and bright orange eyebrows.
Did you know? The phrase 'mad as a hatter' comes from the 18th and 19th centuries, when hat makers used mercury to cure felt, leading to mercury poisoning which caused neurological symptoms like trembling and confusion.