What kind of jewelry does Mr. T wear?

Mr. T is famous for wearing dozens of heavy gold chains, including rope chains, cross pendants, and large medallions, along with multiple gold rings and bracelets.

How do I do the Mr. T hairstyle?

The hairstyle is a Mandinka-inspired mohawk. The easiest way to achieve this is with a specialized Mr. T costume wig that includes a bald cap on the sides and a thick black mohawk strip down the middle.

What clothes do I need for a DIY Mr. T costume?

You need a sleeveless denim or red vest, a camouflage t-shirt (optional), brown or camo cargo pants, black boots, and a wide leather belt.

AI-generated example

Mr. T Costume

Pity the fool with iconic gold chains and a classic mohawk.

Mr. T is one of the most recognizable pop culture icons of the 1980s, famous for his roles as B.A. Baracus in The A-Team and Clubber Lang in Rocky III. Dressing as Mr. T is a crowd-pleasing choice because of his instantly recognizable tough-guy persona. The signature look centers on a mountain of gold jewelry, a denim or red vest, combat gear, and his famous Mandinka-inspired mohawk.

Difficulty: Medium
Time: ~45 min
Budget: $40–120

See yourself as Mr. T →What you need Buy the Mr. T costume

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See yourself as Mr. T

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Mr. T costume — Example look · AI-generated

You as Mr. T

Result

What you need for a Mr. T costume

Short on time? Buy it ready-made

Spirit Halloween sells the complete Mr. T costume — one box instead of 7 pieces.

Shop Mr. T at Spirit ↗

Sleeveless Vest
A rugged blue denim vest or a red vest with gold trim, worn open over a bare chest or a camouflage t-shirt.
DIY: Cut the sleeves off an old denim jacket or red sweatshirt.
Amazon
Camouflage T-Shirt
A classic green and brown woodland camo t-shirt, worn under the vest if you prefer more coverage.
DIY: Use a plain olive green or black t-shirt instead.
Amazon
Cargo or Combat Pants
Tough brown, olive green, or camouflage cargo pants tucked into boots.
DIY: Use any pair of dark utility pants or blue jeans.
Amazon
Layered Gold Chains
Multiple thick, chunky faux-gold rope chains, medallion necklaces, and cross pendants layered heavily around the neck.
DIY: Spray paint plastic toy chains with metallic gold paint.
Amazon
Gold Rings and Bracelets
Chunky gold-colored rings on almost every finger and thick gold cuffs or chain bracelets.
DIY: Wrap gold metallic tape around simple plastic rings.
Amazon
Mohawk Wig with Beard
A black bald cap wig featuring a thick, vertical Mandinka-style mohawk strip down the center, paired with a full, trimmed black beard.
DIY: Style your own hair with heavy-hold gel if long enough, and use black face paint or crepe hair for the beard.
Amazon
Weightlifter Belt
A thick black or brown leather weightlifting belt worn tightly around the waist.
DIY: Use a wide, chunky black fashion belt with a large buckle.
Amazon

Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Mr. T costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗

How to put it together

1
Put on the camouflage t-shirt or choose to go shirtless under the vest for the classic tough-guy look.
2
Don the cargo pants and tuck them into a pair of sturdy black combat boots.
3
Put on the denim or red vest, leaving it completely unbuttoned.
4
Secure the heavy weightlifting belt tightly around your waist over the pants.
5
Layer all of your faux-gold chains around your neck, ensuring they drape at different lengths for maximum volume.
6
Slide the chunky gold rings onto your fingers and put on the gold bracelets.
7
Apply the mohawk wig and attach the matching black beard, blending the edges with a bit of dark makeup if needed.

Makeup & hair

If you aren't using a pre-made beard, use a black makeup pencil or face paint to draw a thick, connected beard and mustache. Keep your skin matte and rugged.

Mr. T for couples, groups, kids & more

couples: Pair up with Rocky Balboa in boxing gear to recreate the Rocky III rivalry.
group: Assemble the full A-Team with Hannibal, Face, and Murdock.
kids: A miniature version featuring a soft felt mohawk hat, a camo tee, and lightweight plastic gold chains.
Plus size: Cargo pants with a flexible waistband and an open vest provide a comfortable, adjustable fit.
pet: A dog-sized denim vest with lightweight shiny yellow plastic chains attached to the collar.

Tips

Plastic chains are much lighter and more comfortable to wear all night than heavy metal costume jewelry.
Practice your best tough-guy scowl and classic catchphrase, 'I pity the fool!', for photos.
If using a spirit gum adhesive for the fake beard, bring remover wipes for easy cleanup at the end of the night.

Mr. T costume FAQ

What kind of jewelry does Mr. T wear?: Mr. T is famous for wearing dozens of heavy gold chains, including rope chains, cross pendants, and large medallions, along with multiple gold rings and bracelets.
How do I do the Mr. T hairstyle?: The hairstyle is a Mandinka-inspired mohawk. The easiest way to achieve this is with a specialized Mr. T costume wig that includes a bald cap on the sides and a thick black mohawk strip down the middle.
What clothes do I need for a DIY Mr. T costume?: You need a sleeveless denim or red vest, a camouflage t-shirt (optional), brown or camo cargo pants, black boots, and a wide leather belt.

Did you know? Mr. T's iconic gold jewelry was inspired by seeing lost property left behind by customers at clubs where he worked as a bouncer; he wore the items so owners could easily identify and reclaim them.