Newsboy Costume
Extra! Extra! Read all about this classic vintage street style.
The newsboy costume is a classic, vintage-inspired look based on the newspaper hawkers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, popularized by the musical Newsies. People choose this costume because it is comfortable, instantly recognizable, and easy to assemble using everyday wardrobe pieces. The look consists of a flat newsboy cap, a button-up shirt with a vest, cropped trousers, suspenders, and a canvas messenger bag.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~20 min
- Budget
- $25–65
Try it on
See yourself as Newsboy
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 Newsboy costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Newsboy costume — one box instead of 7 pieces.
Newsboy Cap
An eight-panel wool or tweed panel cap with a button on top, in grey, brown, or herringbone pattern.
DIY: Use a standard flat cap or paperboy hat you already own.
Button-Up Shirt
A light grey, white, or cream long-sleeve button-up shirt, worn with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows.
DIY: Any slightly oversized white or beige dress shirt works.
Button-Down Vest
A dark grey, brown, or plaid tweed vest that fits snugly over the shirt.
DIY: An old sweater vest or suspenders worn without a vest.
Trousers or Knickers
Brown, grey, or charcoal trousers rolled up to the mid-calf, or vintage knickerbockers.
DIY: Roll up the cuffs of any dark grey or brown dress pants.
Suspenders
Y-back button or clip-on suspenders in dark brown or black elastic or leather.
Canvas Messenger Bag
A simple, off-white or beige canvas crossbody bag to hold folded newspapers.
DIY: An old canvas tote bag worn across the shoulder.
Vintage Newspapers
A few folded newspapers peeking out of the messenger bag and one held in hand.
DIY: Fold up real modern newspapers with the black-and-white print facing outward.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Newsboy costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the white or cream button-up shirt and roll the sleeves up to your mid-forearms.
- 2
Put on the grey or brown trousers, then roll the bottom cuffs up a few inches to mimic vintage knickers.
- 3
Attach the suspenders to the trousers, pulling them over your shoulders.
- 4
Layer the tweed vest over the shirt and button it up, leaving the bottom button undone for a classic look.
- 5
Put on the newsboy cap, tilting it slightly to one side.
- 6
Sling the canvas messenger bag across your chest and place several folded newspapers inside.
- 7
Put on dark leather boots or oxford shoes to complete the vintage ensemble.
Makeup & hair
Keep hair tucked neatly under the newsboy cap, allowing a few messy strands to peek out at the front. For a gritty street look, lightly smudge a small amount of brown eyeshadow or face paint on your cheeks and nose to look like coal dust or dirt.
Newsboy for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up as a Newsboy and a vintage 1920s Flapper, or two rival paperboys.
- group
- Gather a group to recreate the cast of the musical Newsies with matching caps, vests, and rolled-up trousers.
- kids
- A simple jumpsuit with printed suspenders, a matching soft cap, and a small canvas bag makes a comfortable kids' costume.
- Plus size
- Choose a loose-fitting linen or cotton button-up shirt and elastic-back trousers for maximum comfort.
- pet
- A small tweed flat cap with an elastic chin strap and a mini brown collar bandana.
Tips
- Smudge a tiny bit of dark eyeshadow on your cheeks to look like you've been working the city streets all day.
- Carry a few real newspapers to hand out as a fun way to interact with people at a party.
- Wear comfortable leather boots, as this costume is highly mobile and great for walking around.
- Keep the color palette muted with earth tones like brown, grey, beige, and charcoal to maintain the historical look.
Newsboy costume FAQ
- What kind of hat does a newsboy wear?
- A newsboy wears a newsboy cap, also known as a paperboy cap, which features an eight-panel design with a button on top and a stiff brim.
- How do I make a DIY newsboy bag?
- You can use a plain cream canvas tote bag, lengthen the strap so it sits across your body, and fill it with folded newspapers.
- Is a newsboy costume good for cold weather?
- Yes, because it relies on layers like a long-sleeve shirt, a wool vest, trousers, and a cap, it keeps you warm in cool autumn weather.
Did you know? The classic newsboy cap was not just worn by newspaper sellers; in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it was the standard daily headwear for working-class men and boys across North America and Europe.