Revolutionary War Soldier Costume
Bring American history to life in a classic 1776 patriot uniform.
The Revolutionary War Soldier costume is a timeless choice for historical reenactments, school presentations, and Halloween. Representing the Continental Army of 1776, this look is instantly recognizable by its blue and buff color scheme. Assembling the costume involves layering a military-style coat, breeches, and iconic period accessories like a tricorn hat.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $45–120
Try it on
See yourself as Revolutionary War Soldier
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What you need for a Revolutionary War Soldier costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Revolutionary War Soldier costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Blue and Buff Continental Army Coat
A long-sleeved navy blue coat with buff or tan lapels, cuffs, and collar, featuring decorative gold buttons.
DIY: Use a navy blue trench coat or blazer, pin tan felt panels to the lapels and cuffs, and sew on gold buttons.
White Ruffled Jabot and Cuffs
A white fabric neck ruffle and matching wrist cuffs to mimic 18th-century undershirts.
DIY: Gather and safety-pin white lace or ruffled fabric to the collar of a plain white button-down shirt.
Buff or White Breeches
Knee-length pants in tan, buff, or white, typically tucked into tall boots or socks.
DIY: Cut a pair of khaki pants just below the knee and hem them, or tuck regular khakis tightly into tall socks.
Tricorn Hat
A black felt three-cornered hat, often trimmed with gold or white lace and featuring a cockade.
DIY: Take a wide-brimmed black felt hat and safety-pin or stitch three sides of the brim up to the crown.
White Colonial Stockings and Buckle Shoes
Knee-high white socks paired with black dress shoes featuring decorative gold or silver buckles.
DIY: Wear long white athletic socks over black loafers, and slide DIY cardboard buckles wrapped in foil onto the shoe laces.
Cross Belts and Haversack
White or off-white canvas straps worn diagonally across the chest, holding a brown faux-leather pouch.
DIY: Cross two white webbing straps or belts over your chest and pin them at the hip.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Revolutionary War Soldier costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on a white button-down shirt and secure the ruffled jabot around your neck.
- 2
Pull on the buff or white breeches, securing them just below the knee.
- 3
Put on the white knee-high stockings, pulling them up to meet the breeches.
- 4
Slip on your black shoes and attach the metallic shoe buckles over the laces or tongues.
- 5
Put on the blue and buff military coat, ensuring the lapels are flat and the ruffled cuffs peek out from the sleeves.
- 6
Drape the white cross belts diagonally over your chest, crossing them in an 'X' shape.
- 7
Place the black tricorn hat firmly on your head, angled slightly forward.
Makeup & hair
Keep hair neat and pulled back into a low ponytail secured with a black ribbon, or wear a white colonial judge/soldier wig. Keep the face clean-shaven or natural.
Revolutionary War Soldier for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair with a Martha Washington or colonial woman costume in a matching period dress.
- group
- Gather friends to dress as a squad of Continental soldiers, or have one person dress as a British Redcoat for a rival dynamic.
- kids
- A popular choice for school history wax museums; use lightweight felt fabrics for comfort.
- Plus size
- Look for elastic-waist colonial breeches and open-front coats that do not require buttoning.
- pet
- A small black tricorn hat with an elastic band and a blue-and-buff collar cape.
Tips
- If wearing the costume outdoors in cold weather, wear thermal layers underneath the breeches and coat.
- Carry a prop plastic musket or a rolled-up 'Declaration of Independence' scroll for photos.
- Ensure your tricorn hat fits snugly; you can add foam hat tape inside the sweatband if it is too loose.
Revolutionary War Soldier costume FAQ
- What color uniform did Revolutionary War soldiers wear?
- American Continental soldiers typically wore blue coats with buff, white, or red facings, while British soldiers famously wore bright red coats.
- How do I make a quick DIY tricorn hat?
- Start with a standard black wide-brimmed hat, fold three sides of the brim up to the crown at equal intervals, and pin or staple them in place.
- What kind of shoes did they wear in 1776?
- Soldiers wore black leather shoes with brass buckles. You can easily replicate this by adding clip-on buckles to modern black dress shoes.
Did you know? George Washington officially established the blue and buff uniform color scheme for the Continental Army in 1779, choosing colors that represented his home state of Virginia.