Tiger King Costume
Recreate the wild, unforgettable look of the internet's favorite tiger trainer.
The Tiger King, Joe Exotic, became an overnight pop culture sensation thanks to his eccentric style and wild personality. Dressing as him is a guaranteed way to stand out at any party, bringing instant laughs and recognition. The signature look relies on a loud, shiny shirt, a bleach-blonde mullet, and plenty of faux-country attitude.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~20 min
- Budget
- $35–80
Try it on
See yourself as Tiger King
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 Tiger King costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Tiger King costume — one box instead of 7 pieces.
Shiny Tiger Stripe or Sequin Shirt
A loud, metallic gold, yellow, or blue button-down shirt with tiger stripes or heavy sequins.
DIY: Take a bright yellow button-down shirt and draw black tiger stripes on it with a fabric marker.
Bleach-Blonde Mullet Wig
A synthetic wig featuring short, straight bleach-blonde hair on top and long hair in the back, often with dark roots.
Clip-on Horseshoe Mustache
A thin, bleach-blonde or light brown horseshoe-style fake mustache.
DIY: Use a brown or blonde eyebrow pencil to draw a thin horseshoe mustache on your upper lip.
Trucker Hat or Visor
A solid black or camo trucker hat, or a simple visor, worn over the wig.
DIY: Use any plain baseball cap you already own.
Faded Blue Jeans
Classic, slim-fit blue jeans, preferably with a bit of wear or light distressing.
DIY: Use any pair of worn-in blue jeans from your closet.
Fake Eyebrow Ring & Jewelry
A clip-on silver eyebrow ring, chunky silver rings, and a gold chain necklace.
DIY: Bend a small piece of silver wire or a paperclip into a small hoop and secure it to your eyebrow with eyelash glue.
Plush Tiger Toy
A medium-sized stuffed tiger plush to carry around as your primary prop.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Tiger King costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the faded blue jeans and tuck in the front of your shiny tiger-stripe button-down shirt.
- 2
Add a dark leather belt with a large, prominent western-style buckle.
- 3
Carefully put on the blonde mullet wig, adjusting it so the short bangs frame your face and the long back drapes over your shoulders.
- 4
Place the trucker hat or visor over the wig, letting the blonde hair stick out of the sides and back.
- 5
Apply the fake horseshoe mustache to your upper lip using the adhesive backing or spirit gum.
- 6
Attach the clip-on eyebrow ring to your left eyebrow and put on your gold chains and rings.
- 7
Carry the plush tiger under your arm to complete the iconic zookeeper look.
Makeup & hair
Keep your face clean-shaven except for the thin blonde horseshoe mustache. The hair is the star here: shake out the blonde mullet wig to give it volume, ensuring the contrast between the short top and long back is highly visible.
Tiger King for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with someone dressed as Carole Baskin in a flower crown and leopard print shirt, or a partner in a full tiger onesie.
- group
- Have friends dress as fellow zookeepers in khaki shirts, plus a few people in tiger costumes.
- kids
- A mini version featuring a bright sequin shirt, a tiny drawn-on mustache, and a plush tiger toy.
- Plus size
- Choose a loose-fitting, breathable sequin button-down shirt left slightly unbuttoned for comfort.
- pet
- Dress your dog in a simple tiger-stripe pet hoodie or a plush tiger mane.
Tips
- Keep the shirt unbuttoned slightly at the chest to show off your gold chains and capture Joe's signature style.
- If the wig feels hot, wear a wig cap underneath to absorb sweat and keep the synthetic fibers off your skin.
- Practice a few of Joe's famous southern-drawl catchphrases to really bring the character to life at parties.
Tiger King costume FAQ
- What kind of shirt does the Tiger King wear?
- Joe Exotic is famous for wearing loud, shiny, long-sleeved button-down shirts, typically featuring bright sequins, metallic fabrics, or bold tiger stripe patterns.
- How do I style the Tiger King hair?
- The key is a bleach-blonde mullet. You can buy a pre-styled 'Tiger King' wig that features a short, choppy top with dark roots and long blonde hair in the back.
- What accessories are essential for a Joe Exotic costume?
- You will need a thin horseshoe mustache, a clip-on eyebrow ring, a trucker hat, aviator sunglasses, and a plush tiger toy.
Did you know? The 2020 documentary series 'Tiger King' became one of Netflix's most-watched releases, capturing over 34 million unique viewers in its first ten days of release during the early days of the pandemic.