Twisty the Clown Costume
Bring the ultimate American Horror Story nightmare to life this Halloween.
Twisty the Clown from American Horror Story: Freak Show is one of the most terrifying horror icons of modern television. Fans choose this costume to deliver genuine scares with his signature dirty, weathered 1950s clown suit and grotesque grin mask. The look is defined by a soiled white ruffle outfit, a burlap toy sack, and his iconic two-piece prosthetic mask.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $50–120
Try it on
See yourself as Twisty the Clown
One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.
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What you need for a Twisty the Clown costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Twisty the Clown costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Dirty white clown suit
A two-piece white or light cream clown top and pants set featuring red and yellow pom-poms, heavily weathered with brown and black fabric paint.
DIY: Use an oversized white scrub set or white sweatpants and sweatshirt, then sew large red yarn pom-poms down the front.
Twisty the Clown mask
A molded latex half-mask depicting a wide, exaggerated, dirty red grin with exposed painted teeth and a black strap.
DIY: Paint a wide, terrifying grin onto a rigid plastic half-mask using red, black, and yellow acrylic paints.
Ruffled neck collar
A wide, multi-layered white fabric neck ruff with red trim, dirtied with dark grey and brown weathering.
DIY: Pleat white coffee filters or cheap white fabric onto a ribbon, then stain it with diluted black tea.
Burlap toy sack
A simple, weathered brown burlap drawstring bag used to carry his sinister 'props'.
DIY: Cut and sew a piece of basic brown landscaping burlap, adding a rough twine drawstring.
Clown headpiece with hair tufts
A bald cap or headpiece featuring three distinct, sparse tufts of dirty yellow, pink, and green hair.
DIY: Attach small tufts of colored yarn or synthetic doll hair to a standard latex bald cap using spirit gum.
Dirty white gloves
Simple white cotton costume gloves stained with dark makeup, faux blood, or fabric paint.
DIY: Rub charcoal or dark eyeshadow onto a cheap pair of white cotton gloves to make them look filthy.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Twisty the Clown costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the base white clown pants and top, ensuring they fit loosely to mimic a classic 1950s silhouette.
- 2
Apply dark grey, brown, or black fabric paint or watered-down acrylics to the suit to create a heavily soiled, grimy appearance.
- 3
Secure the ruffled neck collar around your neck, adjusting it so it sits flat over the shoulders of the top.
- 4
Put on the bald cap headpiece, positioning the three colorful hair tufts upright.
- 5
Secure the Twisty grin mask over your mouth and nose, ensuring the strap is hidden beneath the bald cap or hair.
- 6
Slip on the dirtied white cotton gloves.
- 7
Sling the burlap sack over your shoulder to complete the terrifying look.
Makeup & hair
If not using a full mask, paint your upper face pale white with dark, hollowed-out eyes using black grease paint. For the hair, use a bald cap with three sparse, greasy-looking tufts of yellow, pink, and green hair positioned on the top and sides.
Twisty the Clown for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with Dandy Mott in his pristine 1950s pastel striped suit and matching ascot.
- group
- Form an American Horror Story: Freak Show group with Bette and Dot Tattler, Elsa Mars, and Jimmy Darling.
- Plus size
- Use an oversized white matching sweat suite as a comfortable, custom-weathered base.
Tips
- To make the costume look authentic, do not skip the weathering; use diluted black tea, charcoal powder, and brown fabric spray to make the white suit look filthy.
- Ensure your mask has breathing holes near the mouth or nose for comfort during long parties.
- Carry a toy juggling pin or a fake rusty tool inside your burlap sack as an extra creepy prop for photos.
Twisty the Clown costume FAQ
- What does Twisty the Clown wear?
- He wears a dirty, yellowed white two-piece clown suit with red pom-poms, a ruffled neck collar, dirty white gloves, a burlap sack, and a terrifying wide-grin prosthetic mask that covers his jaw injury.
- How do I make my Twisty costume look dirty?
- Mix black, brown, and dark green acrylic paint with water in a spray bottle, then lightly mist the white suit. Rub real dirt or charcoal powder onto the knees, elbows, and gloves.
- Is the Twisty the Clown mask comfortable to wear?
- Officially licensed latex half-masks are generally comfortable because they only cover the lower half of the face, leaving your eyes and forehead free.
Did you know? Twisty the Clown was so terrifying that the Clowns of America International group publicly condemned American Horror Story for promoting a negative image of clowns.