# Need Opinions On My Clown Costume **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 11, 2012, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495 "2012-04-11T21:00:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/1 "2012-04-11T21:00:07Z")
It looks as if I may be going into clowning as a side business. I have a costume made from a bathrobe and some fabric I got at a Dopefest. I’m looking for honest critiques of how well the thing works and what needs improving. > **[Photo and Video Storage | Photobucket](https://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a151/doccathode/Clown%20Outfit/)** > > Store your photos and videos online with Photobucket's secure storage. Available on iOS, Android and desktop. Securely backup your memories and sign up today! ---
**Author:** ![Al\_Bundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@Al\_Bundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al_Bundy)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/2 "2012-04-11T21:55:13Z")
That does not look like a clown costume in the slightest respect. You look like a sheik with a red nose. A clown needs to be light and poofy. The head should be highly made-up with possible big ears or something, but not a turban. Google for clown costumes and make something similar. A clown costume should be imitated, not invented. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/3 "2012-04-11T21:59:59Z")
It’s not a turban. It’s a bizarre stovepipe hat. You can see it better in this picture [http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a151/doccathode/noodly.jpg](http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a151/doccathode/noodly.jpg) Other than that, thanks for your honesty. ---
**Author:** ![Quintas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/48db29/32.png) [@Quintas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quintas)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/4 "2012-04-11T22:00:48Z")
Its creepy. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/5 "2012-04-11T22:02:34Z")
> [@Quintas](#): > > Its creepy. Could you be more specific? What exactly makes it creepy? What could I do to make it un creepy? Is it just this costume or do you find clowns creepy in general? ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/6 "2012-04-11T22:16:33Z")
I think the bathrobe is too dark - clowns are bright! They are meant to stand out and there’s no big splashes of colour in your outfit. Your current outfit makes me think rodeo clown, not entertainment clown. ---
**Author:** ![Praline](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2bfe46/32.png) [@Praline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Praline)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/7 "2012-04-11T22:26:48Z")
I agree, performance clowns are typically brightly costumed & adding color would help immensely. I also think that googling costume pics for ideas is a great idea. What comes to mind for me is a homemade Halloween costume versus a professionally made one - I think there’s a bit of an amateur vibe going on, sorry. How did you end up clowning? Where will you be performing? My sister did birthday parties for awhile (the company that employed her supplied the costume) and she had a blast & made some quick, easy money. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/8 "2012-04-11T22:28:54Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > It’s not a turban. It’s a bizarre stovepipe hat. You can see it better in this picture [http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a151/doccathode/noodly.jpg](http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a151/doccathode/noodly.jpg) > > Other than that, thanks for your honesty. Holding a balloon penis doesn’t help. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/9 "2012-04-11T22:45:07Z")
**Praline** A lot of different things conspired to push me into clowning. I’ve done some street performing. But, the big money is in parties. **Treis** I forgot that was in that photo. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/10 "2012-04-11T22:55:20Z")
Needs fangs ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/11 "2012-04-11T22:59:13Z")
**Doc** … you need Pants. Better pants at least that don’t have a large baggy zipper space in the front. -\_- The grey Tshirt also doesn’t quite work- why not White or bright primary color shirts instead rather than Tshirts with writing on 'em. Consider a wig too of bright primary colored hair? ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/12 "2012-04-11T23:10:14Z")
**ToeJam** I think the pants are fine. I just forgot to bring suspenders. I usually wear a bright, plain shirt with the costume. I just forgot until I was out of the house and it was too late to change. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/13 "2012-04-11T23:45:33Z")
It’s like you’re wearing an ironic hipster’s interpretation of a clown costume at a Halloween party. Not a bad look, but I wouldn’t let you near my kids (if I had kids). Shouldn’t clowns have facepaint, too? ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/14 "2012-04-11T23:48:19Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > Shouldn’t clowns have facepaint, too? The classic white face frightens children. Other make up seems to have the same effect. So I don’t use make up. Just a red nose and perhaps a bright sticker or two on my face. ---
**Author:** ![living\_in\_hell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@living\_in\_hell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/living_in_hell)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/15 "2012-04-12T02:08:35Z")
This thread rules. ---
**Author:** ![Ludy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Ludy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludy)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/16 "2012-04-12T02:12:32Z")
I think you need more color as well. It seems like your costume is kind of hobo clown like, so I would sew on some bright patches on the coat. I also think that without a more ‘classic’ makeup you might want to add some color to your beard, also some big horn rimmed glasses might be good too. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/17 "2012-04-12T03:48:02Z")
On preview, I wrote a kinda long post. I’m not trying to be hypercritical, but I want to help you move from “Halloween Costume” to “Professional Clown” who will get referrals and more business. It’s great if the kids love you, but you don’t want the parents with the word-of-mouth and the cash to think to themselves, “Well, hell, I could have done that.” You want to look like you’ve put time and effort toward your act that they wouldn’t want to or couldn’t without more effort than going through closets. If that makes sense. The coat is the only thing I actually like. I think it would look better with a more uniform look underneath it, though. Like a pair of red overalls. Maybe raid a costume store and mish-mash some costumes to put together your own look. These [Santa overalls](http://www.hauntersdepot.com/2007NEWTEMPLATES/ChristmasCostumes/SantaClaus/VelvetOverallsSanta.jpg) would work with it, I think. If you can find them alone without having to get the whole Santa costume. Then wear a bright/neon yellow t-shirt underneath that. Ditch the pants you’re using now. They just look like really old broke-ass scrub pants. Even just some big jeans (or jean overalls) in a bright color like red, kelly green, or purple. Because the jacket is dark, everything else has to be bright. And you gotta get the oversized clown shoes. Just mismatched shoes doesn’t work, IMO, it just looks like it was dark when you got dressed. The hat - It’s hard to tell what’s going on in the pictures. The top part looks like it kinda matches the robe? Cool - but I’d go with the advice to sew a couple bright patches here and there. But what’s going on between the hat and your head? It does look like you’ve got a bandanna/turban thing going on and that doesn’t work. Look into a bright wig or bald cap and wig combo that would look good with just the hat on top. I’m guessing you’re putting your hair underneath the bandanna, and that’s not a bad idea, it just needs to be a wig or bald cap or combo. You can sew the hat to the wig, and use hair pins to anchor the wig to your tucked-in hair. I do this often (hair pins/wig/anchor to tucked-in hair) and you could ride in a convertible on the highway or develop a trampoline act and it won’t come off. As to makeup - well, facial hair is rare in professional clowns, so that’s a strike against your look. I agree that full white-face isn’t the way to go, but _something_ besides a red nose and/or a couple stickers should be happening. Google Ringling Brothers clowns to get an idea of how little you can do, but still show that you’re a professional clown and not just a dude in a half-costume who could be homeless. [These guys, for instance](http://static2.smallworldlabs.com/neighborhoods/upimg/000/009/8af95fe2ab1a54b488ef8efb3f3b0797/489f4a0962e99Edited_Ashes_Petunia_and_Radio.JPG) are fairly uder-done, yet still clearly clowns. (one has a mustache, too!) You’ll have to do a lot of trial and error, any makeup takes practice, practice, practice! But once you have a look that works, it will only take a few minutes to put on and take off. [Here’s a group pic](http://amomblogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/RBBB-.-2.jpg) that shows some great wig ideas that would also work with a hat on top, and the far right guy with glasses is another good example of under-done makeup that is still clearly “clown”. Anyway, I wish you good luck and profit in your endeavor! ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/18 "2012-04-12T03:55:35Z")
**SeaDragonTattoo** Thank you! That’s exactly the kind of detailed feedback I’ve been looking for! Re the hat It’s made of scraps from the jacket. The underside of the brim doesn’t match though. The headbands are sewn into the hat to hold it on. I often think of reducing the hat’s height by about half and making it into a tapering top hat instead of a stovepipe. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/19 "2012-04-12T04:11:06Z")
1. I think making the pants a little too short would help - like mid calf. Making the sleeves on your jacket a little too short is good too. I like the idea behind the jacket a lot, I’m just not completely sold on the color. 2. But with shorter pants, you can wear bizarro knee socks and wild shoes. Dying the pants a really neon purple or pink would be good too, but you’d want to carry them over to your shirt and/or tie and/or hat. 3. Speaking of shoes, Amazon has a wide range of bothe shoes and shoe covers, for under $30. Even if you don’t want to buy something, there’s good ideas there. Kids are short - they’re going to notice your pants and shoes more than your hat. [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/104-3796580-2511924?field-keywords=clown%20shoes&url=index%3Dblended](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/104-3796580-2511924?field-keywords=clown%20shoes&url=index%3Dblended) 1. If you must keep the beard, try out some temporary hair color, maybe, to give it some pizazz. Good luck! I think clowns are awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/20 "2012-04-12T04:14:31Z")
The pants look like kinda ill fitting hospital scrubs. Everything needs to be much baggier. You need lots of pleats and folds, and I agree about a lot more bright colors. And long sleeves – no bare arms. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495.md?page=2)