# 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:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**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, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/21 "2012-04-12T04:16:29Z")
I kinda like the height of the hat by itself, just the headbands need to be ditched for a wig, I think. Can you take a seam ripper to them and discard? One of the wigs I wear, I added a crown to it, and the only way for the crown to stay on was to sew it into the wig - just in four places. Easy peasy. Cheap wigs have big netting that’s easy to sew stuff onto, and would work perfectly with that hat. It seems some height would be lost without the headbands, too, which is what you might be looking for. A short-ish wig in a crazy color like yellow or neon blue or green would downplay the mismatched brim (I don’t think it’s a particular concern) - and if the wig went poofy or straight out around the sides, the brim’s underside would be masked, anyway. Just hairpin it nice and snug around your hairline and wig/hat won’t come off until you want them to! ---
**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 13, 2012, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/22 "2012-04-13T20:31:05Z")
I’m still modifying the first outfit based on the feedback I’ve received. Meanwhile, I tried out two new outfits. [Here they are](http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a151/doccathode/Clown%20Outfit/) ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/23 "2012-04-13T20:47:42Z")
I’m just glad you’re wearing clothes this time. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/24 "2012-04-13T21:04:41Z")
I don’t know from clowning but you just look like someone who doesn’t know how to dress himself. ---
**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 13, 2012, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/25 "2012-04-13T21:05:54Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > I don’t know from clowning but you just look like someone who doesn’t know how to dress himself. could you be more specific? ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/26 "2012-04-13T21:14:47Z")
> [@kushiel](#): > > 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. On the contrary, rodeo clowns are quite [colorful](http://dallas.about.com/od/familyactivities/ss/FWSSRodeo08_8.htm). It’s one way to distract the bull from the cowboy. ---
**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 13, 2012, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/27 "2012-04-13T21:18:28Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > could you be more specific? Aside from the nose, you look like a homeless guy dressing up for a job interview. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/28 "2012-04-13T22:34:28Z")
[This](https://www.google.com/search?q=professional+clown&hl=en&safe=off&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-Address&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&ei=p6mIT8n5LJKO8wSpvIDLCQ&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=2&ved=0CD8Q_AUoAQ&biw=1680&bih=933#q=professional+clown&hl=en&safe=off&sa=X&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-Address&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=61de83600f9fae09&biw=786&bih=466) is what a professional clown looks like. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/29 "2012-04-13T22:35:49Z")
[This may be a look like the one you’re going for.](http://www.clownalleyorchids.com/images/Clown%20College%202%20Small%20Web%20view.jpg) Let’s see you with makeup and a manic grin. ---
**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 13, 2012, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/30 "2012-04-13T22:40:45Z")
FYI, [this is John Wayne Gacy’s clown suit](http://hafny.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/yapb_cache/john_wayne_gacy_pogo_the_clown.9ekb27l8rbk8gcso8skcoo8s.783elejbp0kkw800soc4ssscw.th.jpeg). ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/31 "2012-04-13T23:25:04Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > FYI, [this is John Wayne Gacy’s clown suit](http://hafny.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/yapb_cache/john_wayne_gacy_pogo_the_clown.9ekb27l8rbk8gcso8skcoo8s.783elejbp0kkw800soc4ssscw.th.jpeg). The eyes!! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2012, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/32 "2012-04-14T00:10:56Z")
Forget the fake hair and head mask (or whatever you call that thing). The red nose is fine if it beeps. This will keep the kids giggling instead of being afraid of you. I like the short jacket and the light green checked pants. Goatee is fine as well, as it is a common look. Can you do without the glasses? Clowns aren’t very popular since The Posse, and King’s “It”, so I wouldn’t get too close to your audience. Best wishes Quasi Got any magic to do for the little ones? Very important IMO. I like the Magic Coloring Book (mentioned it before here) and the flower bag (you show an empty blue bag and pull three boxes of pretty flowers out of it. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/33 "2012-04-15T01:14:57Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > On the contrary, rodeo clowns are quite [colorful](http://dallas.about.com/od/familyactivities/ss/FWSSRodeo08_8.htm). It’s one way to distract the bull from the cowboy. But they aren’t quite bright and colourful all over like [this pic.](http://www.amcbryde.com/mehron/blog/uploaded_images/01-705641.jpg) Rodeo clowns can pass for guys that just don’t know not to pair a mustard shirt with blue jeans and suspenders. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/34 "2012-04-15T17:13:45Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > 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”. I think this is good advice. It seems like you’re putting a lot of effort into coming up with wacky-looking clothes, but you’re just going to look like a weirdo in strange clothes if you don’t have some face makeup. People associate face paint with clowns. ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2012, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495/35 "2012-04-15T17:27:41Z")
The one glove is a little weird. I like the Stockings though. Don’t know how i feel about the other clown outfit- you look like a disgruntled clown there. The Jacket one with one glove- could use a big bowtie. And maybe some more “clown” elements to identify that it’s a clown. Why not try the Baggy hobo shirt from the original combine with pants/stocking from the jacket outfit and add some makeup and a different hat? And use the striped shirt or something instead of that grey tshirt from the first. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-opinions-on-my-clown-costume/618495.md?page=1)