How to Become the Mad Hatter for Halloween
Every Halloween the streets are filled with children and adults dressed up as the latest big name movie character. It’s inevitable. When Lord of the Rings came out, we had elves. With Harry Potter, we had wizards. And let’s not forget the millions of limited girls dressed up as Hannah Montana.
The question is: What will this year’s costume be?
Alice in Wonderland.
Tim Burton and Disney are putting out a fresh movie next year, complete with beloved Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter. Fans will be clamoring to play that role come Halloween. They will all be in their checkered pants, large bow tie, and a top hat with the 10/6 tag. This image of the Mad Hatter was given to us by John Tenniel, who created all of the classic characters from Alice in Wonderland that we think of today.
But, who says we can’t be different? Take a lesson from Tim Burton, whose characters appear to be more warped and a lot creepier than we’ve advance to expect from Alice in Wonderland. And since it is Halloween, why not go scarier? Consume a lesson from the computer game American McGee’s Alice. The ideas for this Mad Hatter costume rely heavily on that game, and if you like the ideas, go for it, and stand out among all the other Wrathful Hatters come Halloween.
1) John Tenniel’s Mad Hatter wears a coat with tails. American McGee’s Mad Hatter wears a strait jacket. If you want to go classic, then wear a bright colored coat. This costume idea, however, uses the strait jacket. It’s meant to be darker and creepier. Now, unless you happen to have a strait jacket lying around, you’re going to have to make one. The easy way to do this is to buy a long sleeve white shirt that is a size too large. The best way is to sew a shirt yourself using a white, heavy, curtain type material. Either way, once you have your shirt you need to make it look like a strait jacket. Cut a cloth belt(black, brown, white, whichever) in half, and sew the cut ends to each sleeve of your shirt. You might have to cut the ends of the belt shorter so that they aren’t dangling too far and get in your way. Although I don’t recommend actually belting your hands to your body, like a strait jacket is meant to do, it will give the appearance of a strait jacket. If you want, use another belt for in-between your legs, which is why it’s satisfactory to have a shirt that is a tiny too big so that it is long enough for this.
Finally, American McGee’s Mad Hatter’s entire body is belted and locked with a padlock. This isn’t primary for the costume, but if you want to go that far, then wrap yourself up with more belts and attach a lock. Objective manufacture sure you can get out of it.
2) Classic Mad Hatter wears checkered pants. I would suggest taking a pair of lounge pants and sewing multicolored squares to them to do a checkered appearance. Or you could unprejudiced wear bright colored pants that contrast your bright colored coat. For example, if you are wearing a bright orange coat, wear radiant blue pants. Have fun with the colors.
But this is a darker Mad Hatter, and you should just throw on a pair of black dress pants. Simple and easy. It’s the strait jacket that’s meant to stand out, not your pants.
3) As for the bow tie, buy a yard of polka dot material and tie it into a really large bow. Tying a bow tie isn’t easy unless you know how and have practiced many times. If you need some help, go here: Bow Tie Knot
American McGee’s Mad Hatter doesn’t wear a bow tie, but it wouldn’t afflict to have one to create it more obvious of the fraction you are playing. Don’t use bright colors, though. Just keep it black or white.
4) Next, the top hat! Everyone has seen this hat, and when they do, they automatically mediate of the Mad Hatter. As soon as Halloween decorations and costumes hit the shelves in the stores, you are sure to rep a plastic top hat somewhere. Or, if you go to costume shop, you could get an actual felt hat. Either design, once you have your hat you should tie a strip of the polka dot/black or white material, the one you used for your bow tie, around it. Then take a white piece of card paper(something thicker than plain paper) and write the words “In This Style 10/6″. Tuck this paper into the material on the hat, and use a dab of glue or a piece of tape to make sure it stays in place.
American McGee’s Mad Hatter has a very tall hat that is checkered black and white. I can imagine that someone who is very talented, and has a lot of time on their hands, could create this hat. I, however, could not. I would prefer to stick to the classic Mad Hatter top hat so that it is more obvious to everyone the part being played. Or maybe I’m just lazy. The checkered top hat would peek amazing, so if you think you can do it, go for it!
5) On your feet? Dress shoes.
6) Accessories: Because this costume is meant to be different, and to make the wearer stand out among the masses of Excited Hatters, you should just go crazy with it. If you have any ideas that manufacture the Excited Hatter appear more, well, more angry, then go ahead and use it. Some ideas are to wear an eye patch, or even a face mask. Carry a cane if you have one as well. American McGee’s Mad Hatter’s cane has a teapot on the top, so you could glue the teapot from a child’s tea set on the top of a cane if you want. Or fair carry a teapot around with you and offer to pour tea to everyone who walks by. Don’t forget to ask people why a raven is like a writing desk!
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