With Halloween in a couple of days, people are scrambling to find the best costume; which happens to be Heath Ledgers Joker from the new Batman movie The Dark Knight.
The problem with the Joker costume is that all the pre-fab stuff is chincy and there’s no single location to pick up a Joker costume without spending a couple grand or more.
So what do you do?
We’re going to show you where to acquire the most authentic joker gear as well as how to build a joker costume with minimal expense. So whether you’re a prince or a popper, you’ll be able to put a smile on that face of yours this Halloween; or any other time you want to scare the crap out of people that don’t give you candy.
Read on to find your Joker Gear!
So here’s how it works. Each piece of the Joker costume is listed below with the proper link for purchasing. Some items have multiple links in the event that you don’t want the best quality, but rather the best price.
MAKEUP
JOKER MAKEUP KIT: $40
You can’t have the Joker without the makeup. If all else fails, you can trick or treat with some face paint and a smile.
If you’re going for the authentic look, you need to go where Hollywood goes; Mehron is the one-stop-shop for professional make-up artists. Mehron put together a kit especially for your Joker needs. The kit includes step-by-step instructions, specialized makeup for your face, lips, and eyes, green liquid makeup for your hair, rigid collodion (which creates realistic scars), and all kinds of other professional materials.
Don’t forget the other great Mehron products that will enhance your Joker face. For the screen accurate look, you’ll also need the Tooth F-X nicotine/decay.
SCARS
SMOOTH-ON SILICONE RUBBER $22 or MOLDING WAX $6
There’s a few ways to handle the scars. If you’ve got experience with molding wax, pick up the Mehron molding putty when you order the makeup kit. Wax gives a realistic look but can be tricky if you’re not use to working with it.
The other option is building your scars with silicone rubber, which is actually easier to re-use. Smooth-on sells silicone rubbers for creating scars. I recommend using Skin Tite with Thi-Vex and Silc Pig.
CLOTHING
HEXAGON PATTERNED SHIRT: $66.00 or HEXAGON PATTERN: $45
One of the most difficult pieces to find for the Joker costume is the Hexagon Shirt. The best quality and most reasonably priced replica shirt I’ve seen is through Utopiabase (pictured to the left).
If you’d like to save every penny, there’s a Hexagon Pattern that can be ironed onto an old shirt. You can use it to cover the exposed area’s of the shirt, but you might find that after the iron-on paper, pattern, ink, and old shirt the Utopia deal is better.
GREEN JOKER VEST: $56 or make your own ~$15
Again, Utopiabase might be your best bet. Toby has a more screen accurate version and some other good replicas on his site, but they’re limited and expensive.
You can also make your own vest. Joanne Fabrics sells vest stencils, all you need is some green suede, blue silk and a sewing machine.
*If you want real screen accuracy, notice the two-tone blue silk back in the suspender shot below.
PURPLE TRENCH COAT: $166 or build your own ~$20
The most accurate replica is going to be from Sithcamero. There’s also a decent replica from seller irongategallery on ebay for $350. The one for $166 above is from Utopiabase. It’s not the best but it’s cheaper than the others.
Again, you can build your own with some purple poplin and orange satin (purple felt if you want to save money).
If you really want to save money, you can forget the overcoat and go with just the vest and shirt. The other option of course is to dress in the Joker nurse outfit.
BLUE SPORTS JACKET: ~$10 (Goodwill)
The Joker’s blue sports jacket is worn under the purple trench coat. The blazer has the same orange lining as the trench coat.
There are a few people selling this item online, but your best deal is to visit any local Goodwill or Salvation Army. They’re guaranteed to have something very similar. If you want to get serious, you can sew in your own orange satin lining.
PURPLE PINSTRIPE PANTS: $80 or RAVEN BRAND $195
The most screen accurate pinstripe Joker pants seem to be the "Ralph Lauren purple label madison linen pinstripe pant" and the "Raven tailored navy blue wool pinstripe trousers".
If you don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for pants, you still have a few options. Hit up Walmart for some purple pants, or check the local thrift stores. If you really want the pinstripes, you can bring your Walmart pants to a seamstress or make them yourself with a good sewing machine.
To sew the pinstripes, I recommend cutting the lateral seam of each leg and using that as the straight edge guide. Use the triple stretch stitch option on the sewing machine and space the lines using the pressure foot as a guide; it should be about 3/8ths of an inch. When the stripes are down, hem up the seams.
MULTICOLORED JOKER SOCKS: $25
Tabio was the actual company that supplied the socks for the Joker character in the film The Dark Knight. If you’re going to buy socks, these might as well be them.
The socks are made from 63% Cotton, 22% Acrylics, 14% Nylon, and 1% Polyurethane.
*no animals were harmed in the making of these socks.
JOKER BRACES (SUSPENDERS): $33
You only catch a glimpse of these braces in the film. They are made by the Albert Thurston company.
The men’s elastic braces have a diamond pattern with nickel fittings and back leather ends.
Obviously, these aren’t essential to the costume, but you diehards may want to know where to pick them up to make your costume perfect.
JOKER NECK TIE: $40
There are a number of ties available and most of them have white backs. If the costume is for a one time use, the white back should be fine, but for those of you that want to get a neck tie with a solid pattern on 100% of the tie, ebay might be the best option.
PURPLE LEATHER GLOVES: $15
Even though Rubies makes a whole bunch of cheesy Halloween costumes, I would still recommend buying their purple leather adult Joker gloves, opposed to dropping $50 or more on Cashmere lined driving gloves that you’ll probably never touch again.
If you really want the more expensive pair, check out the ebay store of glovesdirect where you can get a pair of purple leather cashmere lined gloves for $50.
JOKER SHOES: $300 or MAKE YOUR OWN ~$25
The Joker’s shoes look like Salvatore Ferragamo shoes, but the company assured me that their shoes were not used in the production.
With no reply from Lindy Hemming on the manufacturer of the Joker’s dilapidated kicks, you can either purchase some look-a-likes, replicas, or make your own.
I vote for making my own, it’s actually very easy.
JOKER CALLING CARDS: $26
There are a number of different cards used in the film and an equal number of places selling replicas.
The particular card shown to the left was used for the scene with the dead Batman look-a-like.
JOKER BANK HIEST MASK:$17
If you want to go simple, just carry around the
mask with your face painted. Eastern Toys has a good replica of the mask used at the beginning of the film.
WEAPONS
JOKERS 1600 OTF EXTRACTOR KNIFE: $25 or $27
There are a few different knives used by the Joker in the film The Dark Knight. The most distinct is the one he uses to threaten Rachael Dawns which is also the same knife he uses to kill a Mob Boss. The knife is called the 1600 OTF Extractor. It is very similar to the Cupid Clone which has a small serrated edge and a slightly different handle; this sells for $18. Both knives are spring loaded stiletto style weapons.
If you plan on using this for a costume, you’ll have to dull down the edge with a grinder.
There are two online retailers listed, because this knife may sell out quickly.
JOKER’S RPG TYPE 69: $325
The Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) Type 69 replica was used in the film when the Joker attacks the armored Swat truck carrying Harvey Dent.
SMITH & WESSON M76 SUBMACHINE GUN:
I can’t find a replica Smith & Wesson M76 Submachine Gun, hence, no price.
GLOCK 18 WITH EXTENDED CLIP (AIRSOFT): $15
There are a few scenes where the Joker makes use of this weapon.
ARMY GRENADES: TWO FOR $5
When the Joker crashes the crime syndicate meeting, he carries 5 grenades on the inside left beast of his overcoat. Each grenade is attached to the jacket via metal clips and each grenade pin is attached via a string.
HAVE FUN and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
It was a great help to find some good quality sell in the pool of ordinary costumes, if you want to find some better looking outfit!
thank you
Just in case you were interested, I found a site that sells replicas of the M76 submachine gun (http://www.japanairsoftguns.com/store/index.php?action=item&id=249)
In addition, the site also has the same basic type of Remignton 870 shotgun that he used throughout the film (http://www.japanairsoftguns.com/store/index.php?action=item&id=192)
Geez, this is an awesome post! I’ve actually bookmarked this for reference in next year’s halloween. The prices may no longer be relevant but I’m sure the ideas will still work well. Thanks for the efforts… really appreciate it.
Actually, the most accurate Joker pants I have seen, and actually have a pair of, are Merona Men’s dress pants. I was fortunate enough to find a pair on ebay. They are purple Corduroy material. If you watch the scene in The Dark Knight where Batman is interrogating The Joker, pause the movie quickly when Batman lifts The Joker from his seat and you will see that the pants are IDENTICAL to the Merona dress pants. I unfortunately havent been able to find a link to these, but it shouldnt be too hard.
Actually…hmmmm…..if ya want to simply make a pair of joker pants….its really quite simple. First, ya need to go shopping with your mom, so ya dont look….suspicious. Then follow her into the ladies department and look around for ladies pinstripe dress pants. Now to find your size, subtract 20. Try not get get a pair that has too much polyester. You’ll find out why later. The more cotton actually, the better. Also find a pair thats a little on the medium gray side. Dark or black wont work for this. Now that ya found your cheap pair of women’s dress pants, which I have found for around $15 or so, now run over to a grocery store and pick up something called RIT clothing dye for around $3 a bottle. Look for purple. Now go home, fill your washing machine with HOT water and a cup of salt. DO NOT add the pants yet. Soak your pants in a sink first with hot water til they are drenched. Dump the RIT into the washer and set the washer to agitate (mix) until it looks like yummy purple Kool-aid. Now take your pants out of the sink and slowly feed them into the purple water. Close the lid and reset the washer to agitate again and time it for about 20 minutes. After that, allow the washer to rinse your pants thoroughly, take em out and throw em in the dryer til completely dry and TADAAAA!!!! Joker pants for an estimated $25 or less. Experiment with different shades of pants and time of rinse to get the color ya want. With practice, you will soon be laughing at those horrible priced other Joker pants ya see online, which are hard to find to begin with.
the joker knife here is not 35 dollars anymore. it is 25 dollars. that cheapest on the net.
Thanks James, we updated it!
Albert Thruston braces not available in white with green diamond pattern
The Albert Thurston Braces used in the movie were actually dark blue with green diamonds which was a 2007 model. They may not sell that color combination any longer, we haven’t looked into it for a while.
i went shopping today and found that just about every item (only the clothes) were right at my local thrift stores! and if you don`t like the way something looks, experiment! make it in your own fashion, and that is what will make your costume special! it has a little bit of your own creative ideas punched into your costume!
A cheap hexagon pattern shirt, which I have actually used for my costume, IF you can still find it, is the TRIPP NYC Hexagon Shirt. I got mine on ebay but I am sure the person before me got it either on Tripp’s website or at Hot Topic. I also see a fairly decent Tripp NYC Purple Trenchcoat too, which also matches the costume well, also available at Hot Topic or on their site. Its denim but the color is perfect and it works quite well for those on a budget.
check this guy out! http://cgi.ebay.com/joker-costume-nurse-costume-ultimate-edition_W0QQitemZ260375203394QQcmdZViewItemQQssPageNameZRSS:B:SRCH:US:101
hello it is i again and i just had a brain fart (a good idea) a few days ago form birthday i received a NERF gun as a president and i thought what if i painted it to have the image of the sup machine. so i did and it turned out fantastic! oh and by the way to the person above named Roger Podacter, every bit of my costume was purchased from my local thrift stores including a 6 dollar (London Fog) trench coat! (but i could not find a purple one so i just got a fairly light colored trench coat and dyed it!) so try some of those ideas (and if you do please, please post a comment saying so!)
The best movie accurate shoes that I have found are at this website: http://magnolic.ipower.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=260&osCsid=f5b57ec99eb7f377e537f3a8447243d2 They are pricy but, the best I’ve seen on the net in my research.
woooaaa ok this is the joker again and for the guy above me (MovieAccurateDude) alot of us don`t have 130 dollars right now and just encase you did not know this site is ment to be a place to find and discuss cheap joker clothing!
hello Mr. Joker. I first want to say that I really appreciate the time someone took to find all this stuff and list it in one place, but from all the stuff listed I don’t think this is meant to show only the cheap clothing like The Joker Himself has said. I actually thought that the MovieAccurateDude’s link was pretty cool.
I did go to the thrift store to find most of my stuff. I found a good green vest and some pants that weren’t perfect, but they worked. I couldn’t find a good shirt though so I ordered the one listed above…so thanks for that, it’s perfect. If I had the money I would buy the shoes, but I did get a decent pair for $2 bucks at Goodwill, again, they’re not perfect but they work.
You forgot about the wig and if there is anything fancy you need to do with it if you don’t have longer hair
actually as far as wigs, Utopiabase has a decent wig. I am not sure if the color is quite right though, but the length is good. If its too long for you, just trim it with some scissors. Now put in some green hair coloring to it and wait for it to dry. After it has dried, and when you are ready to wear it, put some mousse in your hands and streak it through the wig, giving it the creepy gothic unwashed look.
I have also acquired some purple leather dye from ebay and I am gonna have a go at dyeing these gloves….
http://www.leatherglovesonline.com/pages2/mwi1a-ew3015.htm?Shopzilla
wish me luck!
You’ll probably have the most luck with dyeing linen pinstripe pants. I have become most successful with a pair I have come across that was light grey, nearly all linen and about 20 some percent polyester. I do believe its the linen that holds the dye well. I found another similar pair of pants but they were wool/polyester/linen and they didnt dye a damn bit. I think wool truly hates dye. I had a pair that was almost all wool and they turned navy blue, instead of purple, and the damn things shrunk 3 sizes!!!! So if you can find grey pinstripe linen pants, get em! Use the dye technique John Dough above described, but what I do is first condition them with Procion Deep Purple, THEN after they have fully rinsed in cold water, redye them with RIT Purple and Royal Blue. You’ll get amazing results.
the best purple trench coat for the price is at http://www.hellocosplay.com and a good replica vest for the price and for better grenades go to http://www.budk.com and for joker playing cards buy a joker pker set at http://www.forbiddenplanetstore.com
I did it! My gloves turned out PERFECT. I got the gloves I described above, then on ebay found leather dye and leather super sheen gloss, I dyed them and shined them up and they are absolutely AWESOME! They are expensive but far far better than the cheesy Rubies gloves. They are screen accurate indeed!
I now am going to complete my costume by making the perfect pants. I found a great pair that are ALL Linen, remember polyester, rayon and silk dont dye. I am going to dye them up and my outfit will be perfected. So far now, I got my coat, vest and shirt from Utopiabase.com, the gloves from the site above and some leather dye for it on ebay, the socks from Tabio, the braces from Alburt Thurston, the tie from Ebay, the shoes from CABoots.com and the makeup kit from Rubies. I found the knife at a flea market. And the blazer I made myself from an old blazer I got at a thrift shop and some orange satin lining I got from Joann Fabrics that I glued in. Perfect!
And folks I am selling some nice cheap pinstripe pants on my ebay site. Look me up. Theamericanpsycho.
“I did it! My gloves turned out PERFECT.”
-theamericanpsycho
hey psycho, post some pics if you can, I’d like to see how your stuff came out.
hello, it is i (scarecrow)! just so you fools know, in the movie i was a skitsafrinic syco . but in real life im a !!!PARINOID!!! skitsafrinic syco! ok, now thats a BIG diffrence right? so…. im just gonna go talk to my friend that everyone says isn`t real (steve) and thats pretty much it, so bye-bye (and joker, Why So Serious?
THAT GUYS A FREAK! ( ↑↑↑↑ )
Check out my ebay site for my full costume. I admit that the colors are alot lighter being that they were taken in the sun, and I used my Rubies Joker gloves for this picture and I didnt have the tie at the time. I promise you I will have my COMPLETED costume up in a few days or so. I just have to get the tangles out of the wig and get the face paint ready.
the best place to get joker gloves is magnoli clothiers and thay have a great vest and tie thay are pricey but thay are good
For your viewing pleasure, I have put up a picture of me in my Joker attire. Many of you have asked for it, so I have came through. I brought you the badass Joker pants on my ebay site, now check out my Joker pics!
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v480/1stepinshit/?action=view¤t=l_e6b2a8e8032b4dfe8f56326deea882f9.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v480/1stepinshit/?action=view¤t=l_3197b9294eaa4d51b0efa8af6991e8d3.jpg
Now, here’s the entire rundown of where I got my entire custom outfit….
I got the coat, the hexagon shirt and the green vest all at Utopiabase.com. I got the tie on ebay, its from zazzle.com. The wig/makeup kit I got on ebay from Rubies. The gloves are custom made by me, I found the appropriate tan colored deerskin gloves then used purple leather dye and dyed them then used leather clear coat to finish the perfected look. The shoes I got from CABoots.com. The socks from ebay….Tabio. The knife, the Extractor, from knifesupply.com. The suspenders, green diamond, from Bromleys. The grey suit coat, I made myself by finding a grey suit coat at a thift store, then ironing in orange satin lining I bought from Joann Fabrics. And finally, THE PANTS, my personal favorite and specialty, I make myself from specially selected pinstripped dress pants and a special blend of clothing dyes which create the perfect “grape” color. If ya want the pants, visit my ebay site, chances are I got your size. Thanks to all my customers in the past, and hopefully I will continue to supply to new customers as well
hello all, it is I ”Oswald Cobblepot” and i need your help. i know this is strictly a joker site but i am desperate! i need to know were i can buy a ”Barman Returns Penguin Costume”? know of any place? and even if you don`t please write saying that you do not know, just so i know that i am being herd. thank you!
sincerely,
Oswald Cobblepot
hello all, it is I ”Oswald Cobblepot” and i need your help. i know this is strictly a joker site but i am desperate! i need to know were i can buy a ”Barman Returns Penguin Costume”? know of any place? and even if you don`t please write saying that you do not know, just so i know that i am being herd.
sincerely,
Oswald Cobblepot
sorry about posting this twice, (accident) ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑
Depends how authentic you want it. You can find an adult Penguin costume here: http://www.costumecraze.com/BTMN68.html
oh, well thankyou my dear boy, but as you mentioned i am indeed looking for a more authentic looking more costume
You can have it custom made, there are a lot of good costume makers. Here are a few:
http://www.costumeholidayhouse.com/deluxe_costumes/deluxe_subcategory.asp?Sub_Category=Villains
http://the-magic-wardrobe.com/AboutUs.html
http://www.theirongategallery.com/
http://www.limebarb.com/ABOUT-US/about-us.htm
oh my!, much appreciated Mr Trav and now (because of you) i only have one more question, were could i get an umbrella that does something unique?
depends how much you’re looking to spend…
check out these:
http://www.pimall.com/nais/umbrelllasword.html
http://www.trueswords.com/sword-cane-covert-umbrella-sword-cane-sword-p-4534.html
http://www.888knivesrus.com/c=fdTLz0SL9QoeZ9XWowEjAlkkT/product/KLOUMBRELLA/KENLO_600040_ALL_WEATHER_PROTECTION_UMBRELLA.html
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/brilliance/water-pistol-umbrella-makes-the-rain-a-hell-of-a-lot-more-fun-320674.php
oh my dear boy! brilliant! oh if there is there anything in can do to re-pay you please mention soon (for i have one more question) do you know were i could get the batman returns penguin gloves? (i assume you know what they look like)
Sorry Cobblepot, I’m not sure where you can get some pre-fab penguin gloves that are movie accurate. Neoprene claw surfing gloves look similar:
(http://www.surfing-waves.com/Item/SHa4ac0409/billabong-gbs-claw-glove-5mm.htm)
But if you want movie accurate, you’ll have to have those made along with the costume, it shouldn’t be hard. In fact, you could get some black pleather at Jo-Anne fabrics and make them yourself. Take two mirror image pieces of fabric, with three points (two fingers one slightly more obtuse than the other and a small pointy thumb), a slight bulge for the palm funneled down to the more narrow wrist. Place one pattern on top of the other with the shinny sides facing each other, then sew them together (around the parameter); don’t worry about the the seem, it will be on the inside. When you’re done, turn it inside out and you’ve got a glove. Make sure to make four identical patterns (two which are enantiomers of the other two, so that both sides show the shinny pleather when you’re done). Also remember to make it bigger than your hand, even the inside parameter of the stitch, because when you turn it inside out, you will lose surface area to the fold and the sides.
Hope that helps
Good Luck!
-Trav
why thank you ,but there is a question that has yet to be abswerd, do you need any help?
well thank you my dear friends! i will surley post pictures of my penguin costume as soon as i receive it and trav, please answer the following question, :is there anything in cam do to help you?
Thanks Cobblepot,
Just remember to come back and post some photos of your costume once it’s completed. Other than that, just try to help someone else out whenever you can.
Good Luck!
oh, i have found the greatest penguin costumes and won the bid! it should be here Mon. or Tues.! i must give a special thanks to Trav, thank you my dear boy! for all your help!
i have just received my penguin costume and it looks fantastic! while understanding that it is indeed costume quality i believe it is marvolas! it does indeed have an atached vest and pants, also a trench coat that stands by itself, i do have a monocole and a top hat i found at my local magic store. i have also have an expert relative seamstress so the odd looking gloves shouldn`t be hard! lol (she is so good that she can even sew wedding dresses too) but still i lack one thing. . . . . . . a trick umbrella. i have found one that is sure to work. i will surley post some pictures Master Trav! NOTE: i am only 11 years old so i won`t look perfect, (but it will work)well thank you my dear friends and i hope to ask many more questions!