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A ringmaster costume puts you in charge of a circus-themed party, and a jester and a mime make up the rest of the troupe. Each of the 6 costumes below puts its main pieces in one pack, from the jacket, top, skirt, and hat of our women's ringmaster to the striped t-shirt, braces, and beret of our mime costumes. Boots, shoes, white gloves, and white face make-up are the extras to bring, and the table below says which costume needs which.
- Our circus fancy dress picks at a glance
- What does a ringmaster wear?
- What does a jester wear?
- Is a harlequin a jester?
- What does a mime wear?
- How do you cover a whole troupe?
- Frequently asked questions
Between 22 April and 9 October 2026, mime queries made up about one in six of our UK Search Console impressions on ringmaster, jester, harlequin, and mime costume queries, so the mimes get a full section here rather than a footnote. Our circus fancy dress and costume range holds more circus looks than these six, including a men's ringmaster costume and a women's harlequin jester costume.
Our circus fancy dress picks at a glance
The last column lists what each pack leaves out, from boots for our women's ringmaster to white face make-up for both mimes. Every costume goes through over 30 measurement checks, and sizing differs by costume: UK dress size on the women's mime, chest measurement on the men's mime, and age bands on the two kids' costumes.
| Costume | Role | Who it's for | What's in the pack | What to bring |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's Dazzling Ringmaster Costume | Ringmaster | Adult women, small to large | Jacket with gold trim, top, high-waisted skirt, hat | Boots, white gloves |
| Kids Ringmaster Costume | Ringmaster | Ages 4 to 14 | All-in-one top (jacket, waistcoat, shirt insert, bow tie), black trousers, black top hat | Shoes, white gloves |
| Men's Jester Costume | Jester | Adult men, medium to XL | Top, trousers, hat, shoe covers | Face paint, if you like |
| Boys Light-Up Scary Jester Costume | Jester, for Halloween | Boys, ages 7 to 14 (check the selector for smaller sizes) | Diamond print top, trousers, hat, tie, belt, gloves, light-up mask, 2 CR2032 batteries | Shoes |
| Women's Mime Costume | Mime | Adult women, UK 8 to 22 | Ruffled tutu skirt with braces, striped t-shirt, gloves, knee-high socks, beret | White face make-up |
| Men's Mime Costume | Mime | Adult men, chest 38 to 46 in | Black trousers with braces, striped t-shirt, gloves, beret | White face make-up |
What does a ringmaster wear?
A ringmaster usually wears a tailcoat, a white shirt, a bow tie, gloves, and a top hat. The V&A holds the outfit Norman Barrett MBE wore as ringmaster from 2006 to 2014, which is the same list with a waistcoat added: a red barathea tailcoat, a white evening shirt, a black velvet waistcoat, a white bow tie, white gloves, and a black top hat. According to the V&A, Philip Astley and his wife Patty established Astley's Riding School in London in 1768, and Philip soon added clowns, acrobats, jugglers, rope dancers, and strongmen to the show. Neither ringmaster costume here includes gloves, so add a white pair to finish the look.
Women's Dazzling Ringmaster Costume
The pack is built around a jacket with gold trim, with a top, a high-waisted skirt, and a hat alongside it. Soft stretch fabric and an elasticated waist mean it moves with you; it comes in small, medium, and large by body measurements, so check the size guide against your chest, waist, and hip. Boots are not in the pack, so bring your own. Hand wash each piece separately in cool water and air dry flat.
Kids Ringmaster Costume
The jacket, waistcoat, shirt insert, and bow tie are all one piece, so a child puts on one top rather than four layers, and black trousers and a black top hat complete it. Shoes and a pair of white gloves are the extras to bring. Sizes run by age from 4-6 years up to 12-14 years, and if your child is between sizes or tall for their age, size up. Hand wash only, separately to avoid colour transfer, and air dry fully before storing. All of our kids' products are safety tested by accredited labs.
What does a jester wear?
Historically, a jester often wore a hood and clothing hung with bells. The V&A, describing a boxwood staff from 1450 to 1475 thought to be a jester's, says jesters were often retainers of princes, nobles, and churchmen, and are sometimes shown in a hood like a monk's cowl with asses' ears. Our two jester costumes take that in two directions: the men's version for a stag do, a carnival event, or a circus night, and a light-up scary one for kids' Halloween. On the Halloween side, a YouGov poll published in October 2025 found that 37% of GB adults aged 18 to 24 dress up for Halloween, against 16% of adults overall.
Men's Jester Costume
A top, trousers, a hat, and shoe covers make up the pack. It comes in medium, large, and XL, sized by chest and height; if you are between sizes, size up for comfort when wearing the full outfit with the shoe covers. Made from 100% polyester. Hand wash only, with the hat washed separately to protect its shape, and air dry flat.
Boys Light-Up Scary Jester Costume
The mask has glowing red eyes, and two CR2032 batteries are in the pack, so it lights straight from the box. The rest is a diamond print top with a ragged edge, matching contrast trousers, a hat, a tie, a belt, and gloves. Sizes run by age, from M for 7-9 years up to XL for 12-14 years, so check the size selector on the product page for the full run. Take the mask off and take the batteries out before washing, hand wash only, and air dry the pieces flat. All of our kids' products are safety tested by accredited labs.
Is a harlequin a jester?
A harlequin and a jester are different characters. Jesters often served in noble households; Harlequin is one of the characters of the Italian commedia dell'arte, and the V&A describes him as the young lover of Columbine, whose original patched suit of various fabrics developed into multi-coloured diamond shapes, the diamond pattern we still call harlequin. Costume guides often merge the two because both play the fool, and our boys' light-up jester shows the overlap: a jester look on a diamond print top. Our circus range also holds a women's harlequin jester costume.
What does a mime wear?
A mime wears a striped top, black trousers or a black skirt, white gloves, and a beret, usually with white face make-up. Our two mime costumes cover the clothes; the make-up is not in either pack. Keep the rest of the look to black and white, since extra colours start to read as clown, and keep the white face thin at the jaw so it does not transfer onto the collar.
Women's Mime Costume
A ruffled tutu skirt with attached braces, a striped t-shirt, white gloves, knee-high socks, and a black beret are all in the pack. Sizes run by UK dress size: small is 8-10, medium 12-14, large 16-18, and XL 20-22. Tuck the t-shirt into the skirt's waistband for the best fit. Hand wash only, wash the pieces separately in cool water, and reshape while damp before an air dry flat.
Men's Mime Costume
Black trousers with attached braces, a striped t-shirt, white gloves, and a black beret come in the pack. It is sized by chest: medium fits 38-40 in, large 41-43 in, and XL 44-46 in, and the trousers and t-shirt are sized together as a set. It is designed for adult men, not children. Hand wash only, wash each piece separately, and air dry flat.
Worn together, the two make a mime couple for a circus night out, and our couples costume guide has more pairings if the other half would rather be someone else.
How do you cover a whole troupe?
Four costumes from this page cover a whole troupe: a ringmaster, a jester, and two mimes, with the kids' ringmaster or the light-up jester for the younger members of the group.
A hen group that wants a mix of themes will find it in our hen party fancy dress guide, and a bigger Halloween crowd in our group Halloween costumes. Clowns have their own guides, for adults and for kids.
Frequently asked questions
What do you wear to a circus themed party?
Pick one role and wear its core pieces: a ringmaster's jacket and top hat, a mime's striped top and beret, or a jester's hat and shoe covers. Our Women's Dazzling Ringmaster Costume puts a jacket with gold trim, a top, a high-waisted skirt, and a hat in one pack, and you add your own boots. A group can split the roles, with a ringmaster, a jester, and two mimes making a whole troupe.
What does a ringmaster wear?
A ringmaster usually wears a tailcoat, a white shirt, a bow tie, gloves, and a top hat; the ringmaster outfit the V&A holds, worn from 2006 to 2014, has all five plus a waistcoat. Our Kids Ringmaster Costume combines the jacket, waistcoat, shirt insert, and bow tie into one top, with black trousers and a black top hat.
What do jesters wear?
Jesters often wore a hood and clothing hung with bells. Our Men's Jester Costume is a top, trousers, a hat, and shoe covers in one pack, and our Boys Light-Up Scary Jester Costume comes with a mask with glowing red eyes and two CR2032 batteries.
Is a harlequin a jester?
They are different characters: Harlequin comes from the Italian commedia dell'arte, while jesters often served in noble households. The V&A describes the harlequin's patched suit developing into diamond shapes, and our Boys Light-Up Scary Jester Costume borrows the idea with a diamond print top.
What does a mime wear?
A mime wears a striped top, black trousers or a black skirt, white gloves, and a beret, with white face make-up. Our Women's Mime Costume and Men's Mime Costume each put the striped top, gloves, and beret in one pack, and the make-up is the extra to bring.
