Nutcracker Costume

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What Makes It Work

The red jacket is the base. A red blazer or band-style jacket works best. Add gold ribbon or braid across the chest in horizontal bars, gold buttons, and gold fringe epaulettes on the shoulders if you can find them.

Below, wear black or white pants tucked into tall black boots. White gloves and a wide black belt with a gold buckle complete the uniform.

The head makes it a nutcracker. A tall black hat (a top hat or a busby-style hat) and a white beard or mustache if you want the classic toy. Paint bright round rosy cheeks, a sharp square jaw line and big painted-on eyebrows. Stand stiff and move like a wooden toy.

What People Get Wrong

A plain red jacket without gold trim. It just looks like a red blazer. The other miss is a short hat. The nutcracker’s hat should be tall.

Buy It or Build It?

Nutcracker costumes run $35 to $70. A tall hat and gold trim cost $15 to $25 if you have a red blazer.

Where to Buy

Next up: Ebenezer Scrooge Costume

See Also

Mrs. ClausA red dress with white fur trim, an apron and little round glassesPumpkin PieA golden crust, an orange filling and a whipped cream hatPilgrimPlain colonial clothes with a white collar, minus the buckles