Halloween Costume With a Striped Shirt: 20 Ideas
A halloween costume with a striped shirt is one of the fastest closet costumes out there, because stripes already belong to famous characters: a pirate, a mime, a cartoon-style burglar, a referee, a sailor and a beach-day lifeguard. The stripe color decides the costume: black and white for mime or burglar, red and white for pirate or a "find me in a crowd" character, and navy for sailor or French artist. Here are 20 ideas.
If you've pulled out a striped tee and can't decide between pirate and mime, The Costume Rack matches your closet and vibe to one costume in about two minutes: Start my costume.
Black and white stripe costumes
The black and white striped shirt costume is the most versatile. Vertical stripes say referee; horizontal stripes say mime or burglar.
1. Mime (mime costume DIY)
- Black and white horizontal stripe top
- Black pants, suspenders if you have them
- White gloves
- White face with black eyeliner details, or a no-makeup version with a black beret and a red scarf
- Stay silent and "stuck in a box" for photos
2. Cartoon burglar (burglar costume DIY)
- Horizontal stripes, black pants
- Black beanie
- A black eye mask (felt or a sleep mask)
- A cloth bag with a big "$" drawn on
3. Referee (referee costume DIY)
- Vertical black and white stripes
- Black pants, whistle on a lanyard
- Yellow and red "cards" cut from paper
Hand out yellow cards all night. It's a bit.
4. Zebra
Black and white stripes, ears on a headband, a yarn tail. Pair with a friend as a lion.
5. Skeleton alternative, "Beetlejuice-style" ghoul
Black and white vertical stripes (a striped suit vibe), messy greenish hair spray, dark eyeshadow. It's a recognizable afterlife aesthetic without needing the exact character. Note: a lot of people reach for "prisoner" with black and white stripes. There are prisoner costume alternatives that are funnier and less loaded; the burglar is the easiest.
Red and white stripe costumes
A red and white striped shirt costume is bold and bright, which makes it perfect for cheeky characters.
6. Pirate (pirate costume with striped shirt)
- Red and white or black and white stripes
- Jeans rolled to the ankle or black pants
- Red bandana on your head, eye patch
- Big hoop earring, toy sword or a parrot on your shoulder
7. "Find me in a crowd" character
Red and white stripes, blue jeans, round glasses, a red and white bobble hat. Everyone will know who you're going as without you saying the name. Bonus: hide in group photos.
8. Candy cane
Red and white stripes head to toe (striped tights help), a green bow. Festive but works for Halloween.
9. Circus strongman
Red and white stripes, a painted-on curly mustache, a "barbell" made from a broom handle and two balloons.
10. Clown
Red and white stripes, a ruffle collar, red nose, mismatched socks. For a party clown vibe, add suspenders and a balloon.
Navy stripe costumes
Navy and white stripes (sometimes called a Breton stripe) read "sea" and "French," so lean into both.
| Costume | Add to navy stripes | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Sailor | White pants, sailor hat, anchor tattoo | Classic |
| French artist | Beret, red scarf, paintbrush, drawn mustache | Funny |
| Lifeguard | Red shorts, whistle, float | Summer |
| Pirate first mate | Bandana, rope belt | Crew |
| Gondolier | Straw hat with ribbon, an oar prop | Unexpected |
| Fisherman | Yellow rain hat, toy fish | Cozy |
11. Sailor (sailor costume with striped shirt)
Navy stripes, white or navy bottoms, a white sailor hat, a red neckerchief. Add a tiny anchor drawn on your arm.
12. French artist
Beret, red neck scarf, a mustache drawn with eyeliner, a baguette (a real one is funnier). Carry a paint palette made from cardboard.
13. Lifeguard
Navy or red stripes, red shorts over leggings, whistle, sunglasses. Works best at a hot-weather party.
14. Pirate first mate
Navy stripes, a bandana, a rope belt, a toy telescope.
15. Gondolier
Navy and white stripes, a straw boater hat with a red ribbon, a broom as an oar. Unexpected, very funny.
Working out which striped costume goes with your pants, shoes and hat, and whether you're up for face paint, is the fiddly part. The Costume Rack asks, matches you to a costume like pirate or party clown, and gives you a version made from things you own plus a no-makeup version. Start my costume
Group stripe ideas
Group costumes with striped shirts work because stripes are cheap, everyone owns some, and the theme is instantly clear.
- 16. Pirate crew: everyone in stripes, one captain in a long coat and hat.
- 17. Circus troupe: strongman, clown, ringmaster (red jacket, top hat), and a lion.
- 18. Heist crew: everyone as cartoon burglars with "$" bags, plus one person as a detective with a magnifying glass.
- 19. Sailors and a mermaid: the crew in navy stripes, one person as the mermaid.
- 20. Referee + athletes: one ref, everyone else in jerseys. Hand out cards all night.
Duo idea: pirate + parrot (green hoodie with a paper beak), or mime + French artist.
If someone doesn't have a striped tee, they can still join in with the lazy version; our lazy halloween costumes for guys and costume with jeans ideas have tee-based builds that fit a group.
Finishing props
A striped shirt halloween costume is 50% there. The other 50% is props. This is the cheat sheet:
- Head: bandana (pirate), beret (mime, artist), sailor hat, beanie (burglar), bobble hat (crowd character)
- Face: eye patch, drawn mustache, red nose, mime makeup (all optional)
- Hands: white gloves (mime), whistle (ref, lifeguard), "$" bag (burglar), sword (pirate), baguette (artist)
- Legs: rolled jeans (pirate), striped tights (candy cane), black pants (mime)
Pro tip: horizontal stripes are best for mime, burglar, pirate and sailor. Vertical stripes are best for referee and anything "suit-like."
Get your stripe costume matched in two minutes
A halloween costume with a striped shirt is almost done before you start, you just need the right character and props. The Costume Rack asks about your vibe, closet and face paint, then gives you a costume with every piece listed, three put-together steps and a countdown with one piece to sort each day.
FAQ
What costume can you make with a striped shirt?
Pirate, mime, burglar, referee, sailor, French artist, zebra and clown all start with a striped shirt. The stripe color points you to the best one: black and white for mime or burglar, red and white for pirate or clown, navy for sailor.
What is a black and white striped shirt costume?
The most common ones are a mime (horizontal stripes, beret, white gloves), a cartoon burglar (beanie, eye mask, "$" bag) and a referee (vertical stripes, whistle). All three take under 20 minutes.
How do I make a pirate costume with a striped shirt?
Wear the striped shirt with rolled jeans or black pants, tie a bandana on your head and add an eye patch. A big hoop earring, a toy sword or a stuffed parrot on your shoulder finishes it.
Is a striped shirt costume good for guys?
Yes. Pirate, burglar, referee, sailor and French artist are all easy striped shirt costumes for guys using jeans or black pants. They're low effort but still read clearly in photos.