Most men I dress for Halloween want something they can pull from their own closet, wear for five hours and still sit down in. A scarecrow does that better than almost any character, because the base is ordinary workwear: overalls, flannel, boots and a battered hat. What turns it into a costume is the straw, the patches and a few lines of face paint. Below are thirty versions, from a hoodie you can throw together on the night to a tailored suit gone to seed, each with the clothing, straw, makeup, prop and footwear spelled out. I've added notes on what I check when I fit each one, because a scarecrow that sheds raffia down your back by nine o'clock stops being fun.
Raffia That Stays Put Until Midnight
Loose straw is what ruins most scarecrow costumes. It sheds onto car seats and sofas, it itches at the wrists, and by the end of the night half of it is on the floor. Every version below uses raffia, so it's worth getting the attachment right once.
- Use raffia or paper straw, not real hay. Hay is dusty, brittle and a problem for anyone with allergies. Raffia bends without snapping and keeps its colour.
- Make small bundles, about a finger thick, and wrap the top of each one tightly with thread or a rubber band before attaching it. A tied bundle sheds a few strands; a loose handful sheds all of them.
- Sew or safety-pin the bundles to the inside of the cuff, collar or hem so only the ends show. Pinning to the outside leaves the cut ends against your skin.
- On bare skin, such as a sleeveless shirt, stitch the raffia to a strip of cotton tape first, then attach the tape. That layer stops the scratching.
- Trim anything near the ankle so it stops an inch above the floor. Strands under your heel pull the whole bundle loose.
Hot glue is tempting, but it lets go in cold air and leaves hard lumps on the fabric. If you want the clothes back afterwards, thread and safety pins are the better choice.
1. Classic Scarecrow Costume With Overalls
This is the version I'd build first if you've never done a scarecrow. Faded denim overalls go over a red-and-brown plaid flannel, and the patches on the knees, pockets and elbows can be sewn or safety-pinned; pins are fine for one night, but they pop open when you kneel, so I stitch the knee patches at least. Keep the raffia bundles under the cuffs and around the ankles short enough that they never touch the ground, or you'll be stepping on them by the second hour. A floppy straw hat over messy natural hair gives you the outline. For the face, an orange triangle on the nose, warm blush and short black stitches beside the mouth, then a small wicker basket of artificial corn and brown work boots with thick socks. It's the one I'd trust for a long outdoor festival.
2. Storybook Scarecrow Costume With Green Shirt
The storybook scarecrow reads through colour and posture rather than straw. A loose green shirt, brown trousers and a dark vest are the base, with mismatched blue, yellow and rust patches across the shirt and pants. Tuck raffia carefully at the collar, wrists and boot openings. The hat matters most here: soft brown felt shaped into a tall, slightly pointed crown, with a few strands of hair showing underneath. Felt holds a shape far better if you steam it over a bowl and let it dry stuffed with paper. Tan makeup, round rosy cheeks, a painted nose patch and a wide stitched smile finish the face, and a rolled paper diploma tied with ribbon gives you something to hold. Lace-up brown boots with a soft sole let you do the loose, wobbly walk without turning an ankle.
3. Spooky Burlap Scarecrow Costume
If you want spooky without anything graphic, this is the one. A distressed brown shirt, black jeans and a long weathered vest, with thin rope tied loosely at the waist and burlap patches on the shoulders, thighs and knees. The hood is where I'm strict. Real burlap is scratchy and the weave sheds fibres into your eyes, so look for a burlap-style hood and make the eye openings wide, backed with mesh, before you commit; if you can't see a kerb in it, cut them bigger. Prefer makeup? Beige face paint, dark brown shading and neat stitched lines do the same job with no visibility problem. Tuck your hair under the hood, add a battered wide-brim hat, raffia at the sleeves and cuffs, and carry a small artificial crow or a wooden field sign. Scuffed black work boots finish it.
4. Friendly Scarecrow Costume With Yellow Shirt
Bright colours make the scarecrow friendly, which is what you want at a school event or on the doorstep handing out sweets. A mustard-yellow button-down sits under light-wash overalls, with blue, orange and gingham patches on both. I keep the straw minimal and soft at the wrists here, because a costume you greet children in all evening has to be comfortable when you bend down. Tousle your own hair or wear a short shaggy brown wig under a clean straw hat. Orange face paint on the nose, peach blush and curved black lines like cheerful stitching are enough. Tuck one sunflower into the overall pocket and wear tan lace-up boots or comfortable brown sneakers. Daytime festivals suit it far better than a dim bar.
5. Patchwork Farmer Scarecrow Costume
A chambray shirt, brown canvas pants and sturdy suspenders give you the hardworking farmhand. Cover the clothing in deliberately mismatched patches: plaid, corduroy, denim and burlap. Corduroy and denim patches hold their edges, while burlap frays fast, so I zigzag or glue the burlap edges before attaching them. Leave the shirt untucked in a few places and put raffia under the collar and cuffs. Short hair goes messy and windblown under a faded straw hat. The makeup stays earthy: bronzed cheeks, a small brown nose patch and fine stitches from each corner of the mouth. Carry a lightweight wooden crate of artificial apples or corn, and wear worn brown work boots with neutral boot socks. Almost every piece here turns up on a thrift rack.
6. Denim Scarecrow Costume
Head-to-toe denim only works if the shades are clearly different. Put a light denim shirt under darker blue overalls; two similar washes just look like you got dressed in the dark. Rust, mustard and red patches on the knees and chest pocket break up all that blue. Secure the raffia under the clothing at the wrists, neckline and ankles rather than against bare skin, which itches within the hour. A shaggy sandy-brown wig, or your own hair roughed up, goes under a straw hat with a denim band. Subtle tan makeup, an orange nose triangle and evenly spaced black stitches across the cheeks, a small bundle of artificial wheat tied with blue ribbon, and brown leather boots you can stand in all night.
7. Victorian Gentleman Scarecrow Costume
The Victorian gentleman is the scarecrow for a man who'd rather wear a coat than overalls. A long brown coat, tan waistcoat, cream shirt and dark trousers form the base. Distress the coat lightly with sandpaper at the edges and add a few burlap patches along the elbows and hem; too many and it stops looking like tailoring. A narrow rope tie or faded bow tie, neat hair under a worn brown top hat trimmed with raffia and one artificial leaf. Keep the face refined: light beige base, defined cheek shading and fine black stitches around the mouth. An old hardcover notebook or a pocket-watch-style accessory is the prop, and dark brown lace-up boots ground it. It looks theatrical without being heavy to wear.
8. Cowboy Scarecrow Costume
Western clothing and harvest details sit together easily because they share the same fabrics. Start with boot-cut jeans, a checked shirt and a brown suede-style vest, patch the jeans and let short, neatly tied raffia bundles peek out of the shirt cuffs. A wide-brim cowboy hat wrapped in rope takes the place of the floppy straw one. Keep your hair slightly tousled or wear a medium-length brown wig. Use face-safe makeup for the warm orange nose, dusty cheek shading and stitch lines. A bandanna adds colour at the neck, and a coiled decorative rope or a small burlap feed bag is a harmless prop. Classic cowboy boots finish it, though I'd only pick them if you've already broken them in.
9. Pumpkin Patch Scarecrow Costume
Orange and green together make this one look planted in a pumpkin patch. Dark overalls over an orange plaid shirt, green and brown patches across the knees and elbows, raffia in the cuffs, and a floppy hat dressed with artificial vines and small fabric leaves. Wire-stemmed vines can be bent around the crown so they don't slide off. Messy brown hair or a shaggy wig frames the face. Paint the nose orange, add copper shading on the cheeks and clean black stitches around the mouth. A lightweight foam pumpkin or a small harvest basket is the prop; skip a real pumpkin, it gets heavy fast. Dark brown boots keep it grounded, and the colours hold up in daylight or evening photos.
10. Sunflower Scarecrow Costume
Sunflowers add colour without changing the scarecrow shape. Medium-wash overalls and a cream or yellow checked shirt, with sunflower-print patches on the bib, knees and elbows and raffia at the cuffs and neckline. Several artificial sunflowers go on the hatband. Keep them light and spread around the brim; three heavy blooms on one side will tip the hat over your ear. Natural messy hair is fine, or a short honey-brown wig if you want more volume. Golden eye shadow, rosy cheeks, an orange nose and small brown stitch marks keep the face friendly. Carry one oversized artificial sunflower or a small watering can, and wear tan work boots. It's a good fit for a fall festival with the family.
11. Cornfield Scarecrow Costume
Green, tan and gold suggest a cornfield late in the season. Olive overalls go over a beige plaid shirt with dark green patches at the knees and pockets. You can be generous with raffia here, at the collar, sleeves and pant legs, because it stands in for dried husks, but tie it in small bundles so it doesn't all drop at once. Messy hair goes under a weathered straw hat with artificial corn leaves. Brown face shading, a muted orange nose and fine black stitches keep the makeup rustic. Two lightweight artificial corn cobs tied with twine make the prop. Mud-coloured rubber boots suit a muddy farm event; brown work boots suit anywhere with a floor. There's enough detail for a costume contest.
12. Black And White Scarecrow Costume
Take out the colour and the scarecrow becomes graphic. Black overalls over a white-and-gray checked shirt, with patches cut from striped, gingham and solid black fabric. Swap natural raffia for pale cream paper straw at the collar and cuffs so the palette stays clean. A black floppy hat with a white rope band, messy black hair or a short dark wig underneath. Go light with white face makeup; a full white base on a warm night creases and transfers onto everything, so I'd paint only the centre of the face and define the eyes, nose and stitched smile in soft charcoal gray. A small black-and-white wooden sign and black lace-up boots finish it, and it photographs crisply.
13. Black Scarecrow Costume
All black is dramatic, but it needs texture or you'll read as a man in a dark outfit. Distressed black jeans, a charcoal flannel, a faded black vest and a frayed rope belt are the base. The dark brown burlap patches are what keep the layers visible, and natural-coloured raffia at the wrists and ankles gives contrast. Tousle dark hair or wear a shaggy black wig under a weathered black hat. Smoky gray eyes, a black triangular nose and symmetrical stitches across the cheeks keep it spooky without gore. An artificial crow pinned to the shoulder or held in one hand suits it. Heavy black boots finish it. If you're walking after dark, add something reflective; black on black disappears to drivers.
14. Red Plaid Scarecrow Costume
A bold red plaid shirt is the quickest scarecrow base I know. Pair it with distressed blue jeans, tan suspenders and a faded brown vest, and sew denim and mustard patches on the knees, elbows and vest pockets. Raffia at the collar and cuffs gives you fullness without stuffing the clothes. Keep your hair messy under a straw hat trimmed with red plaid ribbon. The face is an orange nose, strong rosy cheeks and small black stitches around the lips. A wicker basket of artificial red apples ties back to the shirt. Brown hiking or work boots. Most men own at least half of this already, which is why I send people to it when they have one afternoon.
15. Green Plaid Scarecrow Costume
Forest-green plaid gives a quieter, earthier scarecrow. Wear it under brown overalls, or canvas trousers with suspenders, and add cream, orange and dark green patches across the knees and chest. The raffia needs care under the overall hems: if a strand hangs below the hem, it ends up under your heel and you trip on it. Keep it short. Medium-length hair goes loose and untidy under a tan straw hat with a green band. Light brown face makeup, peach blush, an orange nose and dark green stitch accents. A small basket of artificial pears or fall leaves, and tan lace-up boots. It sits just as well at a house party as at an outdoor pumpkin patch.
16. Orange Scarecrow Costume
Use several oranges rather than one. An orange shirt with rust and pumpkin patches on a tan patchwork vest looks deep; a single flat orange looks like a traffic cone. Dark brown pants, raffia at the shoulders, cuffs and ankles, and a soft rope belt at the waist. A distressed brown hat with orange leaves sits over messy brown hair. Paint the nose deep orange, blend gold over the cheeks and add brown stitch lines at the mouth. Carry a small foam pumpkin or a leaf garland, and wear sturdy brown boots. It's at its brightest under strong party or festival lighting.
17. Brown Scarecrow Costume
Brown on brown works when the textures do the talking. Chocolate corduroy pants, a tan shirt and a dark brown vest, broken up with small plaid and denim patches at the elbows and knees. Corduroy is a good choice for a long night because it's warm and the wale hides wear. Use pale raffia at the wrists, collar and boot tops so the straw actually shows against all that brown. A shaggy light-brown wig or your own hair goes under a floppy felt hat. Tan makeup, dark brown cheek shading, an orange-brown nose and black stitched lines. A miniature burlap sack of artificial leaves is the prop, and distressed brown boots finish it. Secondhand pieces in mixed textures make it look better, not worse.
18. Scarecrow Costume With Denim Jacket
A distressed denim jacket makes this the warmest of the overall-free versions, which matters in late October. Layer it over a rust flannel with brown canvas pants. Patch the jacket sleeves and pant legs in plaid, corduroy and burlap, put raffia under the jacket cuffs and around the ankles, and leave the front clear so you can button up if the wind picks up. Messy hair goes under a floppy straw hat with a denim band. A painted orange nose, light blush and simple mouth stitches are all the face needs. Carry a small artificial crow or a bundle of wheat, and wear brown lace-up boots. I'd steer anyone trick-or-treating with their kids or walking in a parade toward this one.
19. Last-Minute Scarecrow Costume With Hoodie
When you've got an hour, start with a brown or mustard hoodie and faded jeans. Plaid patches go on the sleeves, knees and pockets with safety pins or fabric tape, which peel off clean afterwards so the hoodie goes back into your rotation. Put short raffia bundles inside the cuffs and the hood opening, keeping every strand away from your eyes. Messy hair, a straw hat over the hood either up or down. Draw the triangular nose and quick stitches with an eyeliner pencil; it's softer on skin than a marker and comes off with makeup remover. Add warm blush if you have some. A reusable shopping bag dressed up as a harvest sack, and brown sneakers or hiking boots. Almost no crafting, and almost nothing to throw away.
20. Scarecrow Costume With Suit
An old brown suit gone to seed is my favourite way to make a scarecrow look deliberate. Wear the jacket and trousers with a cream shirt, a plaid tie and a mustard waistcoat, and add neatly stitched patches to the elbows, knees and jacket pockets. Only a few short raffia strands should show at the cuffs and collar, because the tailored shape is the joke and too much straw hides it. Hair neat but slightly tousled under a battered felt hat. Subtle tan makeup, defined cheek shading, an orange nose patch and precise black stitches. An old briefcase full of artificial leaves or a rolled field map, and distressed brown dress boots. It's the most office-friendly scarecrow here, provided the suit really is one you're done with.
21. Steampunk Scarecrow Costume
Steampunk and scarecrow share a love of worn leather and brass, so they blend without fighting. Brown trousers, a cream collarless shirt, suspenders and a fitted leather-look vest, with burlap patches, brass-coloured buttons and raffia at the cuffs. The goggles sit on the band of a worn top hat, not over your eyes, so your vision stays clear. Keep your hair tousled or wear a short copper-brown wig. Bronze eye shadow, warm cheek contour, a rust nose and tidy stitched lines. Carry a lightweight foam gear, a small vintage-style satchel or a decorative field compass. Brown lace-up boots with boot covers finish it. It takes the longest to assemble of anything on this list, mostly in hunting down the small hardware.
22. Woodland Scarecrow Costume
This woodland scarecrow trades straw for moss. Olive trousers, a brown shirt and a forest-green vest decorated with fabric leaves and small burlap patches. Use raffia sparingly at the cuffs and put artificial moss on the hatband instead of the clothing, where it would shed every time you sat down. Medium-length brown hair goes loosely under a floppy green or tan hat. Blend warm brown around the cheeks, paint a muted orange nose and draw fine vine-like stitches beside the mouth. A small basket of artificial mushrooms, pinecones and leaves is the prop. Brown hiking boots give you grip on wet grass, which is where this costume tends to end up, at fall fairs and outdoor photos.
23. Scarecrow Costume With Crow Prop
Here the crow is the costume. Brown overalls over a mustard-and-black plaid shirt, dark patches on the knees and bib, and raffia firmly tied at the wrists, shoulders and ankles. Attaching the bird is the fiddly part: a lightweight artificial crow on one shoulder needs to be stitched or pinned through a thick seam, or perched on a padded glove, because a crow that keeps sliding down your arm gets left on a chair. Messy hair under a worn black or tan hat. Golden-brown eye makeup, an orange nose and black stitches that echo the crow. A small fabric pouch holds your phone and keys so your pockets don't bulge. Black or dark brown work boots. It gives you an easy pose for every photo.
24. Rainy Day Scarecrow Costume
October rain is the main reason I build this one around a coat. A faded yellow raincoat goes over a plaid shirt and distressed brown trousers, with removable patches on the coat and raffia under the sleeve openings where it stays visible but dry. Wet raffia goes limp and dyes your cuffs, so keep it tucked. A floppy waterproof hat, or a treated straw-style one, protects messy hair from light rain. Use smudge-resistant makeup: an orange nose, peach cheeks and waterproof black stitch lines. A closed clear umbrella with a few artificial leaves works for posing, then use it as a normal umbrella outdoors. Brown rubber rain boots finish it. This is the one to wear for neighbourhood events and damp evenings.
25. Harvest Festival Scarecrow Costume
Tan overalls, a burgundy plaid shirt and a burnt-orange vest give the harvest festival version its warmth. The leaf-shaped patches in red, gold and green should be arranged neatly, since this scarecrow is meant to look tended, not abandoned. Raffia at the collar and cuffs, a straw hat with a few artificial leaves, and hair in a casual windblown shape underneath. Warm copper around the eyes, rosy cheeks, an orange nose and clean brown stitch lines. A wicker basket of artificial apples, small pumpkins and corn. Tan work boots or lace-up hikers. I'd pick it for family celebrations, parades and seasonal contests.
26. Skeleton Scarecrow Costume
Two Halloween favourites in one, kept stylised so nobody under ten gets frightened. Black overalls over a gray plaid shirt, white and tan patches on both, and pale raffia at the collar, wrists and ankles for contrast. A distressed black straw hat over messy black hair or a short charcoal wig. Paint the face light gray, add soft black shading around the eyes and simple skeletal lines beside the mouth, and keep a few scarecrow stitches so both ideas still read. Gray and black cream paint transfers onto collars easily; a dusting of translucent powder and a dark shirt underneath save you a ruined collar. Carry a black wooden sign with white field patterns and wear black lace-up boots. It's fine for public events.
27. Funny Scarecrow Costume
Size is the joke here. Oversized overalls over a bright checked shirt, with the bib and sleeves lightly stuffed with soft fabric for a rounded shape. Don't use real straw or crumpled paper for the stuffing; it crackles, pokes and flattens by midnight. Big crooked patches in clashing colours, extra raffia at the wrists and ankles, and a comically floppy straw hat over messy hair or a shaggy yellow-brown wig. Paint oversized rosy cheeks, a bright orange nose and an uneven stitched smile. Carry a small sign that reads “Crow Control” or hold a lightweight crow facing you. Clean brown work boots or oversized boot covers, as long as you can still walk safely. It gets laughs at casual parties and family performances.
28. Sleeveless Scarecrow Costume
For a warm climate or a packed indoor party, take the sleeves off. Distressed overalls over a sleeveless plaid shirt, or a flannel with neatly finished arm openings; a raw cut edge on flannel frays into a mess, so I fold it under and stitch it. Patches go across the bib and knees. On bare shoulders the raffia must sit on a strip of fabric, never directly on skin, or it scratches all night. Suspenders bring out the workwear shape. Short hair goes messy under a fitted straw hat. Bronzed makeup, warm cheek shading, a bold orange nose and dark stitch lines, plus a few drawn stitches on the upper arms if you like. A small bundle of artificial wheat and rugged brown boots. It's the coolest to wear by a long way.
29. Big And Tall Scarecrow Costume
For a big and tall build, I fit the clothes first and add the costume second. Relaxed-fit overalls, or straight-leg jeans with suspenders, and a breathable plaid shirt in a size that lets you raise your arms. Put the patches where they won't stiffen the knees, elbows or waist; a heavy patch across a bending joint pulls and tears. Secure raffia under loose cuffs and on the hat rather than stuffing the clothing, which only adds heat and bulk. Keep your hair tousled or wear a lightweight shaggy wig under a wide-brim straw hat. Warm brown makeup, an orange nose, rosy cheeks and evenly drawn stitches. Choose a prop in proportion, like a large harvest basket or a big artificial sunflower, so it doesn't look like a toy in your hand. Supportive brown boots matter most of all over a long night.
30. Light-Up Scarecrow Costume
Small battery lights make a scarecrow easy to spot at evening events without turning it dark. Brown overalls, an orange plaid shirt and a patchwork vest with raffia at the cuffs, then thread cool white or soft golden LEDs around the hatband and vest edges with the battery pack inside a pocket. I tack the wire down every few inches with a couple of hand stitches so it can't snag on a door handle. Messy hair under the straw hat, a few reflective face gems with an orange nose, warm cheeks and black stitches. A clear lantern of battery lights is the matching prop, and brown boots with reflective laces finish it. Test every light before you leave and tuck away any loose wire. It's the best choice for anyone out walking after dark.
Stitch Lines That Last Through a Party
Scarecrow makeup is simple, but it has to survive eating, drinking and a hat brim pressing on your forehead. Most men I dress don't wear makeup day to day, so I keep it to a few steps they can repeat in the bathroom halfway through the night.
Putting it on
- Patch-test any face paint on the inside of your wrist the day before, especially red and orange, which bother sensitive skin more often.
- Start on a clean, dry face. If you shave, do it the night before; fresh razor burn stings under paint.
- Paint the nose triangle and cheeks with a damp sponge, then draw the stitches with a soft black eyeliner pencil. A pencil gives a cleaner line than a brush for anyone who hasn't done this before.
- Press translucent setting powder over everything with a puff. That one step stops most of the smudging and the transfer onto your collar.
Getting it off
Don't scrub with soap and a towel; you'll smear orange into your hairline and irritate the skin. Massage in an oil-based cleanser or makeup remover first, wipe it away with a soft cloth, then wash normally. Beards hold pigment, so if you've painted near one, work the remover through with your fingers and rinse twice.
If you have a beard, you can skip the face paint around the mouth altogether and draw the stitches on the cheeks only. The beard reads as straw from a distance anyway.
The Overalls I'd Buy Before Anything Else
If you buy one thing, make it a pair of overalls that fit you comfortably, because nearly every scarecrow above can be built on them. Flannel, patches, a straw hat and raffia give you a working costume; colour, makeup, props and boots decide which of these thirty it becomes. Go cheerful for a family event, darker for a late party, or build around a raincoat if the forecast looks wet. Whatever you pick, tie the straw down, keep your eyes clear and wear boots you could walk a mile in. From the last-minute hoodie to the Victorian gentleman, there's a scarecrow here for every closet and every amount of time you have left.
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