Mad As A Hatter for a Mad Hatter Costume?

Mad Hatter Costume

Mad Hatter Costume for Boys

Mad Hatter Halloween Costumes allow you to become “Mad as a Hatter” for the night (or afternoon tea).  The term originated not with the Mad Hatter of Alice in Wonderland but in the production of hats when mercury was used as an agent in the shaping or blocking of the hats. The fumes from the mercury were inhaled and destroyed brain cells causing the hat makers to appear insane or “mad”.  Could this be the reason that the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland acted as he did because of mercury poisoning?  Probably not because some of the symptoms of mercury poisoning include excessive timidity, increasing shyness, loss of self-confidence, anxiety, and a desire to remain unobserved and unobtrusive.  This does not sound like the Mad Hatter we know with his crazy hair and wild eyebrows that shouts out riddles, laughs boldly, interrupts others when they try to answer his riddles or to speak at all.

A Mad Hatter Costume for a “Mad Tea Party”

Mad Hatter Costume for Girls

In Alice in Wonderland, “The Mad Tea Party” is the first time Alice encounters The Mad Hatter. She has followed her white rabbit to the garden of the March Hare where he and the Mad Hatter are having a tea party or what they refer to as a Un-Birthday Party. The party is chaotic and nonsensical with the attendants of the party moving from chair to chair before Alice can take one sip of tea. The Mad Hatter and the March Hare both are simply quite mad according to Alice. The Hatter asks riddles but never gives anyone a chance to give an answer before gulping down the tea in front of him and moving to another chair to ask a riddle, gulp down more tea and move on to the next chair and cup of tea.

Who better to play The Mad Hatter in an Alice in Wonderland movie than Johnny Depp. Some of his past characters were just leading up to the Mad Hatter role. Edward Scissorshands, with hands made from hedge clippers, knifes scissors and razors. Dressed all in black with hair that looked as if he just stepped out of a wind tunnel and skin so pale he looks as if he had never seen the light of day. As the Mad Hatter he once again is as pale as a ghost and hair that cannot be tamed.  Like Willy Wonka from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory who dressed in a long coat and top hat, the Mad Hatter character also adopted these for his costume. The madness of The Hatter recalls Johnny Depp’s beloved character Captain Jack Sparrow from The Pirates of the Caribbean. All of his past characters and their costumes have lead to him being a truly great Mad Hatter.

Mad Hatter Costume Top Hat

The Mad Hatters wears an overly large top hat which covers the bushy orange hair (could this color have come from inhaling too much mercury?). The hat band extends down the length of the hatters back to just at the bend of his knees for what purpose one will never know (After all he is mad you know.)  To the giant bow tie protruding from his velvet like long coat. The lacy cuffs that extend well beyond the sleeves of his long coat just add to the details that make this costume truly stupendous. The pants for this costume a length and a half to short enables all to see the bright red stockings that the hatter chooses for his footwear along with the ankle boots that cover them. The make-up brings this character to the forefront with the pasty white face and red rimmed eyes giving the illusion of madness to his face. His ruby red lips would even give Dorothy’s slippers a run for their money.

Wouldn’t it be great to go to the next costume party as the Mad Hatter?  Or when Halloween rolls around and you are looking for a costume that will just blow everyone away, to for the Mad Hatter.  So start at the top with the overly larger top hat and orange hair to get started on a costume that everyone will comment on for years.   So go a little mad and slip into a Mad Hatter Costume  and be the The Mad Hatter for a night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InSn2BLDwf

5 Responses to “Find a Great Mad Hatter Costume!”