Mary Poppins Returns ranks among my favorite Disney films. It works as a thoughtful sequel with plenty of nods to the original, memorable music, a talented cast, and stunning costume design. The Royal Doulton Music Hall sequence in particular inspired me to recreate Mary Poppins and Jack in their painted, theatrical outfits for a Halloween event, and the results were fantastic. Below is a clear, practical guide for making your own Mary Poppins Returns costumes, with tips for both Mary and Jack, plus family costume ideas and places to wear them.
How To Make a Mary Poppins Returns Costume
Mary’s pink-striped, painted ensemble is one of the most fun costumes to recreate because its intentionally painterly look means you don’t need perfect lines—imperfection adds character. The steps below assume a DIY approach using accessible supplies and simple painting techniques.
Supplies Needed
- White Victorian-style tiered skirt
- Pink long-sleeve button-front blouse (or a white blouse you can dye or paint)
- Faux Peter Pan collar
- Fabric paint in pinks and turquoises
- Paint brushes
- Black and orange fabric markers
- Small straw hat
- Pink ribbon
- 3 large sheets of white craft foam
- Wax paper
- Three small faux flowers
- Parasol
- White lace gloves
- White Victorian-style boots
Step-by-Step Tutorial
- Skirt: Paint pink stripes across each tier of the Victorian skirt. Place a sheet of wax paper or a tray between layers while painting to prevent bleed-through. Let each tier dry fully before moving on. Freehand your stripes for a loose, painted effect rather than crisp, even lines.
- Shirt: Add a slightly darker pink to the tops and bottoms of the sleeves and along the bottom of the bodice. If your blouse lacks buttons, paint them on and accent with a fine black fabric marker to suggest depth and detail.
- Collar: Use craft foam to build the ruffled collar and bow. Trace the Peter Pan collar shape on foam, add a ruffled edge about 1.5 inches long, and cut with a 1/2-inch overhang at the top so it can be attached. Paint the collar and bow pink, add black stitching lines with a fabric marker, then hot-glue the foam ruffle and bow to the collar. Finish by painting a pink strip along the neckline and adding small black stitch marks to mimic sewn detail.
- Hat: Paint the hat rim pink and attach a pink ribbon around the base. Cut wing and bird-head shapes from craft foam—paint one set pink and one turquoise, then add details with markers. Create a small body or “ball” from crumpled wax paper, wrap and glue the wings around it, and attach the bird heads. Hot-glue the birds to the hat’s side and tuck small faux flowers into their beaks for the finished look. Secure the hat with bobby pins when wearing.
- Final assembly: Wear the painted skirt (some styles like the tiered skirt work best worn backward depending on the waistband) with the blouse, foam-collar, hat, parasol, lace gloves, and Victorian boots. Small imperfections and visible brush strokes help sell the painted-theatre aesthetic.
How To Make Jack’s Costume
Jack’s bold turquoise-and-red suit provides a bright contrast to Mary’s softer tones. The look is largely built from white pieces that you dye and paint to achieve a theatrical, hand-painted finish.
Supplies Needed
- White vest and tailcoat
- White trousers
- White button-down shirt
- Red narrow tie
- White top hat
- Turquoise fabric dye
- Turquoise, red, white and lime-green fabric paint
- Paint brushes
- Turquoise shoes (or paintable shoes)
Step-by-Step Tutorial
- Follow the dye manufacturer’s instructions to dye the vest and topcoat turquoise for an even base color.
- Vest and coat: Paint a loose plaid pattern on the vest—start with light blocking and layer greens and reds to mimic the costume’s painterly texture. Paint coat edges and sleeves with white highlights to reproduce a painted look, then add thin black and red lines along lapels, sleeves, and coat edges for graphic definition. Paint buttons green and outline them with a black marker.
- Pants: Paint turquoise stripes down the trousers, then add red stripes over them, allowing white to peek between stripes for depth. Use a black fabric marker to create variable-thickness lines along stripe edges to simulate brushwork and shadow.
- Tie: Highlight the center and knot of the tie with white paint for a faux highlight, then outline with black fabric marker to create a bold, theatrical finish.
- Hat and shoes: Paint the top hat turquoise and the brim red to echo the coat and trousers. Finish the outfit with turquoise shoes to match the dyed garments and painted details.
- Final assembly: Layer the white shirt under the painted vest and coat, knot the red tie, and add the hat and shoes. Small, uneven brushstrokes enhance the stage-painted appearance.
Mary Poppins Returns Family Costume Ideas
If you want more people involved, consider making Penguin costumes to echo the memorable dance sequence. The Banks children also wear beautiful period costumes in the Royal Doulton scene—recreating one or all of those looks makes a cohesive family group. Mix and match painted elements so the family looks coordinated while still keeping each costume manageable to create.
Where To Wear Mary Poppins Costumes
These costumes work well beyond Halloween night. Consider wearing them to:
- Oogie Boogie Bash
- Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
- Trunk or Treat events
- Halloween parades
- Costume parties (you’ll be a strong contender for best costume)
- Fan conventions like D23 or Comic-Con
- Any themed event where movie-character costumes are welcome
More Disney Costume Ideas
If you enjoyed this guide, try other Disney-inspired DIY costumes. Families often recreate classic and modern characters with painted or sewn details—choose characters that suit your group’s skills and materials. Exploring other costume concepts can spark fresh creativity and help you plan coordinated looks for future events.