storybook
The storybook scarecrow
Loose cream or pale blue shirt, baggy trousers with bright patches, a soft pointed hat, a rope belt, and raffia everywhere. Paint a gentle face: a small nose, a stitched smile and round cheeks.
Follow the yellow brick road
Wizard of Oz scarecrow costume, including the Fiyero look
A Wizard of Oz style scarecrow is a storybook farmhand: a loose shirt, baggy patched trousers, a soft pointed hat, a rope belt, straw spilling from every cuff, and a gentle painted face with a stitched smile. The Wicked inspired Fiyero version is sleeker: tailored earthy layers, straw at the collar and cuffs, and subtle seam lines instead of full face paint.
Where the Oz scarecrow comes from
The Scarecrow first appeared in L. Frank Baum's 1900 book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Dorothy finds him stuck on a pole in a cornfield, and he joins her on the road to the Emerald City hoping the Wizard will give him a brain. The book is in the public domain, so the storybook look is yours to interpret.
The 1939 film made the character famous on screen, with Ray Bolger as the Scarecrow. Decades later, Wicked gave the story a twist: the prince Fiyero is turned into a scarecrow near the end. That is why "Fiyero scarecrow" is now one of the most searched scarecrow looks.
Three Oz scarecrow looks
All three share the same bones: straw, a rope belt and a soft hat. The finish is what changes.
film era
The classic film era look
A friendly, rubbery burlap toned face with fine drawn texture lines around the mouth and eyes, a dark floppy hat, a worn shirt and trousers, straw at the neck and cuffs, and gloves. Lanky, loose limbed poses complete it.
Wicked inspired
The Fiyero scarecrow look
Handsome rather than ragged: a fitted vest or short jacket in brown, rust or olive over a light shirt, slim trousers with one neat patch, straw tucked at the collar, cuffs and boots, tousled hair, and thin seam lines drawn at the jaw and temple.
How to build the Fiyero scarecrow look
- Start tailored. A fitted vest or cropped jacket in an earthy color over a light, slightly open shirt.
- Straw as an accent. Small raffia bundles at the collar, cuffs and boot tops, not stuffed everywhere.
- One or two patches. Neat squares on a sleeve or knee, with tidy drawn stitches.
- Subtle seams. Draw thin brown stitch lines along the jaw, temple or one cheekbone with a brow pencil. Keep the rest of the face natural.
- Hair over hat. Tousled hair with a few strands of raffia works better than a big hat here.
Pair it with a green skinned witch in a black dress and pointed hat for the couple everyone recognizes. More pairings are in our couples guide.
Oz group costume checklist
Build the whole road trip.
Questions people ask
Who played the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz?
Ray Bolger played the Scarecrow in the 1939 film. The character first appeared in L. Frank Baum's 1900 book.
What does the Scarecrow want in The Wizard of Oz?
A brain. He joins Dorothy on the road to the Emerald City hoping the Wizard will give him one.
Is Fiyero the Scarecrow?
In Wicked, yes. Fiyero is turned into a scarecrow near the end of the story, which ties Wicked back to the original Oz tale.
How do I make a Fiyero scarecrow costume?
Wear a fitted vest or jacket in brown, rust or olive over a light shirt, add small raffia bundles at the collar and cuffs, one neat patch, and thin seam lines drawn along the jaw. Keep the hair tousled and skip heavy face paint.
What are good Wizard of Oz group costumes?
The scarecrow, a girl in a blue gingham dress with red glitter shoes, a tin man and a lion. Add a green witch and a good witch for a group of six.
Keep planning
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