Fake News Costume Guide
DIY Costume Items
How to Make a Fake News Costume
A newspaper-print shirt supplies the news; a homemade sign reading FAKE supplies the punchline. Add a black newsboy cap and this Fake News costume turns a familiar phrase into a wearable joke.
Write the word in red on white cardstock so it stands out from the busy shirt. Two safety pins hold the removable sign across the chest, leaving your hands free for the party.
ProjectPun costume
TechniquePin a bold red FAKE label across the newspaper-print shirt.
Materials for the Fake News look
From the Kit
The Newspaper Print Shirt and Black Newsboy Cap supply the news theme. Use the Red Chisel Marker to letter the sign and two Large Safety Pins from the pack to attach it.
From Home
Find white cardstock, scissors, a pencil and scrap cardboard to protect your table while lettering. Wear your own plain trousers and comfortable shoes; black works well with the newspaper print.
Use a white background
Red letters need a pale, plain surface to stand out. Start with a white card about 10 by 6 inches and hold it against the shirt to check the size before lettering.
Protect the shirt while marking
Write on a firm, flat surface rather than on the shirt itself. Let the marker strokes dry before handling the paper so the red lettering stays crisp and does not transfer to the newsprint.
Build the Fake News costume
Make the sign on a flat surface, fasten it to the shirt, then finish with the cap. The main thing to check is whether someone across the room can read FAKE.
Letter the white card
Cut white cardstock to about 10 by 6 inches, adjusting the size to suit your chest. Place scrap cardboard underneath, sketch FAKE lightly in pencil and fill the four letters with the red chisel marker.
Leave an inch of blank space at the upper corners for the pins. Let the ink dry before lifting the card, then hold it a few feet away to check that the red lettering is easy to read.
Check: FAKE reads clearly in red on white, and the ink is dry.
Pin the sign to the shirt
Lay the shirt flat and place the dry sign below the collar. Use a safety pin through each top corner and a small fold of shirt fabric, fastening both pins fully while the shirt is off your body.
The sign can cross the button placket. Leave one corner unfastened while you put the shirt on, then secure it again once the buttons are done; a helper makes this easier. Check that neither pin point is exposed.
Check: Both corners are secured, the pin points are enclosed and the sign hangs level.
Add the newsboy cap
Put on the shirt with plain trousers and comfortable shoes, then settle the black newsboy cap on your head. Keep the brim above your eyes so your expression remains visible.
Straighten the shirt and refasten the sign if you left a corner open to dress. Let enough of the newspaper pattern show around all four sides to make the news half of the joke obvious.
Check: The cap, newspaper print and entire FAKE label are visible together.
Check the finished pun
Face a mirror or ask someone to take a picture from a few feet away. Check that the sign faces forward, the red word is readable and your arms do not cover it.
If the card tilts or folds, take the shirt off before moving the pins. A relaxed pose with one finger pointing beside the label works well for photos without hiding the punchline.
Check: The finished outfit reads as FAKE plus newsprint at a glance.
Quick Fixes
The card curls or sags
Use cardstock rather than thin paper. Move the pins close to the upper corners and leave the card hanging naturally instead of stretching it tight across the shirt.
The word is difficult to read
Use plain white card and thick red block capitals. Enlarge the lettering rather than adding more words, and keep the label below the collar.
Make the Fake News Joke Clear
Keep the FAKE sign facing forward and leave plenty of newspaper print showing around it. A newsboy cap helps establish the theme; pointing beside the red word gives people a clue without covering the label.
For a group, pair this with other newspaper-themed outfits or have each person wear a different clearly fictional headline. Keep any extra text brief so the original FAKE label remains readable. Find more wordplay outfits on our Punny Costumes Pinterest board.
Fake News Costume FAQs
Keep the sign simple, readable and easy to remove with these practical tips.
Use white cardstock with thick red FAKE lettering. Red ink on red paper would be hard to read.
About 10 by 6 inches is a useful starting point. Adjust it to your chest while leaving newspaper print visible around the edges.
Pins can leave small holes in delicate fabric. Test an inconspicuous spot first, attach the sign while the shirt is off and remove it before washing.
No. The printed shirt and the single word FAKE make the pun clear without adding a real news story.
About Fake News
Fake News becomes a visual pun by putting the word FAKE over a shirt covered in newspaper print. The newsboy cap reinforces the paper-selling theme.
A bold label makes this a simple wordplay costume without needing a real headline, politician or publication logo. The card is removable, so the shirt and cap can be worn again.
