Plague Doctor Costumes

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The Renaissance calls. But so, too, does the plague! Eeek! Well, that's probably scarier than we intended. Fortunately, there's an even scarier look that will keep the plague at bay. Try out one of our scary and strangely historic plague doctor costumes and you'll keep your nose right on the scent of fun!

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There are a ton of costumes that are staple for any Halloween or creepy costume party. You know that you’re going to see a vampire. Let’s face it—they are timeless! They belong in just about any scene, even if it is because they’ve just charmed their way in. You’re probably going to see a werewolf and a mummy. Both are iconic monsters. (Just don’t let those wild doggos get into the bandages or they’ll make one heck of a mess!) But there is a new kind of creepy look from the Victorian age that we've seen come back to life, and believe us, we're here for it! Just imagine that the mad scientist was combined with the experimental surgeon. Add a bit of the Black Plague and you’ve got the Plague Doctor!

Plague Doctors were medical physicians who were pretty keen on finding ways to halt the progression of the bubonic plague. They were mostly hired by the cities themselves, hoping that they'd keep everyone else alive. Of course, that would have gone a good deal better if the plague 'doctors' actually had any real medical training. Oh, well! What can you expect in a time where nobody knew that the plague was caused by bacteria hiding in fleas? (The poor rats were just the unfortunate carriers of the critters and their invisible illness.)

They treated folks in a rather arcane manner, which was to be a bit expected. But, they did have a particular immunity to the plague it seemed. Turns out that was probably just because they took such care in avoiding actually touching the afflicted and never came into contact with the bacteria in the first place. Still, who can deny that their look was pretty awesome.

The plague doctors tended to wear garments that were invented in 1620. They consisted of layers of light fabric that was waxed to prevent the "miasma" from getting inside. They wore creepy masks with a long beak that resembled bird heads, but the eye pieces were colored glass and the beak was filled with numerous types of herbs and spices, everything ranging from juniper, mint, rose, and cloves. Of course, that was to keep everything smelling nice while they were dealing with... well, things that didn't smell so sweet and, still, the hope it would keep the dreaded cause of the plague far from them. Turns out all those layers of protection did keep away the fleas, so very few plague doctors ever fell victim to it. (Most simply ran out of town when everyone else realized that they weren't curing anything.)

So, why jump to the plague doctor costume for your Halloween needs? Well, one, not only does this getup work great for any Renaissance festival attire (and generally crafted without all of those waxed layers) but they've also become an iconic look for all sorts of spooky realms. Want to jump into a steampunk horror world? Well, you aren't going to go very far without seeing a plague doctor with a weapon at the ready! There aren't many creature costumes out there that can captivate as much horror as a masked figure in a long, black coat... and when they've got associations with something as deadly as the black plague, well, this is definitely a look that is going to climb pretty high in the mystical monster category!

Bring all of your Victorian dreams to life when you slip into a long black coat and the iconic bird mask. It is a perfect look for any creepy group costume...and who doesn't want to keep Death away!? (After all, those spooky cowls and floating skulls are enough to make anyone want to call for a doctor.) Well, we’re happy to help you skip the medical bills (and those tuition costs) by helping you channel your inner Victorian-age medical practitioner with some of our creepy Plague Doctor costumes. Browse through this page to find the looks that will chase the plague away (or at least scare everyone to death).

Plague Doctor Halloween Costumes

So, it is time to garb yourself up in a costume that will leave everyone with wide eyes and stunned expressions. That might have never been a problem before, but you’ll no doubt run into a few beasties that are bound to top your look. Whether you’re headed out to the Halloween party or joining the parade of tykes who are on the hunt for candies, you’ll be encountering all sorts of creepy costumes. From ghosts and goblins to all the other types of creatures that lord around in Lord of the Rings, there are more mysterious monsters out there than there are stars in Star Wars. We can hardly have that! It would be wise to protect yourself from all the wildest of wardrobes, and we're ready to give you the license you need to do just that. Chase away all the troubles when you garb yourself in the classic look of the Plague Doctor.

Adult Plague Doctor Costume

The frightening red eyes and long beak of the wanderer appear through the fog. Lantern light only makes the figure even stranger. Is this a demon come to claim the souls of the plagued!? No! This is the plague doctor on a house call, of course! Make sure that you’re ready to show up in style when you garb yourself in an authentic-looking part of history. (Heck, you might know more about medicine than the original ones did, too!)

Plague Doctor Costume for Kids

You were so proud when your tyke said they wanted to be a doctor when they grew up. Who knew that they meant they wanted to grow up in the Victorian Era just so they could wear the creepiest outfit that a medical professional ever conceived! Hey, it's still an occupation in heavy demand and, this way, you won't have to worry about the tuition bill either. If all else fails, a kid's plague doctor costume will help them decide if they are in it for the long haul.

Women’s Plague Doctor Costume

Not all Plague Doctors were fake. A few of them were genuine, trained professionals. That meant they probably cared just a bit more about their sense of style, too. They’d want to incorporate some elegance in their appearance rather than just showing up at the office in a look that reeked of wax! Alright, so perhaps the actual doctors were focused on function before form. But if you're looking for an elegant Plague Doctor costume, you’ll find a half-mask and feminine twist terrific!

Sexy Plague Doctor Costume

Let's be honest. The frightening doctors of the old world could probably have used a hint of fashionista flair when they came up with the duds for playing doctor. Something like that might have helped out with their bedside manner, too! That's why we suggest applying some modern sensibility for your sexy Plague Doctor style. Give yourself the freedom of mobility while in your Medieval medical mask with a look the other docs wouldn’t raise their beak noses over!

Plague Doctor Accessories

Every doctor is known for the gear that they’re carrying. A surgeon has their iconic mask for heading into the operating room. A doc in the clinic is sure to keep their stethoscope at the ready. Nurses show their style with unique scrubs, sure, but they practically deserve a crown for the work they do! But how about when it is time to make those house calls? They have to pack up their medical bags with all their implements are folks would be asking, “Doctor Who?" unironically! Naturally, the Plague Doctors of the Victorian age had a few things that helped them stand out among the crowd, too. Ensure that you have all the gear needed to keep people healthy (or at least super creeped out) when you look through our exclusive accessories for Plague Doctor costumes!

Plague Doctor Mask

Once you’ve decided to take on the role of the Plague Doctor, you’ll want to consider the kind of mask that you should wear. There are a surprising number of varieties depending on if you’re going for the Steampunk style or something authentically Victorian. Add one of our masks for Plague Doctors to any costume to give yourself that perfectly professional look!

Old Halloween Lantern

Unless you’re living in a unique timeline, the Plague Doctors from days of yore didn’t have a whole lot of electricity to light their way down fog-filled avenues. They could carry a torch, for sure, but that’s really diving deep into Middle Ages stereotypes, don’t you think? Give your Plague Doctor the upgrade they deserve with a modern interpretation of the lantern!

Black Plague Doctor Kit

You won’t have to go all the way down the Plague Doctor path if you’ve got the right accessories to complete the look. In fact, you can add some of the tools of the trade to just about any costume you can think of to give yourself a Victorian Era evolution. Whether you’re an alien masquerading in the plague days or a caveman who traveled forward for fun, a black Plague Doctor kit completes your look all in one!

Plague Doctor Staff

Medical professionals have always been identified by the serpentine staff that marks their trade. The Caduceus Cane comes in a lot of styles that can work perfectly for your Plague Doctor costume. Go with the iconic staff that features snakes for a traditional spin, or give your doctor wings with a modern interpretation of the staff. Mix and match to create your own individual style while tripping through the fog.

FAQs about the Plague Doctor

What is a Plague Doctor?

For as popular as the image of the plague doctor has become, not everyone knows where they came from! Most know that they were a kind of doctor that treated folks during the time of the bubonic plague. The image that you are likely familiar with showed up between the 17th and 19th centuries. The funny thing is that these so-called “doctors” weren’t really that well trained and most of their “cures” were fake! It’s no wonder they are lumped in with some of the creepiest characters from Victorian and Medieval history.

Why did Plague Doctors wear Bird Masks?

We often hear people asking, "What are Plague Doctor masks called?" as part of trying to figure out why plague doctors wore costumes. Well, the beak-like mask was thought to help protect them from the plague. They believed that it floated around as a dangerous miasma that could be breathed in. After basically stuffing the beaks with potpourri, they hoped that the spicy scents would keep them from breathing in anything harmful. Don't get us wrong. It looked pretty intimidating and was better than nothing...but not by much.

What else did Plague Doctors wear?

The whole look of the plague doctor originally came from the mid-1600s from Charles de L'Orme. Their protective garments included a long, black coat coated in wax, and their masks were fitted with glass eyes. They would carry canes to move plague victims without having to touch them, too. Let's just say that these guys weren't the most comforting person to see if you were suffering from illness! (And that's not even getting into the frogs and leeches they'd carry around to "treat" any diseases.) Fortunately, you can skip all the gross parts and just enjoy the creepy look with our collection of Medieval plague doctor costumes.