Pearl (2022) DIY Costume Guide

What You’ll Need

Pearl’s wardrobe in the 1918-set film centers on rural workwear and theatrical vintage tailoring. Recreating her appearance usually comes down to picking one of two distinct silhouettes: her utilitarian farm chore clothes or the high-collared crimson dress she wears into town for the church hall dance audition. Both styles rely on distinct early-twentieth-century proportions rather than modern cuts.

The farm look is built around practical blue denim overalls paired with a simple work shirt, whereas the red dress presents a structured Edwardian silhouette. Because both outfits have distinct visual anchors, assembling either version mostly requires paying attention to necklines, hair ribbons, and her signature farm axe.

The Crimson Audition Dress

Pearl’s red dress is the most recognized outfit from the film. It features an Edwardian-style high collar, buttoned front placket, gathered leg-of-mutton shoulders, fitted long sleeves, and a long, sweeping skirt that reaches near the ankles. Ready-made costume versions capture the cut directly, but thrifted vintage prairie dresses can also serve as a base if altered to fit closely through the torso.

White lace ribbon trims the small stand collar, creating a stark contrast against the deep red fabric. If you are modifying a plain red dress, tacking a narrow strip of lace around the collar band replicates the modest church-going aesthetic Pearl attempts to project during the audition.

The Farm Chore Overalls

Pearl spends most of her days tending to farm chores in classic blue denim bib overalls worn over a light blue collared shirt. Utilitarian 1910s workwear had a looser, straight-leg cut through the trousers and a higher chest bib than modern fashion dungarees. Sturdy, dark or medium-wash cotton denim with brass hardware keeps the silhouette grounded in period farming attire.

The light blue shirt underneath should have long sleeves that can be rolled up past the wrists. A standard button-down collar works well, but keeping the top button buttoned or only slightly unfastened preserves the buttoned-up, sheltered feeling of her rural life.

Hair Styling and Ribbons

Pearl wears her dark hair parted straight down the center, pulled back into low rolled buns, looped braids, or pinned twin plaits behind her ears. This hairstyle keeps hair out of the way while working the fields, but she softens it with ribbon accents.

A denim blue hair bow or a length of light blue bandana tied around the head works for the farm outfit, keeping stray strands pinned back. For the audition outfit, swapping the casual blue bow for neat white ribbon bows pinned directly above each braid knot matches the neat presentation of the red dress.

Footwear and Movement

Both outfits pair naturally with simple, dark leather lace-up boots with low heels, consistent with 1910s rural footwear. Because both the dress and the overalls reach down to the ankles, plain black or dark brown lace-up ankle boots work for either version without requiring specialized period footwear. Choosing broken-in walking boots is sensible if you plan to wear the costume across convention floors for extended periods.

The Prop Axe

A woodcutter’s felling axe is Pearl’s primary prop, featured heavily throughout the climax and on promotional posters. Carrying a real axe into any convention or gathering is out of the question due to weapons policies, so a lightweight foam or plastic prop axe is necessary.

Factory-made prop axes often arrive with an overly glossy plastic finish. You can make the prop look far more convincing by dry-brushing brown and gray acrylic paint over the handle to simulate weathered ash wood, followed by a coat of matte sealant. Adding dark, dried crimson splatters to the blade edge ties the prop directly to the horror tone of the film without adding excess weight to carry across a convention hall floor.