Mad MaXXX: Costume Inspiration
Let’s dive into the fabulous land of COSTUMES! Costumes are travel - ways of exploring the world. Costumes are theatre - ways for us to roleplay & explore our inner personae. Costumes are gifts - our collaborative way to create this unsurpassable collective artwork. Costumes are reverence - enabling worship of the magnificence of all our human bodies. Costumes are seduction - ways for us to flaunt, reveal, entice - & connect. Costumes are language - stories to share & treasure. I love how the word comes from the Latin “consuetudo”, meaning "custom" or "usage”; how the noun implies a verb, and a culture; an anthropology.
ARMOUR
In the harsh, chaotic world of Mad Max, armour is a crucial part of survival, but it’s not limited to the traditional sense of protection. Characters craft their own armour from the remnants of a shattered world. Metal scraps, old tyres, animal bones and more, giving their protection multiple purposes. As well as guarding against attacks; it’s a tool belt, a trophy display, and even a reflection of the character's resourcefulness and personality.
When you create your own Mad Maxxx costume, you really are stepping into the shoes of a character from the films, where survival depends on hunting down everyday items to turn into makeshift armour. You’ll need to be resourceful, creative, and bold, finding beauty in the small details and transforming ordinary objects into something that could protect you in the wasteland.
One approach is to raid your wardrobe for old belts or leather straps and weave them together into a chest plate or shoulder guard. This instantly gives a raw, tough look while serving a practical purpose—strap on pouches, tools, old keys or bits of chain for that lived-in, scavenger feel.
Another way to add authenticity to your armour is by incorporating unexpected materials—think old tyres, pieces of metal from old machines, or even sports equipment like knee pads and shin guards. These items can be torn apart, reworked, and fastened together with rope or wire to create an armoured look that’s both protective and rugged.
Finally, don’t forget the opportunity for personal expression. Just as in Mad Max, your armour should say something about you. Attach personal mementos—anything from pins and patches to bottle caps or old jewellery; turning your chest plate into a display of your own survival story.
Check out our armour inspiration at https://uk.pinterest.com/foxandbadge/fb-202411-mad-maxxx/armour/
MASKS & FACE GRILLS
“...Mad Max: Fury Road is a movie about costumes and about what costumes can do, about how they make a character come alive* and convey the mood of a film. It is a movie that uses costumes to better understand the body and our relationship to technology…” - ‘Mad Max and Philosophy - Thinking through the Wasteland’ Matthew P Meyer & David Koepsell eds
In Joe Immortan’s case, his costume literally keeps him alive. The toxic, radiation-filled air of the Wasteland has ravaged his body, leaving him depleted. His costume quite literally inspires and respires him. It is his lifeblood. It’s ours too.
MadMaXXX flourishes on masks, gas-masks, face-grilles, and all kinds of other protective devices that help defend but also augment the face. Masking the lips and mouth is so deeply mysterious and seductive. Gas masks and breathing tubes subtly hint at the idea of kinky breath play, where the thrill of momentary restriction becomes part of the arousal. So much of this event is about transmuting pain to pleasure, where boundaries are blurred and sensations transformed.
See more at https://uk.pinterest.com/foxandbadge/fb-202411-mad-maxxx/mouthgear/
GOGGLES & EYE-WEAR
The world of Mad Max is a brutal, sun-scorched wasteland, where protective gear like goggles and sunglasses is not just a fashion statement—it’s vital for survival. Those militaristic goggles seen throughout the films don’t just shield against the harsh desert, they add an air of disguise and mystery, perfectly reflecting the gritty, unforgiving landscape.
Eyewear in Mad Max is practical yet symbolic, protecting against dust storms, intense sunlight, and debris from high-speed chases. Characters wear goggles and visors to combat the hostile environment, adding to the sense of danger and unpredictability. The more extreme and unique the eyewear, the more menacing and powerful the character appears; just look at the exaggerated goggles worn by the War Boys.
In this world, imperfection is everything—the dirtier, the better! Second-hand, scratched, or even broken goggles are perfect. Their worn-out state only enhances the war-torn aesthetic. Add small touches like spikes to emphasise the chaotic, survivalist spirit of the films.
Not ready to dive into full-on goggles? A pair of shades is a solid alternative. Think mirrored or tinted aviators in earthy tones—they’ll transport you straight into the Mad Max universe. Try adding frayed fabric to the sides or ends for that nomadic, scavenger vibe.
Whether you go for goggles or shades, distressing them is key to bringing them to life:
Weathering: Use sandpaper to roughen up the frames and lenses, focusing on the edges for that "lived-in" look.
Burn Marks: Lightly scorch parts of the frame with a lighter (carefully!) to add charred details, as if they’ve survived a blazing desert heatwave.
Grime: Smudge brown/grey makeup or paint into the crevices to create a grimy, road-worn finish.
Check out our eyewear inspiration at https://uk.pinterest.com/foxandbadge/fb-202411-mad-maxxx/eyegear/
HAIR & MOHAWKS
Mad Max: Fury Road not only won the 2016 Oscar for best costume (Jenny Beavan) - but also for best makeup & hairstyling (Lesley Vanderwalt). The hair in it is awesome.
The 2nd Max movie, Road Warrior, had heavy punk influence; appropriate, since the Mohican Mohawk carried that sense of indigenous warrior from its Native American origin. Gradually the movies and culture started to accrue other influences - notably a Viking warrior vibe, think glorious plaits and dreads.
Enhance your plaits or dreads with rough, metal accessories like chains, rings, or safety pins. These edgy details capture the gritty, post-apocalyptic vibe, transforming your hairstyle into a statement of adventure and defiance!
In the opposite direction, certain looks also stripped the body right down. In Fury Road, Charlize Theron felt that she’d have to shave her long beautiful locks to truly get into character - and did. So did all the War Boys. And a few of our performers have already suggested an almighty shearing that they might get into.
How will you transform?...
Check out our Hair inspiration board at https://uk.pinterest.com/foxandbadge/fb-202411-mad-maxxx/hair/
WAR PAINT & MAKEUP
Tonight so many of us roll out the makeup. The war paint. The War Boys on Fury Road all wore mascara so thick that they ended up keeping it on rather than scrub it off, and spent months in guyliner.
One of the most iconic looks of Mad Max is the facepaint. Think SMEAR.
Furiosa darkens her face with a great black band that looks almost like a giant swipe of vehicle diesel; in fact that’s where she extracts it from. Machines are like live entities. They breed humans, inspiring their war-paint.
The black reduces glare, protects from sand, and softens the shine of white flesh, acting as a kind of camouflage. It also establishes her authority and rank - distinct from the pale, ill, white-painted War Boys.
Makeup has never been so masculine. MaNkeup.
Perfectionism and finesse are not needed here. We are raw and wild; bold rather than pretty. Tattoos over runes.
Check out more warpaint at https://uk.pinterest.com/foxandbadge/fb-202411-mad-maxxx/makeup-warpaint/
HEADGEAR
Resources are scarce in the Wasteland. You make do & re-purpose. What old kitchen utensil can you strap to your face?...
Everything has to multi-function. Helmets & headgear protect your scalp from sunstroke & attacks, keep your lavish hair in place - and carry a high emotional charge. They are totems. & they are always beautiful.
Perfection has no place here. Can’t weld metal? Your crazy zany first-timer patterning will have a beauty of its own.
The 1st Mad Max was all about the motorcycle gangs and their helmets, which still provide the core base look. In Road Warrior, they then also repurpose sportswear and kink gear. In Thunder Dome they wear all kinds of helmets, including colonial pith ones - slightly kitsch; more contemporary military gear is more powerful here. Ditto a sense of pagan reverence. Horns vs spikes.
The palette is minimal & natural: rusted browns and dusty greens; faded blacks and greys; weathered
Since you can use anything, the options are infinite. NB The People Eater carries the whiff of banker & pinstripes & posh accessories, but the ubiquitous burner top hat resonates less here; this isn’t Victorian steampunk, & it wouldn’t protect you enough. Those jewelled Gestapo vizors are also just a bit too cute & pretty here, thought more natural and less fragile embellishments like feathers and discarded bullet casings work well.
Here are some of many tougher, gritter, Maxier options (& many more at https://uk.pinterest.com/foxandbadge/fb-202411-mad-maxxx/headgear/ )…
SHOULDER PADS
In the Mad Max films, shoulder pads serve as a powerful symbol of resilience and survival. Their bulky, raw design reflects the harsh, dystopian world where every scrap of material has been scavenged and repurposed. From battered leather to rusted metal, the shoulder pads are more than just armour—they’re a declaration of dominance in a world where only the toughest prevail. These pieces combine protection with a bold, no-nonsense style.
The films famously draw on a mix of materials, from old car parts to scavenged scrap metal, giving the costumes an industrial edge that’s both resourceful and rebellious. And let’s not forget the influence of 80s fashion—those oversized, dramatic shapes that emphasise power and authority. In the Mad Max world, this is subverted into something more battle ready, turning the clean lines of corporate power dressing into a symbol of survival. Tina Turner’s unforgettable appearance as Aunty Entity in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome brought a sense of grandeur to the look. Her metallic, armoured outfits, combined with the oversized shoulder pads, set the tone for a style that was both regal and ruthless.
Now, if you're heading to Mad Maxxx, why not channel that same energy? Get creative by upcycling old sports equipment like rugby or football pads. Spray them with metallics, add chains and spikes for an edgier look. Throw on some distressed coke can rings or safety pins to up the wasteland vibe! You can also take inspiration from the 80s power suit—shred an old blazer, add some makeshift pads, rip and ravage the material and turn that corporate chic into wasteland warrior vibes.
Check out our neck inspiration at https://uk.pinterest.com/foxandbadge/fb-202411-mad-maxxx/shoulder-pads/
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