The modern mime costume comprises of a black and white striped shirt or black turtleneck, paired with black trousers and black shoes. A black beret, white gloves and black or white suspenders can be added as well. As for make-up, mimes have a painted whiteface (white theatre make-up) with black lip paint (which can be done with black lipstick). Tear drops or exaggerated eyebrows can be painted on as well using the black lipstick or black theatre make-up. The white make-up should only go to the jaw line, leaving the neck unpainted.
If being used for a horror production or for Halloween, the mime costume’s scare factor can be increased by adding fake blood to the shirt or other parts of the body, such as the neck.
Bip is a mime made famous by Marcel Marceau, a student of the mime artist Etienne Decroux. Bip is known for wearing a top hat with a flower sticking out and a short jacket. These can be added to the traditional mime costume of whiteface, black shirt, shoes and trousers.
The Roman mime is different from the modern mime. This mime wore a pointed hat and a colourful patchwork robe. This clown or mime was the target of tricks in Roman productions.