This is a very simple pope costume for a child (though it could easily be modified for an adult).

It only took us 1 night and about $20 to make this costume. 1 trip to the fabric store for the trim pieces and taffeta.

After our trip to Italy in 2010, we decided to recreate some of the memories for our Italian costume theme.

Step 1: Supplies

1 - white button down shirt (adult-sized for a kid's costume)
2 - yards of white satin-y/taffeta type material (main part of the costume / hat covering)
1 - blue robe (for use as a belt -- we used some graduation honor cords we had around the house)
2 - 8.5x11 sheets of thin craft foam (the basis of the hat)
1 - can of spray adhesive
1 - 1' of light blue fringe trim
1 - strip of light blue fabric (sash)
2 - cross appliques (iron on)
1 - 3' wide/fancy gold ribbon (hat trim)
1 - small square of red felt (inside of the hat)
1 - big/fake plastic "diamond" ring
1 - hot glue gun / glue sticks
1 - sewing machine (optional)
5? - safety pins to hold things together

Step 2: Shirt and Cover

One of the easiest parts of this costume is the repurposing of an old button-up shirt as the cassock. Instead of having to sew a simple gown / cassock - we took one of Dad's old shirt and cut the collar and sleeves off (shorter). We then used the "hot glue" sewing technique to form a false seam in the sleeves. See picture.

The cassock is then tied around the waist to form gown-like gathers using the blue rope.

The shiny cover over the cassock can best be described as a big "football" shape of taffeta (with a hole in the middle for the head). This overlays the cassock and hangs down to about the knees, slightly wider than the shoulders. We actually sewed a seam around the edges of the football and neck-hole, but one could easily use the "hot glue" sew technique again.

Step 3: Stole (sash)

For the stole, we use made a rectangle of blue fabric and sewed fringe on the ends (though you could hot glue it too). We then ironed on the crosses. It was held in the proper place using safety pins on the shoulders.

Step 4: The Hat (Mitre)

The Mitre is the most important part of this costume. We formed the base of the mitre using two big roundish triangles of craft foam. We stapled the bottom corners on top of each other to make the basic hat (size to the head!). The corners overlap a decent amount.

Here is a link to a site with a better picture of what this looks like: http://www.pajamacity.com/z-how-to-make-a-pope-costume.asp

We then sprayed spray adhesive all over the outside and smoothly laid down the taffeta covering.

Next, hot glue one band of ribbon down the center front of the hat. Follow that with a horizontal band all the way around the bottom edge. We hot glued the red velvet from the inside to form the "top" of the hat between the front and back triangles. Optionally you can add two small tails hanging from the back (we left extra fabric from the back covering).