There is a lot to take in while watching Netflix’s Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness. Right from the first episode you are quickly thrust into the certifiably-insane world of large cat breeders and zoo keepers. It is impossible to encapsulate the bizarre universe these people inhabit, but “Murder, Mayhem, and Madness” is a valiant attempt. On a lighter note, though, another thing that might catch your eye in this documentary is the outrageous outfits many of the main characters are rocking.
Joe Exotic, the main character, is far and away the main culprit behind the clothing trend in Tiger King. To focus only on his style, however, is to neglect the other gems in this shocking documentary. Here are some of the most unique, ridiculous, or just all around amazing outfits from Tiger King characters not named Joe Exotic.
Carole Baskin’s Cat Print/Floral Headband Outfit
There are few Carole Baskin-related moments in Tiger King when we do not see her in some kind of cat print. Many women have one item of clothing with a cat-related print in their closets, maybe even a couple. Carole Baskin, however, the owner of the Big Cat Rescue, dresses exclusively in cat-printed clothing. In this ensemble, she rocks a floral headband, pink leopard-print shirt (with matching socks), and leopard-print slippers. The tackier the better.
Jeff Lowe’s Middle-Aged Bro Uniform
There is a lot to unpack here. Jeff Lowe is one of the shadiest characters featured in Tiger King, and that is saying something. He is generally discreet in his shadiness, which is mirrored by his subdued manner of speaking. This outfit, though… From the Oakley hat, to the Affliction bandana, to the biker jacket and skull ring, it screams midlife crisis. You never really see Jeff Lowe in anything but these types of clothes. His dedication to his brand is admirable.
Howard Baskin’s Wedding Outfit
Howard Baskin is just a dutiful husband that wants to make his wife happy, even if it means throwing on a tiger-printed toga-looking thing on his wedding day. Oh, with a collar around his neck. And his wrist watch still on for some reason. Mr. Baskin is willing to do pretty much anything to please his wife, clearly. This might be a bit extreme or unorthodox to some, but in the endless pit of sin that is Tiger King, Howard Baskin is a cherub. A cherub with a tiger-print toga and a wrist watch.
Doc Antle’s Performance Costume
Believe it or not, Doc Antle’s lifestyle might be just as outrageous as Joe Exotic’s, with multiple wives/girlfriends and a cult leader-like status among the employees at his zoo. His outfits are pretty normal when compared to his personality, but he taps into his ego when he gets on stage, giving everyone a taste of the gun show in his black leather cutoffs. His luscious golden hair tied back in a ponytail serves as a stark contrast to his all-black getup.
Travis Maldonado and John Finlay’s Matching Wedding Outfits
There was a time when Joe Exotic had two loves in his life: John Finlay and Travis Maldonado. When a situation like this arises, what better to do than marry of them both simultaneously? That’s exactly what Joe Exotic did, holding a wedding ceremony in which all three of the grooms were wearing pink button-down shirts with flowers pinned on them, black jeans, and cowboy boots. Not exactly your traditional wedding, though this is what you should expect in Joe Exotic’s realm.
Kody Antle’s Tarzan Getup
Kody Antle is Doc Antle’s son. Doc Antle’s personality is tough to replicate, but at 60 years old, he will eventually have to hand down his kingdom to someone else. It seems like Kody Antle has inherited much of his father’s unique quirks, creating a Tarzan-like image with this shirtless, barefoot, jaguar-printed shorts look.
He certainly owns it, which is half the battle. It appears that Doc Antle’s business will be in capable hands once he decides to step down.
Barbara Fisher’s Tiger Warrior Costume
Doc Antle has his understudies dress in some pretty strange ways. Barbara Fisher, an ex-employee of Doc’s that ends up speaking out against him and his business, was no exception. In this stunning outfit, Ms. Fisher dons a Siberian-tiger print shirt and leggings, along with leather wrist guards and a belt with a lion medallion on it. There were many other serious reasons she separated herself from her former boss, but having to wear things like this certainly contributed to it.
James Garretson’s Jet Ski Outfit
One of the most talked-about moments of the Tiger King documentary was James Garretson’s jet ski clip that we were treated to for some reason. Everything from his flowing red locks, to his blue safety vest, to his blue sunglasses that match the water around him make this scene even more memorable.
It didn’t really fit into the context of the episode. The viewers did not care, as it has become one of the most meme-worthy moments in a series that was chock full of them.
John Reinke’s Wicked Prosthetics
John Reinke’s personality is pretty relaxed compared to some of the people he crossed paths with at Joe Exotic’s G.W. Zoo. His style is moderate as well, until you get to his colorful prosthetic legs. He is not walking around with those ordinary skin-colored prosthetics most of us are used to seeing. No sir. Reinke’s legs feature vibrant colors and pieces of evil clown artwork that look like they were done at a tattoo parlor.
Rick Kirkham In All Black
Rick Kirkham spent years trying to produce a show about Joe Exotic, all to have it wiped away in a fire. Being exposed to so much of Joe Exotic’s lifestyle, then losing the fruits of all of that labor, will surely make you want to wear all black. Like a worn-out, downtrodden cowboy, Rick Kirkham looks like he has seen a thing or two. Unfortunately, no one will ever see the things he saw at the G.W. Zoo.
