Allan Costume
Because all of Ken's clothes fit him!
First introduced in 1964 as Ken's best friend, Allan became a breakout star in the 2023 Barbie movie. Fans love this costume for its retro charm, bright colors, and humorous underdog energy. The signature look consists of a colorful striped button-down shirt, navy blue shorts, and vintage-style canvas sneakers.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~15 min
- Budget
- $25–60
Try it on
See yourself as Allan
One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.
One render, $1. No account needed — if it fails you're not charged. Pricing.
Your photo is sent to Google's Gemini API to make the render and isn't used for training. Renders are AI-generated and labelled.
Want a different costume on this photo, or a whole group in costume? Open the Try-On Studio.
What you need for a Allan costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Allan costume — one box instead of 4 pieces.
Striped short-sleeve button-down shirt
A collared shirt featuring vertical stripes of blue, green, yellow, and orange-red, replicating the classic 1964 doll outfit.
DIY: Use fabric markers or acrylic paint to add vertical blue, green, yellow, and orange stripes to a plain white collared shirt.
Navy blue shorts
Simple, flat-front navy blue cotton or chino shorts that hit mid-thigh.
White crew socks
Plain white cotton crew socks pulled up slightly.
White canvas sneakers
Classic low-top white canvas lace-up sneakers with white soles.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Allan costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the navy blue chino shorts, ensuring they sit comfortably at the waist.
- 2
Put on the multi-colored striped short-sleeve button-down shirt, leaving the top button undone for a casual retro look.
- 3
Tuck the shirt neatly into the shorts to capture the clean-cut 1960s aesthetic.
- 4
Slip on the white crew socks and pull them up to mid-calf.
- 5
Lace up your clean white canvas sneakers.
- 6
Part your hair neatly to one side to complete the vintage doll hairstyle.
Makeup & hair
Style your hair in a neat, side-parted 1960s style with a slight wave, using a light-hold pomade or gel to keep it in place.
Allan for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with a friend dressed as Ken in his matching beach gear or rollerblading outfit.
- group
- Join a group of various Kens and Barbies to stand out as the one and only Allan.
- kids
- A mini version can be made using a colorful striped polo shirt and blue shorts.
- Plus size
- Look for flat-front navy shorts with an elastic waistband for maximum comfort throughout the night.
- pet
- Dress your dog in a small striped pet t-shirt to match your color scheme.
Tips
- Keep the shirt tucked in to maintain the authentic, slightly dorky 1960s silhouette.
- Opt for lightweight cotton fabrics to stay cool and comfortable at warm indoor parties.
- Practice a slightly awkward, helpful posture for photos to channel Michael Cera's movie portrayal.
Allan costume FAQ
- What colors are on Allan's shirt?
- Allan's iconic shirt features vertical stripes of light blue, green, yellow, and orange-red on a white background.
- Can I make a DIY Allan shirt?
- Yes, you can paint vertical stripes onto a plain white short-sleeve button-down shirt using fabric paint or multi-surface acrylics.
- What shoes does Allan wear?
- Allan wears simple, classic white canvas low-top sneakers with white crew socks.
Did you know? Allan was introduced by Mattel in 1964 as 'Ken's buddy' and was marketed with the unique selling point that all of Ken's clothes could fit him.