American Horror Story Costume
Recreate the anthology's most chilling and iconic look with ease.
American Horror Story has delivered over a decade of unforgettable television nightmares, making it a gold mine for Halloween inspiration. One of the series' most legendary and recognizable looks is Tate Langdon's chilling school skeleton makeup and dark attire from Season 1 (Murder House). This guide helps you recreate this haunting, stylish, and highly recognizable look.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~60 min
- Budget
- $30–70
Try it on
See yourself as American Horror Story
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What you need for a American Horror Story costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete American Horror Story costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Black striped zip-up hoodie
A black zip-up hoodie with thin white horizontal stripes, worn open.
DIY: Use a plain black hoodie and paint thin white horizontal stripes using fabric paint.
Olive green utility vest
A sleeveless, multi-pocket military or utility vest in olive drab green, worn over the hoodie.
Black crewneck t-shirt
A plain, soft cotton black crewneck t-shirt worn as the base layer.
Black slim-fit jeans
Classic black denim jeans in a slim or straight-leg cut.
Black combat boots
Heavy-duty black leather combat boots with black laces.
DIY: Any dark, rugged work boots or high-top sneakers will work.
Black and white face paint
High-quality, smudge-proof black and white cream face paint or cosmetic makeup.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made American Horror Story costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the plain black t-shirt and black slim-fit jeans.
- 2
Lace up the black combat boots, tucking the hem of the jeans slightly into the tops.
- 3
Layer the black and white striped zip-up hoodie over the t-shirt, leaving it completely unzipped.
- 4
Layer the olive green utility vest over the open hoodie.
- 5
Apply a solid white base coat of face paint to your entire face, stopping at the jawline.
- 6
Using black face paint and a fine brush, sketch out the hollow eye sockets, nasal cavity, and jaw bone details to mimic Tate's skull makeup.
- 7
Fill in the hollowed areas with black paint and blend the edges slightly for a realistic, shaded skull effect.
Makeup & hair
The hair should be styled in messy, tousled dirty-blonde waves parted down the middle. The makeup is the centerpiece: a highly detailed, black-and-white skull face paint design that mimics exposed bone and deep, dark hollows around the eyes and jaw.
American Horror Story for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair Tate Langdon with Violet Harmon in her signature 90s grunge floral dress and dark cardigan.
- group
- Assemble a cast of AHS icons, including Fiona Goode in all-black, Myrtle Snow in a red gown, and Twisty the Clown.
- kids
- A simplified version of the skeleton makeup paired with a striped hoodie and jeans for an easy, spooky look.
- Plus size
- The utility vest and striped hoodie offer a comfortable, adjustable fit for all body types.
- pet
- Dress your pet in a simple black-and-white striped pet sweater.
Tips
- Use a setting powder or setting spray over the face paint to prevent it from smudging onto your dark clothes.
- Keep a photo reference of Tate's skull makeup handy on your phone while painting your face.
- Wear comfortable, broken-in boots if you plan on walking around a party or trick-or-treating.
- For photos, pose with a serious, intense stare in dim, moody lighting to capture the show's dark aesthetic.
American Horror Story costume FAQ
- What is the easiest American Horror Story costume to make?
- Tate Langdon in his striped hoodie and skeleton face paint is one of the easiest because it uses everyday clothing items paired with creative makeup.
- How do I do the Tate Langdon skull makeup?
- Apply a white base coat to your face, then use black paint to fill in the eye sockets, nose, and draw teeth lines across your lips, blending the edges for a hollow look.
- What clothes do I need for the Tate Langdon look?
- You need a black and white striped zip-up hoodie, an olive green utility vest, a black t-shirt, black jeans, and black combat boots.
Did you know? Tate Langdon's skull makeup in Season 1 was inspired by real-life artist Rick Genest, also known as 'Zombie Boy,' who was famous for his full-body skeleton tattoos.