Black Panther Party Costume
Honor history with the iconic 1960s Black Panther Party activist look.
The Black Panther Party, founded in 1966 by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale, established a powerful and instantly recognizable aesthetic during the Civil Rights movement. This historical costume recreates their signature community activist uniform, symbolizing empowerment and social justice. The look consists of a black leather jacket, a black beret, dark sunglasses, and a blue chambray shirt.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~15 min
- Budget
- $40–120
Try it on
See yourself as Black Panther Party
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What you need for a Black Panther Party costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Black Panther Party costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Black leather jacket
A classic black leather or faux-leather motorcycle or bomber jacket, worn open.
DIY: Use a dark black zip-up windbreaker or a dark green camouflage jacket as worn by some chapters.
Black beret
A classic wool or felt black beret, tilted slightly to one side.
DIY: Construct a simple beret from black felt fabric.
Blue chambray shirt
A light blue button-down chambray or denim shirt, worn tucked in.
DIY: Use any light blue button-up dress shirt or utility shirt.
Black trousers
Slim or straight-leg black slacks, chinos, or dark denim jeans.
DIY: Any clean, solid black pants from your closet will work.
Dark sunglasses
Classic black acetate sunglasses, preferably aviator or wayfarer styles.
DIY: Any dark lifestyle sunglasses you already own.
Black leather boots
Sturdy black combat boots or leather dress boots.
DIY: Wear solid black sneakers or dark leather dress shoes.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Black Panther Party costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the light blue chambray shirt and button it up to the collar.
- 2
Tuck the shirt neatly into a pair of fitted black trousers or dark jeans.
- 3
Put on the black leather jacket, leaving it unzipped to show the blue shirt underneath.
- 4
Place the black beret on your head, pulling it down slightly and tilting it to one side.
- 5
Put on the dark sunglasses.
- 6
Lace up a pair of clean black leather boots to complete the silhouette.
Makeup & hair
Keep hair natural, styled in a classic 1960s Afro or short natural cut. Makeup should be minimal, clean, and natural.
Black Panther Party for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair with a partner wearing a matching black leather jacket, blue shirt, and black beret for a unified activist look.
- group
- Coordinate a group wearing matching berets, black jackets, and blue shirts to represent the solidarity of the organization.
- kids
- A scaled-down version featuring a black jacket, blue shirt, and a small black beret.
- Plus size
- Opt for a relaxed-fit faux-leather jacket and comfortable stretch-twill black chinos.
Tips
- Ensure the beret is tilted sharply to one side for the authentic, sharp historical silhouette.
- Keep the jacket unzipped to maintain visibility of the blue chambray shirt underneath.
- Wear comfortable, broken-in boots if you plan to stand or walk a lot during your event.
- This costume is highly weather-appropriate for cool autumn nights due to the leather jacket layering.
Black Panther Party costume FAQ
- What did the Black Panther Party wear?
- Members typically wore a uniform of black leather jackets, black berets, light blue chambray shirts, black trousers, and dark sunglasses.
- Is a camouflage jacket historically accurate for this look?
- Yes, while black leather jackets were the standard, some chapters of the Black Panther Party wore green camouflage jackets instead.
- How should the beret be worn?
- The black wool beret should be worn snug on the head, tilted distinctly to one side, keeping with the disciplined look of the era.
Did you know? The choice of the black leather jacket and beret was intentionally chosen by founders Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale to project a sense of discipline, organization, and modern leadership.