Catherine Griswold Costume
Recreate Cousin Catherine's iconic winter arrival look from Christmas Vacation.
Catherine Griswold (Cousin Catherine) is Cousin Eddie's loyal, practical, and soft-spoken wife in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Holiday movie fans love this costume because it is cozy, funny, and instantly recognizable alongside Cousin Eddie. Her signature outfit is her cold-weather arrival look featuring a khaki jacket, brown pants, a striped winter scarf, and a holly pin.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~15 min
- Budget
- $35–85
Try it on
See yourself as Catherine Griswold
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 Catherine Griswold costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Find complete Catherine Griswold costumes on Amazon — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Tan or khaki winter jacket
A hip-length tan jacket, utility coat, or khaki trench coat worn open or loosely belted.
DIY: Use any oversized khaki or camel winter coat from your closet.
Brown corduroy pants
Straight-leg or relaxed-fit brown corduroy or dark tan pants.
DIY: Substitute with brown leggings or chocolate brown trousers.
Striped knit scarf
A retro striped winter scarf featuring red, cream, and olive or navy tones wrapped snugly at the neck.
DIY: Wrap any warm knit scarf featuring red or earth tones closely around your neck.
Fair Isle pom-pom beanie
A winter knit hat with a fold-over cuff, retro pattern, and a top pom-pom.
DIY: Use any neutral or patterned winter knit hat with a pom-pom.
Holly branch brooch
A sprig of artificial holly or a festive green leaf brooch pinned to the left chest of the coat.
DIY: Pin a small piece of fake Christmas tree greenery or artificial holly to your coat lapel.
Brown leather ankle boots
Practical dark brown flat or low-heeled winter ankle boots.
DIY: Wear any practical brown or tan winter boots.
Shopping links go to Amazon and Spirit Halloween. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Need it today? Spirit Halloween has stores — check for Catherine Griswold ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on comfortable brown corduroy pants or leggings and low-heeled brown ankle boots.
- 2
Layer a neutral sweater or turtleneck underneath a open tan or khaki winter utility jacket.
- 3
Wrap the striped knit scarf snugly around your neck, leaving the coat open slightly so the scarf shows.
- 4
Pull the patterned winter beanie over your hair, letting your short bangs or curled hair peak out.
- 5
Pin the artificial holly sprig high on the left lapel or chest of your jacket.
Makeup & hair
Style hair in 1980s short soft curls or a shoulder-length feathered style with light bangs showing beneath the beanie. Keep makeup simple and natural with soft rosy blush and a subtle lip color suitable for a chilly family arrival.
Catherine Griswold for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with Cousin Eddie wearing his iconic white bathrobe, green ushanka hat, and holding an RV sewer hose.
- group
- Form the full RV extended family with Clark, Ellen, Aunt Bethany, and Uncle Lewis.
- kids
- A kid version features a small tan parka, striped scarf, winter beanie, and a festive holly pin.
- Plus size
- Choose an oversized open utility parka or trench coat with elastic-waist brown corduroy pants for a comfortable fit.
- pet
- Dress your pet in a mini red-and-cream striped knit sweater with a matching pom-pom hat.
Tips
- Because this outfit uses real winter outerwear, wear a light layer underneath so you stay comfortable indoors at holiday parties.
- Secure the holly pin with a safety pin behind thick jacket fabric to keep it from flopping forward in family photos.
- Bring along a vintage metal pie tin or festive casserole dish as a funny prop for character photos.
Catherine Griswold costume FAQ
- What is Catherine's coat color in Christmas Vacation?
- Catherine wears a tan/khaki cold-weather coat over brown pants when arriving at the Griswold residence in the RV.
- Is a Cousin Catherine costume easy to DIY?
- Yes, it relies on everyday winter clothing like a tan coat, brown pants, a striped scarf, a pom beanie, and a sprig of fake holly.
- What makes Cousin Catherine immediately recognizable?
- Standing next to Cousin Eddie in his bathrobe while wearing her cozy tan jacket, striped scarf, beanie, and leafy holly brooch makes the character instantly recognizable.
Did you know? Actress Miriam Flynn portrayed Catherine Griswold across multiple Vacation franchise films, consistently serving as Eddie's devoted wife.