National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Costume
Bring the chaotic holiday cheer of the Griswold family to life.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is a holiday comedy classic, making its characters prime choices for festive Halloween parties and Christmas gatherings. The most iconic looks from the film are Clark Griswold in his Santa hat and light-up gear, or Cousin Eddie in his infamous blue-trimmed white bathrobe and green trapper hat. This guide focuses on Clark's classic outdoor lighting look and Eddie's unforgettable morning attire.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~20 min
- Budget
- $35–85
Try it on
See yourself as National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
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 National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Clark's Navy Winter Parka
A classic navy blue puffer jacket or heavy winter parka with a front zipper.
DIY: Use any dark blue winter coat or heavy puffer jacket you already own.
Cousin Eddie's White Bathrobe
A short, white, long-sleeved knit or fleece bathrobe with dark blue trim along the collar and cuffs.
DIY: Use a plain white bathrobe and fabric-glue navy blue ribbon along the collar and cuffs.
Green Trapper Hat
A green winter trapper hat with faux-fur lining and ear flaps, famously worn by Cousin Eddie.
Santa Hat
A classic red plush Santa hat with a white faux-fur trim and pom-pom, worn by Clark.
Tangled Christmas Lights
A string of colorful, battery-operated LED Christmas lights to wrap around your neck or shoulders.
DIY: Use a spare string of non-functional colored bulbs from your holiday storage.
Black Combat Boots
Sturdy black lace-up boots to complete Cousin Eddie's outdoor morning look.
DIY: Any dark work boots or heavy winter boots will work.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Choose your character: Go as Clark Griswold in his winter gear or Cousin Eddie in his bathrobe.
- 2
For Clark: Put on a pair of blue jeans, a plaid button-down shirt, and the navy winter parka.
- 3
For Eddie: Wear a black crewneck undershirt, black socks, black combat boots, and the white bathrobe tied loosely at the waist.
- 4
If playing Eddie, put on the green trapper hat with the ear flaps hanging down.
- 5
If playing Clark, put on the red Santa hat and drape a tangled string of battery-operated Christmas lights around your neck.
- 6
Turn on the battery-operated lights right before entering your party for maximum comedic effect.
Makeup & hair
For Clark, keep hair neat, combed, and parted to the side under the Santa hat. For Cousin Eddie, slick your hair back slightly to look greasy, or let messy strands poke out from under the trapper hat.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair Clark Griswold with Ellen Griswold in her 80s holiday sweater, or pair Cousin Eddie with Catherine in her polyester wrap dress.
- group
- Gather a group to dress as Clark, Ellen, Cousin Eddie, Catherine, Aunt Bethany, and Uncle Lewis.
- kids
- Dress a toddler as Cousin Eddie in a mini white bathrobe, black socks, and a green trapper hat for a hilarious photo op.
- Plus size
- Both the oversized winter parka for Clark and the adjustable tie-waist bathrobe for Eddie offer comfortable, highly adjustable fits.
- pet
- Dress your dog as Snots, the Griswolds' slobbering Rottweiler mix, using a simple red collar.
Tips
- If dressing as Cousin Eddie, carry a short piece of black plastic hose or a fake beer can as a prop.
- Keep the battery pack for the Christmas lights tucked safely in your coat pocket to keep it hidden.
- This is an excellent cold-weather costume, as both the parka and the bathrobe-over-clothes setup keep you warm outdoors.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation costume FAQ
- What does Clark Griswold wear in Christmas Vacation?
- Clark wears several outfits, but his most iconic is his outdoor look: a navy blue winter parka, a red Santa hat, blue jeans, and a tangled string of colorful Christmas lights.
- How do you dress up like Cousin Eddie?
- To dress as Cousin Eddie, you need a short white bathrobe with blue trim, a black undershirt, black socks, black boots, and a green winter trapper hat with faux-fur ear flaps.
- Is this a good last-minute costume?
- Yes! If you already have a white bathrobe, a winter coat, or a Santa hat, you can easily assemble either character's look using items from your closet and holiday storage.
Did you know? The character of Cousin Eddie was so popular that he got his own made-for-TV spin-off movie in 2003, though the original 1989 film remains the undisputed fan favorite.