David S. Pumpkins Costume
Any questions? Recreate the legendary SNL character with this easy guide.
David S. Pumpkins is the bizarre, breakout character played by Tom Hanks on Saturday Night Live. Known for his baffling haunted house appearance, his look is defined by a loud, pumpkin-patterned suit and a distinct streak of white in his hair. It is a hilarious, crowd-pleasing choice for Halloween or comedy fans.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~15 min
- Budget
- $35–80
Try it on
See yourself as David S. Pumpkins
One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.
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What you need for a David S. Pumpkins costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete David S. Pumpkins costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
Pumpkin print suit jacket
A black polyester suit jacket covered in an all-over print of orange carved jack-o'-lanterns.
DIY: Fabric paint orange pumpkin faces onto an old black suit jacket.
Pumpkin print trousers
Matching black dress pants covered in the same orange jack-o'-lantern pattern.
DIY: Wear solid black dress pants if you cannot find the matching patterned trousers.
Pumpkin print necktie
A matching black necktie featuring the same orange pumpkin pattern.
DIY: Wear a solid black tie or draw pumpkin faces on a cheap black tie with orange fabric marker.
Black dress shirt
A solid, button-down black dress shirt worn underneath the suit jacket.
DIY: Use any plain black button-up shirt from your closet.
Black dress shoes
Standard black leather dress shoes or loafers.
DIY: Any clean black shoes or sneakers will work.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made David S. Pumpkins costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the solid black button-down dress shirt and button it to the top.
- 2
Put on the matching pumpkin-print suit trousers.
- 3
Tie the matching pumpkin-print necktie around the collar of the black shirt.
- 4
Put on the pumpkin-print suit jacket over the shirt and tie.
- 5
Put on your black dress shoes.
- 6
Style your hair with a white streak in the front, or put on the character wig.
- 7
Adopt the signature pose: hands out, hips wiggling, and ask, 'Any questions?'
Makeup & hair
Style your hair in a slightly messy, curly dark brown style with a prominent, bright white streak right at the front hairline. Alternatively, use temporary white hair spray or a dedicated character wig.
David S. Pumpkins for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with one of his skeleton dancers wearing a black skeleton jumpsuit and a curly black afro wig.
- group
- One person goes as David S. Pumpkins, two people go as his skeleton dancers, and others go as terrified elevator riders.
- kids
- A miniature version of the pumpkin suit with slicked-back hair and a white streak.
- Plus size
- The polyester pumpkin suit is widely available in plus sizes up to 3XL.
- pet
- A black pet sweater with orange pumpkin prints.
Tips
- Keep the suit jacket unbuttoned to show off the black shirt and matching tie contrast.
- Practice the signature dance moves and the catchphrase 'Any questions?' to really sell the character.
- Wear comfortable dress shoes, as you will likely be asked to do his signature dance throughout the night.
David S. Pumpkins costume FAQ
- What does the S in David S. Pumpkins stand for?
- According to the SNL writers, the 'S' stands for 'Simon,' though in the sketch, his identity remains a complete mystery.
- Where did the David S. Pumpkins suit come from?
- The SNL costume designers originally purchased the suit from a seasonal Spirit Halloween store before it became a viral sensation.
- What do the skeleton dancers wear?
- They wear classic black-and-white skeleton jumpsuits, black curly afro wigs, and simple skeleton face paint.
Did you know? The legendary sketch was written by Mikey Day, Bobby Moynihan, and Streeter Seidell, and Tom Hanks almost backed out of playing the character during rehearsals because he didn't understand the joke.