Harry Lyme Costume
Channel your inner Wet Bandit with Harry's classic winter burglar look.
Dress up as Harry Lyme, the short-tempered half of the infamous Wet Bandits from the holiday classic Home Alone. This costume is a massive hit for both Halloween and Christmas parties, instantly recognized by movie fans of all generations. The look features a layered 1990s winter outfit, complete with burglar accessories and optional battle-damage details from Kevin McCallister's traps.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~30 min
- Budget
- $40–90
Try it on
See yourself as Harry Lyme
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What you need for a Harry Lyme costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Harry Lyme costume — one box instead of 7 pieces.
Dark gray overcoat
A heavy, oversized wool or tweed overcoat in dark gray or charcoal.
DIY: Use any oversized dark winter coat or trench coat from a thrift store.
Brown tweed vest
A button-up brown tweed or wool vest worn under the coat.
DIY: A brown sweater vest or a simple brown button-down shirt with the sleeves cut off.
Plaid flannel shirt
A classic button-down plaid flannel shirt, preferably in red, blue, or green tones.
DIY: Any checkered or plaid button-up shirt from your closet.
Black knit beanie
A simple black ribbed knit beanie or watch cap.
Fingerless gloves
Black or dark gray knit fingerless gloves.
DIY: Cut the fingertips off an old pair of black knit gloves.
White craft feathers
A small bag of loose white feathers to stick to your coat and beanie.
DIY: Pull a few feathers from an old down pillow.
Gold tooth cap
A single clip-on gold tooth cap to mimic Harry's signature grin.
DIY: Wrap a tiny piece of gold foil over one of your upper teeth for photos.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Harry Lyme costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the plaid flannel shirt and button it up to the collar.
- 2
Layer the brown tweed vest over the flannel shirt and button it.
- 3
Put on a pair of dark, relaxed-fit jeans and sturdy black work boots or shoes.
- 4
Put on the heavy dark gray overcoat over the vest.
- 5
Pull the black knit beanie snugly over your head, covering your ears.
- 6
Put on the black fingerless gloves.
- 7
Optional: Use fabric glue, safety pins, or double-sided tape to attach loose white feathers to your coat and beanie to recreate the fan-trap scene.
Makeup & hair
Keep your hair hidden under the beanie. For the post-trap look, use black eyeshadow or face paint to create soot smudges on your forehead and cheeks, and use red makeup to draw a fake 'M' burn mark on the palm of your right hand.
Harry Lyme for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with a friend dressed as Marv Murchins (tall, brown curly wig, tan coat, crowbar) to complete the Wet Bandits duo.
- group
- Add a third person dressed as Kevin McCallister in a red sweater holding a paint can or a toy BB gun.
- kids
- A fun, warm option for kids using scaled-down thrifted coats and a drawn-on gold tooth.
- Plus size
- The oversized, layered nature of this 1990s winter wear makes it naturally comfortable and easy to fit for all body types.
Tips
- This costume is exceptionally warm, making it perfect for cold outdoor Halloween nights or winter holiday events.
- To make the 'M' burn on your hand look realistic, use red lipstick or cream makeup and set it with translucent powder so it doesn't smudge.
- Carry a vintage-style flashlight or a pillowcase marked with a dollar sign as simple, on-theme props.
Harry Lyme costume FAQ
- How do you make the Wet Bandits costume?
- The key is layering 90s winter clothes: a plaid shirt, a brown vest, a dark gray overcoat, a black beanie, and fingerless gloves. Add white feathers and fake soot for the post-trap look.
- What does Harry wear on his head in Home Alone?
- Harry wears a classic black knit beanie. After Kevin's blowtorch trap, his beanie is burned at the top, revealing his singed head.
- How do I do the gold tooth for a Harry Lyme costume?
- You can buy inexpensive clip-on gold tooth caps online, or temporarily wrap a tiny piece of gold foil or shiny gold wrapper over your tooth for quick photos.
Did you know? Joe Pesci, who played Harry, deliberately avoided Macaulay Culkin on set so that the young actor would be genuinely intimidated by him, making their on-screen dynamic more authentic.