Invader Zim Costume
Conquer Earth in style with this classic Nickelodeon alien invader look.
Invader Zim is the chaotic, power-hungry Irken alien from Nickelodeon's cult-classic animated series. Fans love dressing up as Zim for his nostalgic early-2000s aesthetic and hilariously dramatic personality. His signature look features a bright pink striped tunic, black boots, and his round silver Irken PAK backpack.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~60 min
- Budget
- $30–85
Try it on
See yourself as Invader Zim
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 Invader Zim costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Invader Zim costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Magenta striped tunic
A bright magenta or hot pink long-sleeve tunic or dress with a high collar and horizontal black stripes.
DIY: Use a plain hot pink long-sleeve shirt and paint horizontal black stripes across the torso using fabric paint.
Black skinny pants or leggings
Form-fitting black pants or leggings to match his cartoon silhouette.
DIY: Any plain black leggings or skinny jeans from your closet.
Irken PAK backpack
A round, metallic silver backpack with blue and red circular light details on the back.
DIY: Paint a round cardboard box silver, attach two plastic bottle caps painted blue and red, and secure it with black straps.
Black gloves
Elbow-length black costume gloves to mimic his three-fingered Irken hands.
DIY: Standard black dishwashing gloves or black winter gloves.
Black boots
Chunky, knee-high black boots or rain boots.
DIY: Wear black sneakers with tall black socks pulled up to the knee.
Zim alien mask or green face paint
Lime green face paint to cover exposed skin, paired with large red contact lenses or red mesh goggles.
DIY: Mix green face paint with a touch of yellow to get Zim's bright, sickly Irken skin tone.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Invader Zim costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the black skinny pants or leggings.
- 2
Pull on the magenta striped tunic, ensuring the high collar is upright.
- 3
Tuck the pants into the chunky knee-high black boots.
- 4
Apply the lime green face paint evenly over your face, neck, and ears.
- 5
Put on the long black costume gloves, pulling them up past your forearms.
- 6
Strap on the silver Irken PAK backpack over your shoulders.
- 7
Add optional red costume goggles or red sunglasses to mimic his large alien eyes.
Makeup & hair
Use bright lime-green face paint to cover all exposed skin on your face and neck. Draw thin, dramatic black eyebrows pointing downward in an angry expression, and wear red costume lenses or large red-tinted round glasses to complete the alien look.
Invader Zim for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with someone dressed as GIR in his green dog suit.
- group
- Add Dib Membrane with his signature trench coat and cowlick, and Gaz in her purple dress.
- kids
- Use a cozy green and pink fleece onesie for a warm and comfortable kid-friendly version.
- Plus size
- Opt for an oversized magenta tunic or a comfortable A-line knit dress with added black stripes.
- pet
- Dress your dog in a green GIR hoodie with floppy black ears.
Tips
- If using face paint, set it with a translucent setting powder so it doesn't rub off on your magenta collar.
- Keep the PAK backpack lightweight so it doesn't pull your tunic backward throughout the night.
- Practice your best maniacal Zim laugh to really bring the character to life in photos.
Invader Zim costume FAQ
- How do I make Zim's backpack (PAK)?
- You can make a lightweight PAK by painting a circular styrofoam disc or a small round cardboard box silver, then gluing on painted plastic bottle caps for the blue and red lights.
- What color is Invader Zim's outfit?
- Zim wears a bright magenta (hot pink) tunic with black horizontal stripes, paired with black pants, black boots, and black gloves.
- How do I do the makeup for Invader Zim?
- Cover your face and neck in lime-green face paint. Use black eyeliner to draw exaggerated, angry cartoon eyebrows, and wear large red-tinted round glasses to represent his eyes.
Did you know? Invader Zim's creator, Jhonen Vasquez, originally pitched the show to Nickelodeon because he wanted to create a weird, dark comedy that contrasted with the network's usual bright and cheerful programming.