Marshall and Lily Costume
Recreate TV's most legendary couple with these iconic matching costumes.
Marshall Eriksen and Lily Aldrin from How I Met Your Mother are famous for their coordinated, overly enthusiastic couples Halloween costumes. This guide focuses on their classic 'Salt and Pepper' look from college (accompanied by Ted as Cumin), while also providing options for their elaborate 'Pirate and Parrot' outfits. It is the ultimate choice for couples who love sitcom humor and coordinated dressing.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $20–60
Try it on
See yourself as Marshall and Lily
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What you need for a Marshall and Lily costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Marshall and Lily costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
White oversized T-shirt (for Salt)
A plain white crewneck t-shirt, oversized to fit like a tunic or dress.
DIY: Use any plain white t-shirt you already own.
Black oversized T-shirt (for Pepper)
A plain black crewneck t-shirt, oversized to fit like a tunic or dress.
DIY: Use any plain black t-shirt from your closet.
S and P felt letters
Large iron-on or stick-on felt letters; a silver or black 'S' for the white shirt, and a white or silver 'P' for the black shirt.
DIY: Cut the letters 'S' and 'P' out of felt sheets or poster board and safety pin them to the shirts.
Silver metallic beanie hats
Two matching silver or grey knit beanies to represent the metal shaker tops.
DIY: Cover regular beanies with aluminum foil or use grey winter hats.
Black leggings or pants
Simple black leggings or slim-fit pants to wear underneath the t-shirt tunics.
DIY: Wear any dark jeans or leggings you already own.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Marshall and Lily costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Prepare the shirts by centering the large 'S' on the front of the white t-shirt and the 'P' on the front of the black t-shirt.
- 2
Secure the letters using iron-on adhesive, fabric glue, or safety pins from the inside.
- 3
Put on the black leggings or pants as your base layer.
- 4
Pull on the prepared 'Salt' and 'Pepper' t-shirt tunics.
- 5
Put on the silver or grey beanies to complete the shaker look.
- 6
Coordinate your footwear with simple black or white sneakers.
Makeup & hair
Keep hair simple and tucked slightly under the beanies. Makeup should be natural and everyday-style, reflecting Marshall and Lily's casual college look.
Marshall and Lily for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- One person goes as Salt (Marshall) and the other as Pepper (Lily). Alternatively, do their Pirate and Parrot look with a Jack Sparrow outfit and a colorful green/red parrot suit.
- group
- Add a third friend dressed in an all-brown outfit with a 'C' on the front to go as Ted dressed as Cumin.
- kids
- Perfect for siblings; scale down to kids' sized black and white tees with felt letters.
- Plus size
- Oversized t-shirts provide an easy, comfortable, and highly adjustable fit for all body types.
- pet
- Dress a small dog in a matching mini spice shaker costume to join the group.
Tips
- Make sure the felt letters are large enough to be easily readable from a distance in photos.
- Wear comfortable sneakers, as this is a highly casual, party-friendly costume.
- If it is cold outside, layer long-sleeve shirts underneath the oversized t-shirts.
Marshall and Lily costume FAQ
- What are Marshall and Lily's best couples costumes?
- Their most famous costumes include Salt and Pepper (with Ted as Cumin), Peter Pan and Tinkerbell, and Captain Jack Sparrow with Lily as his Parrot.
- How do you make the Ted 'Cumin' costume to go with Salt and Pepper?
- Have a third person wear a brown t-shirt with a large letter 'C' on the front and a silver beanie, completing the spice trio.
- Is the Salt and Pepper costume easy to DIY?
- Yes, it is one of the easiest DIY costumes. You only need black and white t-shirts, felt letters, and silver beanies.
Did you know? In the show's lore, Marshall and Lily have won several Halloween costume contests, though Lily once got stuck in her elaborate parrot costume when she needed to use the restroom.