Marv Merchants Costume
Bring the hilarious Wet Bandit from Home Alone to life this Halloween.
Marv Merchants is one half of the notorious 'Wet Bandits' from the classic 1990 holiday film Home Alone. Fans love this costume for its instant nostalgia, comedic appeal, and cozy winter layers. The look features a rumpled brown coat, a dark cardigan vest, fingerless gloves, and Marv's signature messy curls.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~20 min
- Budget
- $40–100
Try it on
See yourself as Marv Merchants
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What you need for a Marv Merchants costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Marv Merchants costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Brown wool coat
A long, oversized brown wool or tweed winter coat, preferably with a faux fur collar or wide lapels.
DIY: Use any oversized brown or dark grey winter jacket from a thrift store.
Grey or black cardigan vest
A button-up knit cardigan vest worn open over a collared shirt.
DIY: Cut the sleeves off an old dark grey or black knit sweater.
Light-colored button-down shirt
A simple white, light grey, or plaid button-down dress shirt worn slightly rumpled.
DIY: Use any light-colored collared shirt you already own.
Dark trousers
Loose-fitting grey, brown, or black slacks or chinos.
DIY: Any dark, baggy pants or work trousers will work.
Black fingerless gloves
Simple black knit gloves with the fingertips exposed.
DIY: Take a pair of cheap black knit gloves and cut the tips off the fingers.
Foam or plastic crowbar
A lightweight costume prop painted to look like a metallic silver crowbar.
DIY: Cut a crowbar shape out of sturdy cardboard and paint it silver.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Marv Merchants costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the light-colored button-down shirt, leaving the top button undone for a disheveled look.
- 2
Layer the dark knit cardigan vest over the shirt, leaving it unbuttoned.
- 3
Put on the dark trousers and secure them with a simple belt.
- 4
Put on the oversized brown wool coat over the layers.
- 5
Slip on the black fingerless gloves.
- 6
Carry the prop crowbar in one hand to complete the burglar aesthetic.
Makeup & hair
Style your hair into messy, frizzy, unkempt curls. For an optional comedic touch, use red face paint or makeup to draw a grid pattern on your face to mimic the iron burn mark from the movie.
Marv Merchants for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with someone dressed as Harry Lime (beanie, bandaged hand, dark coat) to complete the Wet Bandits duo.
- group
- Add a third person dressed as Kevin McCallister holding a paint can or a toy BB gun.
- kids
- A miniature version with an oversized brown coat, messy hair, and a small cardboard crowbar.
- Plus size
- The loose, layered winter clothing of this costume makes it naturally comfortable and accommodating for all body types.
- pet
- Dress a pet as a tiny spider to reference the tarantula that gets placed on Marv's face.
Tips
- This costume is perfect for cold weather since it relies on heavy winter layers.
- To look more authentic, scuff up your shoes and add a little dark eyeshadow to your cheeks for a 'dirty burglar' look.
- Keep the prop crowbar lightweight so it is easy to carry around at parties.
Marv Merchants costume FAQ
- What does Marv wear in Home Alone?
- Marv wears a layered winter outfit consisting of a long brown wool coat, a dark knit cardigan vest, a light collared shirt, dark trousers, and black fingerless gloves.
- How do you do the iron mark on Marv's face?
- You can use red cream makeup or lip liner to draw a crosshatched grid pattern on one side of your face to recreate the hilarious iron burn scene.
- Can I make a Wet Bandits group costume?
- Yes! Partner with a friend dressed as Harry Lime (wearing a black beanie, dark coat, and a bandage on his hand) to go as the Wet Bandits.
Did you know? Actor Daniel Stern agreed to have a real tarantula placed on his face for the famous bedroom scene, but he had to mime his scream so he wouldn't scare the spider.