Napoleon Dynamite Costume
Channel your inner dance legend with this iconic, freakin' sweet look.
Napoleon Dynamite is the ultimate awkward high school hero from the 2004 cult classic film [1.2.8]. People choose this costume for its instant recognition, hilarious nostalgia, and the excuse to bust out some sweet dance moves. The look centers around his iconic 'Vote for Pedro' ringer tee, tight light-wash jeans, and signature curly hair.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~15 min
- Budget
- $30–75
Try it on
See yourself as Napoleon Dynamite
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What you need for a Napoleon Dynamite costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Napoleon Dynamite costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Vote for Pedro ringer tee
A white short-sleeve t-shirt with a red crew neck collar, red sleeve cuffs, and bold red 'VOTE FOR PEDRO' text printed on the chest [1.2.9].
DIY: Buy a plain white ringer tee with red trim and use red fabric markers or iron-on letters to write 'VOTE FOR PEDRO' on the front.
Light-wash denim jeans
Classic, straight-leg or slightly flared light-wash blue jeans, worn high on the waist and tucked into boots.
DIY: Use any light-wash or faded blue jeans you already own.
Curly brown wig
A tight, frizzy, light-brown or dark-blonde afro-style wig that mimics Napoleon's signature perm.
DIY: If you have naturally curly light-brown hair, use a pick comb and hairspray to tease it into a frizzy, rounded shape.
Aviator glasses
Gold wire-rimmed, aviator-style prescription glasses with clear, thick lenses.
DIY: Pop the lenses out of a pair of cheap gold aviator sunglasses.
Black snow boots
Heavy-duty black winter snow boots (moon boots) with black or red laces, worn with the jeans tucked inside.
DIY: Wear any chunky black work boots or combat boots you have.
Red digital watch
A simple, retro-style red plastic digital sports watch worn on the left wrist.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Napoleon Dynamite costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the white and red 'Vote for Pedro' ringer t-shirt [1.2.9].
- 2
Pull on the light-wash blue jeans, tucking the t-shirt neatly into the waistband.
- 3
Put on the black snow boots and tuck the cuffs of your jeans securely into the tops of the boots.
- 4
Place the curly light-brown wig on your head, fluffing it out to create a frizzy, rounded shape.
- 5
Put on the gold wire-rimmed aviator glasses, resting them slightly down your nose.
- 6
Strap the red digital watch onto your left wrist.
- 7
Adopt a slouchy posture, keep your mouth slightly open, and prepare to sigh 'Gosh!' at every opportunity.
Makeup & hair
No makeup is required, but keeping a completely blank, deadpan expression with your mouth slightly open is key. For hair, wear a tight, frizzy light-brown perm wig, or tease naturally curly hair into a rounded, voluminous shape.
Napoleon Dynamite for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with Pedro in his western shirt and bolo tie, or Deb with her side ponytail and pink polo.
- group
- Gather a crew as Napoleon, Pedro, Deb, Kip (with his 'LaFawnduh' sign), and Uncle Rico.
- kids
- A miniature version of the 'Vote for Pedro' tee, jeans, and a curly wig makes an adorable, funny kids' costume.
- Plus size
- The ringer tee and straight-leg jeans are highly comfortable, stretch-friendly, and universally flattering.
- pet
- Dress your dog in a tiny white tee with 'Vote for Pedro' written on it.
Tips
- Keep the jeans tucked tightly into your boots to maintain Napoleon's signature awkward silhouette [1.2.6].
- Practice the iconic dance routine to Jamiroquai's 'Canned Heat' to surprise people at the party.
- This costume is highly comfortable and warm, making it perfect for chilly Halloween nights.
- Keep your eyes half-closed and your mouth slightly open in photos to capture his classic expression.
Napoleon Dynamite costume FAQ
- What kind of boots does Napoleon Dynamite wear?
- Napoleon wears heavy-duty black winter snow boots (often referred to as moon boots) with his jeans tucked into them [1.2.6].
- How do I style my hair for a Napoleon Dynamite costume?
- The easiest way is to buy a dedicated curly light-brown costume wig. If you have naturally curly hair, you can tease it with a pick and hairspray to get that frizzy, perm-like volume.
- What does Napoleon's shirt say?
- His most famous shirt is a white ringer tee with red trim that says 'VOTE FOR PEDRO' in bold red block letters.
Did you know? The iconic 'Vote for Pedro' shirt was hand-painted by the film's crew just before shooting, and the famous dance scene was completely improvised by actor Jon Heder on the final day of filming.