Striped Costume
Master the classic striped look for Halloween with these iconic styles.
Striped costumes are a versatile and timeless choice for Halloween, spanning iconic characters from pop culture, literature, and film. Whether you are aiming for a spooky black-and-white striped suit, a cozy red-and-white traveler look, or a classic prisoner aesthetic, stripes make an instant visual impact. This guide covers how to assemble and style the most popular striped character looks with ease.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~20 min
- Budget
- $15–60
Try it on
See yourself as Striped
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.
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Want a different costume on this photo, or a whole group in costume? Open the Try-On Studio.
What you need for a Striped costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Striped costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
Striped shirt or suit
A long-sleeve shirt or a two-piece suit featuring bold, high-contrast stripes (such as black-and-white or red-and-white).
DIY: Use black fabric paint or electrical tape to create even stripes on a plain white shirt or suit.
Matching pants or skirt
Solid black pants, blue jeans, or matching striped trousers depending on the specific character style.
Character-specific hat
A red-and-white knit beanie for a traveler look, or a dark fedora for a spooky villain vibe.
DIY: Glue a red yarn pom-pom to the top of a plain white knit beanie.
Round-frame glasses
Simple, thick black round-frame glasses with clear lenses.
DIY: Pop the lenses out of a cheap pair of round sunglasses.
Solid color tie
A solid black necktie to complement a striped suit jacket.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Striped costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Select your striped theme, choosing between vertical black-and-white stripes or horizontal red-and-white stripes.
- 2
Put on the striped top, ensuring the lines are clean, straight, and highly visible.
- 3
Pair with matching trousers, such as solid black pants for a suit or blue jeans for a casual traveler look.
- 4
Add character-defining accessories like round glasses, a knit beanie, or a solid black tie.
- 5
Put on neutral footwear, such as black dress shoes or simple brown walking boots, to keep the focus on the stripes.
Makeup & hair
Keep hair neat and styled to match the character; for a traveler, natural hair tucked under a beanie works best, while a striped suit look might benefit from wild, messy green hair or slicked-back styling.
Striped for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- One partner wears red-and-white horizontal stripes while the other wears black-and-white vertical stripes for a fun contrast.
- group
- A group can dress as a classic lineup of old-school prisoners in matching black-and-white horizontal stripes.
- kids
- A simple red-and-white striped shirt, blue jeans, a matching knit hat, and plastic glasses make an adorable, comfortable kid's costume.
- Plus size
- Vertical stripes are highly flattering; opt for a well-tailored black-and-white striped blazer paired with solid black trousers.
- pet
- A simple slip-on red-and-white striped tee or bandana for dogs.
Tips
- Ensure the stripes are high-contrast so they stand out clearly in low-light party settings and photos.
- If wearing a full striped suit, keep your undershirt and shoes solid and neutral to avoid visual clutter.
- For outdoor events, choose a knit striped sweater instead of a thin t-shirt to stay warm.
Striped costume FAQ
- What are some popular characters that wear stripes?
- Popular striped characters include Beetlejuice (black-and-white vertical suit), Waldo (red-and-white horizontal stripes), Freddy Krueger (red-and-green stripes), and classic vintage prisoners.
- How do I make a DIY striped shirt?
- You can easily make one by placing painter's tape across a solid white shirt and spraying or painting the exposed fabric with fabric paint.
- What pants should I wear with a striped shirt?
- Solid black pants, dark blue jeans, or matching striped trousers work best depending on the specific character you are portraying.
Did you know? The black-and-white striped prisoner uniform was introduced in 19th-century America to make escaped convicts instantly recognizable in a crowd.