Ted Mosby Costume
Find your Slutty Pumpkin in Ted's signature election-themed costume.
Ted Mosby is the hopeless romantic protagonist of the sitcom How I Met Your Mother. For years, he wore the exact same 'Hanging Chad' costume to a rooftop party in hopes of reuniting with a mysterious girl. The look is a clever, low-key throwback to the 2000 US election recount, combined with Ted's classic smart-casual wardrobe.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~30 min
- Budget
- $25–75
Try it on
See yourself as Ted Mosby
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What you need for a Ted Mosby costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Ted Mosby costume — one box instead of 7 pieces.
Brown Blazer
A classic two-button corduroy or tweed blazer in a medium brown shade.
DIY: Use any brown suit jacket or structured blazer from a thrift store.
Striped Button-Down Shirt
A light-colored, long-sleeve collared shirt with thin vertical stripes.
DIY: A plain light blue or white button-down shirt works as a substitute.
Straight-Fit Jeans
Classic blue jeans in a relaxed or straight-leg cut.
White Poster Board
A sturdy piece of white poster board cut into a large rectangle to serve as the ballot.
DIY: Cut a piece of cardboard from a shipping box and paint it white.
Black Sharpie or Marker
A thick black permanent marker to draw the ballot details.
Hanging Chad Square
A small square cut out from the center of the poster board, left hanging by one corner.
DIY: Cut three sides of a small square in the center of your poster board and fold it forward so it dangles.
Yarn or String
Black or white string to hang the poster board sign around your neck.
DIY: Use an old shoelace or lanyard.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Ted Mosby costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the striped button-down shirt and tuck it neatly into your straight-fit blue jeans.
- 2
Layer the brown blazer over the striped shirt, leaving the blazer unbuttoned.
- 3
Cut a large rectangle out of the white poster board, roughly the size of your torso.
- 4
Using a thick black marker, draw horizontal lines and circles to mimic a 2000 Florida voting ballot, leaving a prominent square in the center.
- 5
Carefully cut out three sides of the center square (the 'chad'), leaving the top edge attached so it hangs loosely forward.
- 6
Punch two holes at the top corners of the poster board, thread the string through, and tie it to create a wearable neck sign.
- 7
Hang the ballot sign over your neck so it rests flat against your chest over the blazer.
Makeup & hair
Style your hair in a casual, slightly messy side part. No makeup is required, but a clean-shaven look or very light stubble fits Ted's everyday appearance.
Ted Mosby for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with someone dressed as the 'Slutty Pumpkin' in a carved-out pumpkin costume.
- group
- Go as the HIMYM gang with friends dressed as Barney Stinson in a suit, Robin Scherbatsky, and Marshall and Lily.
- Plus size
- Choose a relaxed-fit unstructured brown blazer for maximum comfort.
Tips
- Keep the sign lightweight so the string doesn't dig into your neck during a long party.
- Carry a red plastic cup to complete the casual rooftop party vibe.
- If the hanging chad keeps flapping shut, use a tiny piece of clear tape on the back of the fold to keep it angled outward.
Ted Mosby costume FAQ
- What is a hanging chad?
- In the 2000 US Presidential Election, paper ballots were punched. A 'chad' is the tiny paper square pushed out of the ballot. If it didn't fully detach and hung by a corner, it was called a hanging chad.
- What episode does Ted wear this costume?
- Ted wears this costume in Season 1, Episode 6 ('The Slutty Pumpkin') and references it in several subsequent Halloween episodes.
- Is this costume easy to make last-minute?
- Yes, it is incredibly easy. You only need basic closet staples (a brown blazer and jeans) and a piece of poster board to make the sign.
Did you know? Ted wore this exact same costume for ten consecutive years just in case the Slutty Pumpkin returned to the same rooftop party to find him.