The Blues Brothers Costume
We're on a mission from God. Suit up in black.
The Blues Brothers, Jake and Elwood Blues, are one of the most recognizable duos in cinema and music history. Originating on Saturday Night Live, their signature look is incredibly popular for couples and duos because it is instantly recognizable and easy to put together. The costume consists of a classic black suit, white dress shirt, skinny black tie, fedora, and dark sunglasses.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~15 min
- Budget
- $40–150
Try it on
See yourself as The Blues Brothers
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What you need for a The Blues Brothers costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete The Blues Brothers costume — one box instead of 7 pieces.
Black Suit Jacket
A classic black two-button suit jacket or blazer in a standard fit.
DIY: Use any plain black blazer or suit coat you already own.
Black Suit Pants
Matching flat-front black dress pants.
DIY: Any standard black trousers or dark black chinos.
White Dress Shirt
A crisp, long-sleeve white button-down dress shirt.
DIY: A plain white button-up shirt from your closet.
Black Skinny Tie
A solid black satin or matte skinny necktie, about 2 inches wide.
DIY: A standard black tie tied tightly.
Black Fedora or Trilby Hat
A black felt or structured trilby hat with a small brim and a black band.
DIY: Any black short-brimmed hat.
Wayfarer Sunglasses
Classic black-framed Wayfarer-style sunglasses with dark lenses.
DIY: Any thick-rimmed black plastic sunglasses.
White Socks and Black Shoes
Plain white crew socks paired with polished black leather dress shoes.
DIY: Wear your own black dress shoes or loafers with white athletic socks.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made The Blues Brothers costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the crisp white button-down dress shirt and button it all the way to the top.
- 2
Tie the black skinny tie tightly around the collar.
- 3
Put on the black suit pants and secure them with a simple black leather belt.
- 4
Put on the white crew socks, then step into your polished black dress shoes.
- 5
Put on the black suit jacket, leaving it unbuttoned for a relaxed, cool look.
- 6
Place the black trilby hat on your head, tilted slightly forward or to the side.
- 7
Slide on the black Wayfarer sunglasses to complete the iconic look.
Makeup & hair
Hair should be neatly tucked under the hat. Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) has short sideburns, while Jake (John Belushi) has slightly longer, thicker sideburns. Keep makeup minimal or clean-shaven.
The Blues Brothers for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- One person goes as Jake (shorter, stockier, slightly wider tie) and the other as Elwood (taller, thinner, carrying a silver briefcase handcuffed to their wrist).
- group
- Add members of the backup band in vintage 70s suits, or someone dressed as a Chicago police officer chasing them.
- kids
- A miniature black suit, tiny fedora, and sunglasses make an adorable, easy kid's costume.
- Plus size
- A classic-fit black suit jacket and stretch-waist black dress pants provide a comfortable, sharp fit for all body types.
- pet
- A small black dog collar attachment shaped like a white collar and black tie, paired with a tiny black hat.
Tips
- Carry a toy harmonica or a vintage-style microphone as a fun, interactive prop.
- For Elwood's character, attach a toy handcuff to your wrist and loop it to a silver metal briefcase.
- Keep the sunglasses on even indoors to maintain the cool, mysterious Blues Brothers persona.
- This costume is perfect for cold weather as it uses a full suit, but you can ditch the jacket if it gets too hot indoors.
The Blues Brothers costume FAQ
- What kind of hat do the Blues Brothers wear?
- They wear black trilby hats, which are similar to fedoras but have a slightly narrower brim that is turned up at the back.
- What sunglasses do the Blues Brothers wear?
- They wear classic black Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses (model 5022 or similar thick black plastic frames).
- How do you distinguish between Jake and Elwood?
- Jake is shorter and wears his hat slightly lower, while Elwood is taller, wears a thinner tie, and sometimes carries a silver briefcase handcuffed to his wrist.
Did you know? The signature black suits and sunglasses were inspired by 1950s blues musicians like John Lee Hooker, designed to give the characters a timeless, sharp look.