The Last of Us Costume
Survive the post-apocalypse with rugged, weathered, screen-accurate survivor gear.
The Last of Us costumes let you step into the gritty, post-apocalyptic world of Joel and Ellie. Highly popular for couples and duos, these looks rely on heavily weathered, practical everyday clothing and survival gear. The key to nailing this costume is making your clothes look dirty, worn, and battle-tested.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $40–120
Try it on
See yourself as The Last of Us
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.
Your photo is sent to Google's Gemini API to make the render and isn't used for training. Renders are AI-generated and labelled.
Want a different costume on this photo, or a whole group in costume? Open the Try-On Studio.
What you need for a The Last of Us costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete The Last of Us costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Joel's Olive Green or Denim Work Shirt
A rugged, button-down cotton work shirt in olive drab, brown, or faded denim, preferably with double chest pockets.
DIY: Use an old, oversized button-down shirt and sand down the elbows to look worn.
Ellie's Red Hoodie and Graphic Tee
A zip-up red hoodie worn over a grey or white t-shirt featuring a retro sunset or palm tree graphic.
DIY: Draw a simple sunset graphic onto a plain grey t-shirt using fabric markers.
Weathered Jeans
Dark wash or faded blue jeans for Joel, or slim-fit dark jeans for Ellie, heavily distressed with dirt and scuffs.
DIY: Take an old pair of jeans and rub sandpaper over the knees and pockets to fray them.
Survival Backpack
A vintage green canvas rucksack for Joel, or a small grey/green school backpack adorned with keychains and a flashlight for Ellie.
DIY: Use any old school backpack and clip a mini flashlight to the shoulder strap.
Toy or Prop Revolver
A realistic-looking toy revolver or prop pistol kept in a hip holster.
DIY: Cut a simple pistol shape out of thick cardboard and paint it matte black and silver.
Work Boots
Sturdy, scuffed brown leather work boots or hiking boots.
DIY: Wear your oldest pair of hiking boots and rub real dirt or brown eyeshadow onto them.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made The Last of Us costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the base layers: Joel wears the olive work shirt over a grey undershirt; Ellie wears the graphic tee under her unzipped red hoodie.
- 2
Put on your distressed jeans and secure them with a rugged brown leather belt.
- 3
Lace up your worn work boots or hiking boots, tucking the jeans slightly if desired.
- 4
Distress the outfit by lightly dusting the fabric with real dirt, potting soil, or brown and black eyeshadow to simulate soot and grime.
- 5
Equip the backpack, ensuring a prop flashlight is clipped to the front shoulder strap.
- 6
Tuck the prop revolver into a belt holster or pocket, and add optional bandages or fake blood to your hands or forehead.
Makeup & hair
Keep hair messy and unwashed. For Joel, style a rugged, slightly graying beard and messy hair; for Ellie, pull hair back into a loose, low ponytail with face-framing strands. Apply brown and black smudge makeup to the face and arms to look like dirt, and add a small fake scar through the right eyebrow for Ellie.
The Last of Us for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- One person goes as Joel in his green work shirt and beard, while the other goes as Ellie in her red hoodie and backpack.
- group
- Add a third person dressed as a Clicker using a fungal face mask and tattered, blood-splattered clothes.
- kids
- A kid-friendly Ellie costume using a red hoodie, jeans, a small backpack, and a toy flashlight.
- Plus size
- Both Joel and Ellie's outfits rely on standard, comfortable utility wear like flannel shirts, denim, and hoodies which offer a highly adjustable, comfortable fit.
- pet
- Dress a dog in a small green canvas saddlebag to look like a survival companion.
Tips
- To make your clothes look authentically post-apocalyptic, mist them with water and rub real dirt or charcoal powder into the damp fabric.
- Clip a working angled flashlight to your backpack strap—it looks great in photos and is highly practical for dark Halloween nights.
- Keep a few adhesive bandages on your fingers and knuckles to sell the tough, survivalist aesthetic.
- Use temporary hair color spray to add gray streaks to your hair and beard if you are going as Joel.
The Last of Us costume FAQ
- What shirt does Joel wear in The Last of Us?
- Joel typically wears a rugged, button-down cotton work shirt in olive green, faded denim, or brown flannel, often layered over a grey t-shirt.
- How do I make my clothes look dirty for a Last of Us costume?
- Mix brown and black acrylic paint with water in a spray bottle and lightly mist your clothes, or rub real potting soil and charcoal onto the fabric.
- What keychains does Ellie have on her backpack?
- Ellie has a plush punk-rock eyeball keychain and a small flashlight clipped to her backpack straps.
Did you know? Costume designer Cynthia Summers went through dozens of identical shirts for Pedro Pascal's Joel, hand-weathering each one to different stages of wear and tear to match the timeline of their journey.