The Shining Costume
Come play with us: classic horror looks from the Overlook Hotel.
Costumes from Stanley Kubrick's horror masterpiece The Shining are instantly recognizable and deeply unsettling. Fans typically choose between two iconic looks: Jack Torrance with his axe and signature red jacket, or the eerie Grady Twins in their blue dresses. Both options offer high-impact horror recognition with relatively simple, everyday clothing pieces.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $35–85
Try it on
See yourself as The Shining
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 The Shining costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete The Shining costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Red corduroy jacket
A vintage-style, zip-front red corduroy jacket with a collar, matching Jack Torrance's signature look.
DIY: Use a standard red windbreaker or denim jacket and rough it up with dark fabric paint.
Plaid flannel shirt
A green and brown plaid button-down flannel shirt to wear layered under the jacket.
DIY: Any dark-colored plaid or checkered button-down shirt from a thrift store.
Prop foam axe
A realistic-looking toy axe with a weathered wooden-style handle and a silver-painted foam blade.
DIY: Cut an axe shape out of thick cardboard, paint the blade metallic silver, and tape it to a cardboard tube.
Light blue babydoll dress
For the Grady Twins look, a pale blue short-sleeve dress with a white Peter Pan collar and pleated skirt.
DIY: Add a DIY white felt collar and a pink ribbon sash to any simple light blue dress.
White knee-high socks
Classic opaque white knee-high socks to complete the twins' retro schoolgirl aesthetic.
Pink waist sash and hair bow
A satin pink ribbon worn around the waist of the blue dress, with a matching pink bow clipped into the hair.
DIY: Cut strips of pink satin fabric or wide ribbon from a craft store.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made The Shining costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
For Jack: Put on dark wash jeans, work boots, and layer the green plaid flannel shirt under the red corduroy jacket.
- 2
For Jack: Apply light brown eyeshadow under your eyes to create dark circles, and mess up your hair to look unhinged.
- 3
For Jack: Carry the prop foam axe and practice your best 'Here's Johnny!' manic grin.
- 4
For the Twins: Put on the light blue dress, tie the pink ribbon around your waist into a bow at the back, and clip the pink bow into your hair.
- 5
For the Twins: Pull on the white knee-high socks and slip into black Mary Jane shoes or flats.
- 6
For the Twins: If going as a duo, hold hands and practice standing perfectly still with a blank, unblinking expression.
Makeup & hair
For Jack, style hair to look messy and unkempt, using pomade for a greasy look, and use dark eyeshadow to create tired, sunken eyes. For the Twins, style hair in neat, parted waves with a pink bow on one side, keeping makeup pale and minimal.
The Shining for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- One person dresses as Jack Torrance with the red jacket and axe, while the other dresses as Wendy Torrance in a tan corduroy overall dress, plaid shirt, and holding a silver kitchen knife.
- group
- A trio can feature Jack Torrance, Wendy Torrance, and Danny Torrance riding a red tricycle, or a pair can go as the creepy Grady Twins.
- kids
- A child can dress as Danny Torrance wearing a red Apollo 11 knit sweater and riding a blue or red tricycle.
- Plus size
- The Jack Torrance flannel-and-jacket combo is highly adjustable and comfortable in all sizes; look for relaxed-fit corduroy jackets.
- pet
- A small dog can wear a custom blue fabric ruff resembling the twins' dresses, or a simple t-shirt printed with the word 'REDRUM'.
Tips
- If dressing as the Grady Twins, the costume works best when you find a partner of similar height to walk in unison with you.
- For Jack, safety first: always use a lightweight foam or plastic prop axe, especially at crowded parties or public events.
- Add fake blood splatters to the Grady Twins' dresses if you want to portray their post-tragedy look from the film's hallway scene.
- Keep your posture stiff and formal when posing as a Twin to sell the eerie, doll-like vibe.
The Shining costume FAQ
- What jacket does Jack Nicholson wear in The Shining?
- Jack Nicholson wears a vintage red corduroy zip-up jacket, specifically a cotton corduroy bomber style, layered over a green plaid flannel shirt.
- How do you do the Grady Twins costume?
- You need a light blue short-sleeved dress with a white Peter Pan collar, a pink ribbon sash around the waist, white knee-high socks, black Mary Jane shoes, and a pink hair bow.
- Is The Shining costume scary?
- Yes, both Jack Torrance and the Grady Twins are considered classic, highly recognizable psychological horror icons that evoke a creepy atmosphere without needing excessive gore.
Did you know? The iconic red corduroy jacket worn by Jack Nicholson was actually chosen from his personal wardrobe because director Stanley Kubrick felt it perfectly captured the character's everyday, blue-collar descent into madness.