Wirt Costume
Embrace the autumn chill as the anxious, poetry-loving hero of the Unknown.
Wirt is the pessimistic, poetry-loving older half-brother from the beloved animated miniseries Over the Garden Wall. His distinct outfit—originally a makeshift Halloween costume resembling a medieval pilgrim or gnome—has become an iconic look for autumn and cosplay events. This guide helps you assemble his signature blue cape, red pointed hat, and mismatched shoes for a perfect woodland aesthetic.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~90 min
- Budget
- $30–80
Try it on
See yourself as Wirt
One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.
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What you need for a Wirt costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Wirt costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Red Pointed Cone Hat
A tall, pointed red cone hat, which can be made from stiff red felt or a modified gnome hat.
DIY: Roll a sheet of stiff red crafting felt into a cone shape, hot glue the seam, and trim the base to fit your head.
Navy Blue Nurse Cape or Cloak
A knee-length navy blue cape with a red lining, featuring a gold button or clasp closure at the neck.
DIY: Drape a length of navy blue fabric over your shoulders, line the inside with red fabric, and sew a large gold button at the collar.
White Button-Down Shirt
A simple, classic white long-sleeved button-down dress shirt with a pointed collar.
Grey Suspenders
Thin grey or dark charcoal suspenders worn over the white shirt.
Grey Slacks
High-waisted, straight-leg grey trousers or slacks.
DIY: Use any pair of grey dress pants or chinos.
Mismatched Shoes
One dark brown oxford shoe and one black loafer or boot to match Wirt's mismatched footwear.
DIY: Wear two different dark-colored dress shoes from your closet, or use black and brown shoe covers.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Wirt costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the white long-sleeved button-down shirt and button it all the way to the top collar.
- 2
Pull on the grey slacks and secure them with the grey suspenders over your shoulders.
- 3
Put on white crew socks, then slip on one black shoe and one dark brown shoe to capture his mismatched look.
- 4
Drape the navy blue cape over your shoulders and fasten the gold clasp or button at the center of your collar.
- 5
Place the tall red pointed cone hat securely on your head, letting your bangs peek out underneath.
- 6
Carry a black umbrella or a small cassette player as optional props to complete the character's anxious vibe.
Makeup & hair
Keep makeup minimal with a slightly pale complexion and a touch of blush on the nose and cheeks to look cold. Style your hair with messy, dark brown bangs sweeping across your forehead beneath the red hat.
Wirt for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with someone dressed as Gregory (complete with a teapot on their head) or Beatrice the bluebird.
- group
- Form a group with Gregory, Beatrice, the Woodsman, and a spooky silhouette of the Beast.
- kids
- A comfortable and warm choice for kids using a soft fleece cape and a felt cone hat.
- Plus size
- The loose-fitting cape and standard trousers make this an incredibly comfortable and adjustable fit for all body types.
- pet
- Dress a small dog in a tiny blue cape and a miniature red felt cone hat.
Tips
- Use bobby pins to secure the heavy felt cone hat to your hair so it doesn't tilt or fall off.
- The cape makes this costume naturally warm, making it excellent for chilly autumn outdoor events.
- For photos, adopt an anxious, slightly hunched posture and hold your hands together nervously.
- Thrift stores are excellent places to find cheap grey slacks, white button-downs, and mismatched dress shoes.
Wirt costume FAQ
- What is Wirt actually dressed as?
- Wirt's outfit is a makeshift Halloween costume that resembles a medieval pilgrim or a gnome, consisting of a blue nurse's cape and a red cone hat made from a party hat.
- Why does Wirt wear mismatched shoes?
- In the show, Wirt loses one of his shoes early on in the Unknown and replaces it with a different shoe he finds, leading to his signature mismatched black and brown footwear.
- How do you make Wirt's hat stay on?
- You can sew a thin elastic chin strap to the inside of the red felt cone, or use hairpins slipped through small loops sewn inside the rim of the hat.
Did you know? Over the Garden Wall creator Patrick McHale based Wirt's design on early 19th-century fashion and classic American Halloween costumes from the early 1900s.