If you're positively stumped when it comes to thinking up a great costume idea for Halloween [1] this year, The Walking Dead [2] will solve all of your problems. Yes, there are some zombies walking around this show with pretty intense prosthetics, but everyone else rocks average clothes that you probably have sitting in your closet right now, save for a few specific weapons and hairstyles. You can even round up your friends for a great group costume [3]. From living characters to those who we've had to say goodbye to, check out all the bloody good options below.
Rick Grimes
- What to wear: If you're going for an early version of Rick, a dirty brown cop uniform will do. In more current seasons, he's been strutting around in jeans, a plain white t-shirt, and a sheepskin jacket. Splatter it all in blood, make sure your face is covered in scruff, and you're good to go.
Michonne
- What to wear: A dirty tank top to show off your extremely toned arms, a leather vest if you have one, a pair of olive-colored skinny jeans, and a bandana to put just over your forehead to keep all the sweat you'll work up from slaying walkers out of your eyes. Grab a fake katana to complete the look (bonus points if you have two friends willing to dress up as walkers so you can lead them around on a leash all night [5]).
Sgt. Abraham Ford
- What to wear: A white undershirt or tank top, a big leather belt, and camouflage pants tucked into hiking boots. Don't forget to glue on a red handlebar mustache, either.
Glenn Rhee
- What to wear: Glenn keeps his look pretty simple, so all you have to do is cover a plain t-shirt and jeans with dirt and gore. He wears a baseball hat and jersey pretty frequently in season one, if you want to do that version of the character instead. Also, if you have any cologne or perfume that smells like a dumpster that someone just shot themselves on top of while leaving you for dead, now's your chance to wear it.
Morgan Jones
- What to wear: Morgan Jones, the zombie apocalypse's version of a warrior monk, never goes anywhere without his trusty wooden staff (or a bō, if you want to be technical), so try to get your hands on one. Other than that, if you have a jacket and pants in neutral tones and a crossbody bag, you're set.
Alpha Wolf (Owen)
- What to wear: A black sweatshirt and pants will do, but the pièce de résistance is the red "W" you'll need to paint on your forehead. If you're super dedicated to the costume, yellowing up your teeth will add a special touch.
Maggie Greene
- What to wear: Combine a brown ponytail, ripped jeans, and a tank top under a plaid button-down shirt. Pair with a chunky belt buckle and a holster to achieve Maggie Greene's country-girl-who-will-kill-you-in-a-heartbeat style.
Beth Greene
- What to wear: You'll need a long, blond ponytail, a chunky sweater, a yellow polo, and ripped jeans. Beth was known for playing guitar, so feel free to bring one along (if it needs to be travel-size, consider a ukulele instead).
Hershel Greene
- What to wear: A white wig to pull back into a low ponytail, and a scruffy, white beard and mustache. Pair those with a dirty button-down shirt, brown pants, and suspenders. Carry around a Bible.
Dr. Eugene Porter
- What to wear: A mullet wig! A big, brown mullet wig! As well as a white button down, a cargo vest, cargo shorts, and hiking boots. No fake weapon needed, since Eugene wouldn't know how to use it anyway.
Rosita Espinosa
- What to wear: Tight jeans or short-shorts will work, as well as a sleeveless shirt, hoop earrings, an army cap in neutral tones, fingerless leather gloves, and high, lace-up boots. Her weapon of choice is a machete.
Carol Peletier
- What to wear: There are a few different versions of Carol that you can be: OG Carol (a shaved head, printed shirt, khakis), faux-housewife Carol (a floral button-down shirt, a tray of cookies, a maniacal smile), or hardcore Carol (a baggy jacket, cargo pants, a gray t-shirt, tall black boots, and knuckle dusters). A short, gray wig is necessary.
Carl Grimes
- What to wear: Remember everyone who had those extremely exaggerated swooped bangs during the MySpace era? That's the kind of hair Carl is working with, so keep that in mind when picking out a wig or styling your own hair. Once that's done, you'll need a sheriff's hat, a plaid shirt, brown pants, and black boots. A giant tub of chocolate pudding is optional, but an eye patch is not.
Andrea
- What to wear: Long, wavy blond hair is a must, as well as an open button-down shirt, a tank top, tight cargo pants, and combat boots. Andrea was very proud of her marksmanship, so a holster wouldn't be out of place.
Dr. Denise Cloyd
- What to wear: You don't have to be "shot through the eye" Denise, but it's Halloween [6], so you might as well go all out. Get yourself a dark colored zip-up hoodie and jeans, and some fake blood to smear around both sides of the arrow. Try to get your hands on some long, dirty blond hair (if it's not already growing out of your head, of course), and put it in Denise's usual ponytail. If you're really not into the arrow idea, just put on glasses instead.
The Governor
- What to wear: A black button-down and jeans, as well as a leather jacket, and an eye patch. A brown messy wig will complete his menacing style.
The Terminus Gang
- What to wear: Gareth and the rest of the group from Terminus didn't wear anything out of the ordinary (big jackets, dirty t-shirts and jeans), but you can make it clear who you're dressed up as if you smear blood on your mouth and carry around one disgusting object: a severed leg. Where might you get your hands on a fake, bloody leg? I'm not sure. Ask Bob.
Daryl Dixon
- What to wear: A sleeveless button-down shirt (plaid, preferably) paired with jeans, a leather vest that has huge wings on the back (you can tape these on, if need be), and chunky boots. Extra accessories might include a crossbow, a necklace of severed ears, or some fake squirrels to hang around your neck (like this dog toy [7]). Grab a messy brown wig, and make sure you look pretty scruffy.
Father Gabriel
- What to wear: Any Halloween [8] outlet likely has a priest costume, which is all you really need if you want to be Father Gabriel (he also has a distinct mustache and goatee if you want to glue those on).
Ezekiel
- What to wear: Ezekiel hasn't made his big arrival on the show yet, but if you're a fan of the comic books or you watched the season seven trailer, you know that not only is he nearly here, but his look is pretty iconic. If you want to get a head start on the character, get yourself: gray hair, a long coat, fingerless leather gloves, a shirt with a fun print on it, a wooden staff, combat boots, and a tiger stuffed animal (in honor of Ezekiel's pet tiger, Shiva).
A Walker
- What to wear: Literally anything in your closet, so long as it's shredded, extremely dirty, and drenched in fake blood.
Negan
- What to wear: We have a feeling Negan will be a popular costume this year, and for good reason. Slick your hair back, glue on a mustache, and then put on a black leather jacket, a red scarf, dark pants, a leather glove on one hand, and carry around a baseball bat covered in barbed wire.