October costume panic usually comes from the same mistake: buying a bagged costume that looks thin, fits nobody and gets binned in November. I'd rather dress a man in real clothes and add the two or three details that name the character. That is how most of the costumes below are built. There are monsters, uniforms, film and TV characters, decade looks and a few comedy suits, and for each one I've covered the base, the hair or face and the shoes, plus where it gets hot, cold or awkward over a long night out or at an office party.
Which of These Pass an Office Dress Code
A lot of men get asked to dress up at work and then find out there are rules: no masks, nothing that hides the face, no props that look real, sometimes nothing that stops you doing the job. Before picking from this list, I'd check three things with whoever runs the day.
- Can you wear makeup? If not, look at the costumes that rely on clothes and grooming: Clark Kent, Ted Lasso, Dwight, the Victorian detective, Men in Black, the park ranger, Gatsby.
- Can you wear it at a desk? Capes, inflatables and wide sashes get caught on chairs and keyboards. A costume you can sit in for eight hours is worth more than one that looks good for one photo.
- Will you change before the evening? If you're heading straight to a party, choose something that builds up: a work suit by day, then a cape, fangs and pale makeup added at five.
The costumes built from real tailoring are the easiest to adapt this way. A plain dark suit can be the base for Gomez, the vampire, the zombie and Men in Black, and the only thing that changes between office and party is what you add on top.
1. Classic Vampire Costume With Black Cape
The vampire is really a dinner suit with a cape. Slim black trousers, a white shirt and a dark vest under a black cape with a red lining. A high collar is what turns it theatrical, and on a cheap cape the collar flops, so I slip a strip of stiff interfacing or a folded piece of card inside it. Slick your hair back with gel or use a short black wig. Pale makeup, shaded eyes and deep red at the lips set the face, with small fangs if you can talk around them. A medallion and an old-looking ring finish it.
2. Easy Ghost Costume With White Suit
A ghost in a white suit is a far better idea than a bedsheet, and you'll actually be able to see. White trousers, a white shirt and a light white blazer, with temporary white colour powdered through the hair or a tousled silver wig. Take the pale makeup down the neck as well as the face, or the jawline gives it away. White gloves and an empty vintage picture frame, as if you've stepped out of a portrait, are a nice touch. A few strips of sheer white fabric under the jacket hem add drift. White is unforgiving, so keep a stain pen in your pocket.
3. Skeleton Costume With Black Jumpsuit
Skeletons suit any budget. The quick route is a printed black jumpsuit; the cheaper one is white felt bones on black jeans and a fitted sweatshirt. On a cotton sweatshirt, fabric glue holds felt fine, but on anything stretchy I'd stitch, or the bones crack and lift when you bend. Paint the jaw, nose and eye sockets in clean black and white, then slick the hair back or wear a fitted black hood. Bone-print gloves bring the hands in. A thermal underneath for outdoor nights, and reflective white details if you're walking.
4. Werewolf Costume With Plaid Shirt
This werewolf is my pick for a cold October night because it's built on warm layers. Distressed jeans, a plaid flannel over a dark thermal, and small patches of brown faux fur at the cuffs and collar rather than all over. Brush your own hair upward or use a tousled brown wig. Brown and grey makeup strengthens the brows, shades the cheekbones and widens the nose. Faux sideburns need proper costume adhesive, not the backing tape; they lift as soon as you warm up. Soft ears, furry fingerless gloves and brown boots finish it. Fray the shirt edges a little, but nothing that dangles.
5. Classic Mummy Costume With Wrapped Layers
The mummy I'd build is one you can still sit, walk and use the bathroom in. Cream sweatpants and a long-sleeve top as the base, with uneven strips of light cotton gauze glued on, leaving the knees, elbows, hands and face clear. Age some strips with beige and grey dye. Dust swept-back hair with temporary grey. Neutral makeup and shadowed eyes do the face. Wrap your sneakers with removable strips. Hide every loose end with fabric glue or a safety pin on the inside, since a single unravelled strip trails behind you all evening.
6. Frankenstein Monster Costume With Green Makeup
Frankenstein's monster is all about proportion. A boxy dark blazer with the sleeves slightly too short, black trousers and a charcoal tee, with platform boots for height or plain supportive boots if you'll be walking. Muted green face makeup with darker shading at the eyes, forehead and cheekbones; keep stitches minimal. Flatten and square the hair with strong-hold product, or wear a short black wig. Attach the neck bolts to a soft collar instead of your skin, which is far more comfortable over a long night. Dark gloves and a slow, stiff walk carry the rest.
7. Retro Zombie Costume With Tattered Suit
A thrift-shop suit makes the best zombie. Pick a cheap grey or brown one, fray the cuffs and jacket hem gently, and wear it over a faded shirt with a crooked tie. Grey-green makeup washes out the skin, with soft purple under the eyes, and matte paste plus temporary grey messes up the hair. Leave out realistic injuries; dusty, rumpled tailoring and a blank stare do more. A worn briefcase full of sweets is a good joke. After fraying, run a line of fabric glue along each cut edge, otherwise it keeps unravelling until threads drag under your shoes.
8. Shadow Specter Costume With Hooded Robe
The shadow specter is a quiet, easy costume built from black layers. Black trousers and a breathable long-sleeve shirt under a lightweight hooded robe that stops above your ankles. Charcoal makeup around the eyes and temples, leaving most of the face clear, and black gloves to keep the silhouette continuous. A smoky grey scarf trails like mist. Matte boots stop it looking like loungewear. I'd carry a small battery lantern; it lights up dark layers in photos, where an all-black costume otherwise disappears into the background.
9. Scarecrow Costume With Overalls
A scarecrow is the thrift-shop costume most men can put together in an afternoon. Faded overalls over a warm plaid shirt, brown work boots and a floppy straw hat. Bundle raffia at the cuffs, pockets and ankles and tie each bundle tightly with thread, or it sheds across every floor you walk on. Warm tan makeup on the nose and cheeks with stitches drawn at the mouth in skin-safe pencil. A knee patch and a rope belt add texture. A thermal under the shirt makes it a good outdoor option.
10. Jack-O-Lantern Costume With Orange Hoodie
The jack-o'-lantern is a hoodie costume, which makes it easy for a casual party. An orange hoodie with a friendly black face, printed or cut from removable felt, plus black jeans and orange high-tops. A green fabric collar for leaves and a green beanie with a short felt stem take care of the top. Paint a little orange at the temples with black geometric accents near the eyes. Orange gloves continue the colour. Skip the full mask; you'll want to talk and eat, and a candy bucket in hand does the rest.
11. Mad Scientist Costume With White Lab Coat
Grooming makes the mad scientist, and the lab coat does the rest. Dark trousers, a pale shirt and a slightly rumpled white lab coat, with loafers or sneakers. Tease your hair up and spray it white, or wear a wild silver wig. Grey under the eyes and raised brows give the overworked look. Rest goggles on your forehead, not over your eyes. Fill the pockets with plastic measuring tools and notebooks, and use containers stuffed with coloured paper instead of liquid. A bow tie is a fun contrast.
12. Classic Magician Costume With Red Vest
A magician starts with formal pieces: black trousers, a white shirt and a red or burgundy vest, plus a tailcoat if you want the traditional shape. A side part and light definition at the brows suit the stage look. A collapsible top hat, white gloves and a patterned bow tie name the character. Oversized cards or a bouquet of fabric flowers beat any real trick you'd have to perform. Nonslip shoes are worth it on a party floor. If you're handy with a needle, a few pockets sewn into the coat lining hold cards, sweets or your phone.
13. Victorian Detective Costume With Plaid Coat
The Victorian detective is clever and polite enough for nearly any event. Brown trousers, a cream shirt, a tweed vest and a long plaid coat, with a deerstalker cap and dark brown boots. Your own mustache or a removable one suits the period. Carry a magnifying glass and a small notebook, and add a pocket watch on a chain. Look for wool-blend pieces in a thrift shop rather than costume fabric; real tweed hangs properly and photographs with texture. The goal is a full outfit, not a hat sitting on everyday clothes.
14. Classic Pirate Costume With Striped Shirt
This pirate stays family-friendly by skipping weapons entirely. Cropped black trousers with a loose white or striped shirt, a burgundy vest and a wide fabric sash. Knee-high boots or leather-look boot covers give the shape. Tie a bandana over tousled hair or wear a shoulder-length wig, and add brown liner and a touch of bronzer. A tricorn, a clip-on hoop and a few rings finish the top. A rolled map or foam telescope is plenty. Tie the sash with a double knot; a single one works loose and slides down by the second hour.
15. Western Cowboy Costume With Denim Jacket
The cowboy is the costume you'll wear again, because it's built from real clothes. Straight-leg jeans, a plaid or chambray shirt and a brown denim or suede-look jacket, with a belt, a decorative buckle and Western boots. A tan hat that fits properly, a little bronzer and some stubble give the outdoor look. A red bandana and a coil of soft rope or a hobby-horse prop round it out. Leave realistic weapons at home. Indoors, take the jacket off; shirt, hat, belt and boots still say cowboy.
16. Astronaut Costume With White Jumpsuit
The astronaut is clean and easy to personalise. A white utility jumpsuit with removable silver tape, generic mission patches and a fabric name label, plus white high-tops or soft moon-boot covers. I'd carry a clear helmet prop rather than wear one all evening; they fog and muffle your voice. A soft white cap covers the hair. A small white backpack doubles as the life-support unit and holds your phone. A touch of silver at the eye corners is enough makeup. Check the reflective trim is stitched or firmly stuck, since peeling tape looks shabby fast.
17. Fighter Pilot Costume With Green Flight Suit
The fighter pilot is mostly about how the jumpsuit fits. An olive utility jumpsuit with generic aviation patches and a name tag, black boots or cushioned dark sneakers, and aviators that come off indoors. Before you buy, sit down and lift your knees in it: a jumpsuit that's short in the body pulls at the crotch and shoulders every time you sit. Hold a costume helmet under one arm and carry a duffel bag. Roll the sleeves once, or wear a white tee showing at the collar. No official insignia or real military gear.
18. Firefighter Costume With Reflective Jacket
A firefighter should read as a costume, not a real uniform, so keep it theatrical. Navy work trousers, a dark tee and a light tan costume jacket with reflective stripes, plus black work boots with good insoles and a plastic helmet. A little charcoal along the cheeks suggests a hard shift; skip burns or injuries. Suspenders give shape when the jacket's open. A foam hose segment or a toy radio makes a friendly prop. Don't copy real department names or badges. Choose a jacket in soft fabric; stiff costume vinyl creaks and traps heat.
19. Park Ranger Costume With Khaki Uniform
The park ranger is outdoorsy, practical and assembled almost entirely from neutral basics. Olive trousers, a khaki shirt and brown hiking boots, with a green or brown jacket when it's cold. A wide-brim felt hat sets the shape, and a generic patch or handmade paper badge names the job. Binoculars, a trail map, a field notebook and a water bottle on the belt make it believable and useful. Leave out real agency logos. For a laugh, pin photos of made-up wildlife sightings in the notebook and spend the night recording party creatures.
20. Chef Costume With Checkered Pants
Chef works when the whites are crisp. Black-and-white check trousers, a white double-breasted jacket and nonslip black shoes, with a tall fabric hat over contained hair. A curled mustache or tidy facial hair adds character, and a red neckerchief adds colour. Carry a light mixing bowl, a wooden spoon or a tray of fake cupcakes; never real knives. A handwritten name patch like Head Candy Chef is a good touch. Iron the jacket and starch the collar the day before, because a limp chef jacket looks like a pyjama top.
21. Construction Worker Costume With Safety Vest
The construction worker is a sturdy, no-fuss costume. Relaxed jeans, a plaid work shirt and tan lace-up boots, with a bright reflective vest and a clean plastic hard hat. A little light brown makeup on the cheeks suggests dust. A foam tape measure, a rolled blueprint and a soft tool pouch name the job without real tools. Tuck work gloves in a back pocket. Leave out real job-site gear and company branding. It's comfortable outdoors, and a thermal under the shirt is invisible on a cold night.
22. Disco Costume With Sequin Shirt
A sequined shirt is the whole disco costume, so spend your effort there. Black or white flares with a shimmering shirt in silver, gold or a jewel tone, open at the collar over a plain undershirt. That undershirt matters; sequin backing scratches bare skin within an hour of dancing. Platform-look shoes with stable soles, a big curly wig or your own curls picked out, a little shimmer and tinted glasses. A metallic chain and a small mirror-ball prop finish it. Hem the flares so they clear the floor.
23. 1980s Workout Costume With Neon Tracksuit
The 1980s workout look is comfortable and loud. Short athletic shorts over opaque fitted leggings, a loose neon tank or cropped sweatshirt, white crew socks, supportive sneakers, wristbands and a headband. Tease your hair up with mousse or wear a curly mullet wig. A bit of colour on the eyes and bright blush give the fitness-video look. Leg warmers add colour and warmth. A foam dumbbell or an old music-player prop works for photos. Check the leggings in daylight before you go; plenty of cheap ones turn see-through when you bend.
24. 1990s Grunge Costume With Flannel Shirt
Grunge is the costume for men who don't want a costume. Faded straight-leg jeans and a vintage-style band tee with nothing offensive on it, an oversized flannel open or tied at the waist, and worn lace-up boots or canvas sneakers. Hair loose and messy, real or wig, with a little smudged dark liner. A knit beanie, layered chains and old headphones carry the decade. Don't over-distress anything. Loose proportions and muted colours say 1990s more than shredded denim does.
25. 1920s Gatsby Costume With Tuxedo
Gatsby is my suggestion for a dressier party. Black tuxedo trousers, a pleated white shirt and a tailored dinner jacket, with a black bow tie, polished shoes and a white pocket square. Slick the hair back with shine pomade. A white scarf draped at the neck is the period detail. Carry a costume cane or an Art Deco-style invitation, and skip alcohol-themed props. A dark three-piece suit stands in if a tux feels too much. A rented or thrifted tux almost always needs the trouser hem checked; puddling at the shoe spoils the clean line.
26. Glam Rock Star Costume With Metallic Pants
Glam rock is about shine balanced with something dark. Metallic or faux-leather trousers, a fitted patterned shirt and a cropped velvet jacket, with stable-heeled ankle boots and a few light chains. Big hair, natural or a layered wig in black, blond or a bright temporary colour. Smoky eyes and a little shimmer catch party light. A toy microphone or an unplugged guitar on your back is the prop. Faux-leather trousers don't breathe, so if you'll be dancing, I'd pick a metallic knit instead.
27. Elvis Presley Costume With White Jumpsuit
The Elvis jumpsuit lives on its flared legs, high collar and hair. A white costume jumpsuit with gold or red accents and a wide matching belt, plus white ankle boots or dress shoes. Build a dark pompadour with strong-hold product or wear a short black wig with sideburns. Tinted aviators and a red scarf finish the stage look, with a gold toy microphone in hand. Pick a front-zip jumpsuit; back zips need help every time you visit the bathroom. Make sure the flares clear the floor so you can dance.
28. Ken Costume With Striped Beach Outfit
Ken suits a bright indoor party. A pastel striped short-sleeve shirt with matching shorts and clean white sneakers, over a fitted tank. Blond hair styled neat and lifted, or a short golden wig, with light bronzer and brushed brows. A pastel visor, a wristband and plastic sunglasses add the toy-box feel, and a striped towel works as a prop. In cold weather, swap to pastel trousers. Matching the pastels exactly is what makes it Ken instead of a man on holiday, so lay all the pieces out together in daylight before deciding.
29. Maverick Costume With Flight Jacket
Maverick is a jacket costume. Dark jeans or olive trousers with a plain white tee and a brown bomber covered in generic patches, plus supportive boots. Short, neat hair and a little bronzer give the sunny look. Aviators for photos, off in dim rooms. A light helmet or a canvas duffel completes it, with a dog-tag-style necklace. Skip official military insignia. A real leather bomber gets hot inside, so wear it over just the tee and take it off between photos; the tee and aviators still carry it.
30. Indiana Jones Costume With Leather Jacket
Indiana Jones is practical adventure clothing plus three signatures: the hat, the jacket and the satchel. Khaki trousers, a light safari-style shirt and a weathered brown leather-look jacket, with sturdy boots and a wide-brim fedora. A canvas crossbody satchel holds your phone and keys. Bronzer suggests time outdoors. An old notebook, a rolled map or a gold artifact prop works; leave the whip at home. If the fedora is new, steam the brim and pinch the crown a little so it looks worn in rather than straight off the shelf.
31. Clark Kent Superman Costume With Open Shirt
Clark Kent is the superhero for men who don't want a bodysuit, and it's a good one for the office. Dark trousers, a white shirt, a plain tie and black shoes, with a blue shirt bearing the red-and-yellow shield underneath. Leave a few buttons open mid-reveal. One curl at the forehead and black rectangular glasses do the face. A reporter's notebook and a made-up press pass are good props. Wear the blue shirt fitted and tucked in, otherwise the shield slips down out of the gap. A dark blazer adds warmth.
32. Batman Costume With Black Utility Suit
Batman needs a strong outline built from safe, flexible pieces. A black or dark grey long-sleeve top and fitted trousers, a light chest panel with a generic bat, a fabric utility belt, a short cape that ends above the calves and a soft-eared cowl that leaves your mouth and eyes clear. Charcoal around the visible eye area. Black gloves and supportive boots. No hard armour or sharp parts. Before the party, turn your head, climb some stairs and sit down in it; capes catch on chairs and cowls twist.
33. Spider-Man Costume With Red And Blue Suit
Spider-Man is a one-piece costume, so the suit quality decides everything. Pick a flexible, breathable printed bodysuit with separate gloves and a zip you can reach. Check the mask's eye panels for side vision, and take it off to eat or walk through dim spaces. Flatten longer hair under the mask. Unmasked, a little red around the eyes is enough. Red sneakers or soft boot covers with grip. A small camera nods to Peter Parker's photography. Cheap suits are often short in the torso, so check the length against your own before ordering.
34. Beetlejuice Costume With Striped Suit
Beetlejuice is tailoring and wild hair. A black-and-white striped suit with a white shirt, black tie and chunky boots, and a white or pale green wig teased into a windswept mess. Light face makeup with green-grey shading at the eyes and temples, darker brows and a crooked grin. A striped handbook or an old appointment card is the prop. A fitted jacket is easier to wear than a huge one, and elastic-waist trousers help. Set the face with powder and brush off the excess, so it doesn't come off on furniture or other guests.
35. Willy Wonka Costume With Purple Coat
Willy Wonka is formalwear with a sense of humour. Black or burgundy trousers, a patterned vest and a crisp shirt under a long purple coat, with a bright bow tie, polished boots and a tall brown top hat. Soft curls or a short wavy wig under the hat, rosy cheeks and defined brows. A costume cane and oversized wrapped-candy props, but don't hand out homemade food unless the event allows it. Repeat purple, burgundy and gold so every piece connects. A coat with real pockets is worth hunting for; you'll need somewhere for your phone.
36. Mario Costume With Red Cap
Mario uses workwear pieces, which makes it comfortable. Blue denim overalls over a bright red long-sleeve shirt, brown work shoes or boots, and a red cap with a white circle emblem. Tuck your hair under the cap and fix a soft brown mustache with skin-safe adhesive. White gloves give the cartoon hands. A cardboard coin or foam mushroom is the prop. Cuff the overall hems if they bunch at the shoes. There's room for a thermal underneath, and the bib pocket is useful. Buy the brightest red you can find; muted red reads as a different character in photos.
37. Gru Costume With Gray Scarf
Gru is barely a costume, which is exactly why it's good. Slim black trousers, a dark zip-up jacket and black lace-ups, with a long grey-and-black striped scarf hanging evenly. A bald cap gives the head shape, though very short hair does too. Bald caps show their edge at the forehead, so blend it with a little foundation matched to your skin. Shading at the brows and nose gives the stern look. Black gloves, a plush yellow helper and a cardboard blueprint finish it. Hunch your shoulders and frown and people get it immediately.
38. Minion Costume With Yellow Hoodie
The Minion is simple layers and lots of yellow. Denim overalls over a yellow hoodie or long-sleeve shirt, black gloves and black boots or sneakers. Pull the hood up, or wear a fitted yellow beanie with a few short black yarn strands. The goggles are the main piece, so pick ones with clear lenses you can actually see through. Yellow face paint is optional. A soft banana prop is enough. It's a good cold-weather choice, since thermals fit underneath, and adjustable straps help the overalls sit right on different builds.
39. Ted Lasso Costume With Blue Tracksuit
Ted Lasso is friendly athletic basics plus a mustache. Navy track trousers with a matching zip jacket over a blue polo, clean running shoes and a whistle on a lanyard. A neat side part and a thick brown mustache, real or costume. A clipboard with a hand-written pep talk or a small soccer ball, and a visor if you like. This is one of the easiest costumes to wear at work, because it's really just sportswear. Practise the thumbs-up; the attitude does as much as the clothes.
40. Gomez Addams Costume With Pinstripe Suit
Gomez Addams is an elegant suit with a mustache, and very little else. A black pinstripe suit, crisp white shirt, dark tie and polished black shoes. Flatten the hair with a precise side part and add a narrow black mustache. Light pale foundation, defined brows and soft grey under the cheekbones. A black pocket square, an antique-look watch and a ring finish the details, with a single red rose as the prop. Skip smoking props. Tailoring matters more here than anywhere, so get the sleeves and hems right, and a stretch shirt makes the layers easier.
41. Dwight Schrute Costume With Short-Sleeve Shirt
Dwight Schrute is a thrift-shop costume through and through. Brown or mustard trousers, a pale yellow short-sleeve dress shirt and a wide earth-tone tie, with sensible brown shoes and a plain belt. Part your hair firmly in the middle or wear a flat short wig, and add big wire-frame glasses. A paper name badge, an office folder and a foam beet name the reference, and a calculator watch is a good extra. Tuck the shirt in and pull the trousers a little higher than feels normal. That waistline is half the joke.
42. Men In Black Costume With Black Suit
Men in Black works best with two men, and the match has to be close. Matching black suits, white shirts, narrow black ties, black socks and polished shoes, with neat hair. Dark rectangular sunglasses are the key piece, off in low light. A plain costume earpiece and a small silver flashlight as the memory device. Leave out realistic gear or credentials. If your suits differ, at least match the tie width and the sunglasses, since those are what people compare. Stretch shirts and comfortable shoes help on a long night of standing.
43. Where’s Waldo Costume With Striped Shirt
Waldo is cheap, cheerful and the most photo-friendly costume here. A red-and-white striped long-sleeve shirt, mid-wash jeans, brown shoes and a red-and-white knit hat with a pom-pom. Round black glasses and a touch of rosy cheek. A light foam walking stick, a canvas crossbody and a rolled map are the props. Choose wide stripes; thin ones blur into pink on camera. At a crowded party, ducking into the back of group photos turns the costume into a game.
44. Bob Ross Costume With Curly Wig
Bob Ross is all about the wig. Relaxed jeans, a pale shirt with the top button open and sleeves rolled, brown casual shoes and a dark belt. The rounded brown curly wig is the costume, so spend money there, plus a beard if you need one. Rosy cheeks, nothing more. A cardboard palette and clean foam brushes that can't stain anyone, and a small canvas with a simple landscape. Keep paint on the props only. Fluff the wig out with your fingers instead of a brush, which flattens those curls.
45. Inflatable Dinosaur Costume With Sneakers
An inflatable dinosaur is the most visual costume here for the least styling. Pick one with a battery fan and room inside for normal clothing, and wear a wicking tee and shorts to stay cool. Tie hair back so it can't block the fan. The body hides your feet, so wear supportive sneakers and watch every step. Test the fan, batteries, seams and zip before leaving, with spare batteries in a zipped pocket. Keep clear of candles and decorations, and deflate it before getting into a car.
The Small Repair Kit I Put in a Costume Pocket
Something on a costume always fails during the night. A mustache lifts, a sash slips, a strip of gauze comes loose, a hem drops. You don't need much to fix most of it, and it all fits in a jacket pocket or a small zip bag.
- Four or five safety pins in two sizes, for sashes, capes, hems and anything pulled loose.
- A short strip of double-sided garment tape, for lapels, collars and a shirt gaping open over a hidden logo.
- A small tube of skin-safe costume adhesive if you're wearing a mustache, beard or sideburns.
- Makeup wipes and a little compact of translucent powder, to fix smudged face paint and take shine off a pale base.
- A couple of spare batteries for any light, fan or prop that uses them.
Taking it all off at the end of the night
Remove face paint with an oil-based cleanser before you wash with soap; soap alone smears cream makeup around and leaves a tint in beard stubble. Peel adhesive pieces off slowly with remover, never dry. Hang suits and coats straight away so creases and smells don't set, and brush chalk or temporary colour out of the fabric outside before it goes in the wash. That way the clothes go back into your wardrobe, and half the costume is ready for next year.
Your Wardrobe Already Holds Half These Characters
Look back over this list and most of these men's costumes start with clothes you already have: a dark suit, a flannel, jeans, a white shirt. That is where I'd begin, then add the one or two details that name the character. Before deciding, think about the weather, any dress code, how far you'll walk and how much time you have to build it. Try on the mask, wig, shoes and makeup before the night, pin or stitch anything loose, and swap realistic props for foam, fabric or cardboard. Done that way, even a cheap DIY outfit looks finished.
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