AMC’s The Walking Dead is one of the most-watched and most-talked about shows on TV. The new season begins just before Halloween, and that gives you the perfect excuse to break out the flannel shirts and combat boots to create your unique look. Recreate one of the show’s characters with the five best Walking Dead-inspired Halloween costumes.
The Governor
Have an eye patch and a bad attitude? Become The Governor for Halloween. He is one of the most feared characters on The Walking Dead, and he will be seen in season 4. To recreate his look, cover your right eye with a black patch and put on a button-down shirt. Leave the top button undone, roll up the sleeves and complete the outfit with a pair of worn khakis. Black boots and a black vest or jacket complete the look. For added detail, carry around a very large (plastic) gun. The Governor often wears a watch on his left wrist as well. Woodbury town member blood splatter is optional.
Rick Grimes
Rick is arguably the star of The Walking Dead, and one of the few cast members who has (thus far) appeared in every episode. A proper Rick costume requires lots of hair gel and a distant stare. Practice a spaced-out look in the mirror to perfect the look. You’ll need a dirty button-up, well-worn blue jeans, dusty combat boots and multiple guns in order to complete this look. Rick often has two or three days’ worth of stubble on his face. Cover yourself with sweat and blood to complete the costume.
A Woodbury Resident
The Governor town’s Woodbury completely fell apart at the end of the last season, and the residents have become refugees. Turn yourself into a Woodbury resident with blue jeans and shirt of your choice. Get yourself good and dirty with mud and blood splatter, and practice your lost, terrified expression. Grab any sort of makeshift weapon and stay on edge all night to pull off the look.
Daryl Dixon
Daryl is a fan-favorite character on the series, and his look is very distinct. To become Daryl, you’re going to need a crossbow. Cut the sleeves off a flannel shirt, put on some jeans and boots and you’re already halfway there. Daryl wears a goatee and his hair is sloppy most of the time, sometimes parted to one side or the other. Make the costume work by working on your Southern accent and acting suspicious of everyone.
The Walking Dead
Of course, what would The Walking Dead be without the zombies? To be a Walking-worthy zombie, you’ve got to get extra gruesome. Cover your clothes in mud and blood, and use scissors to make them ragged (zombies aren’t very fashionable). AMC advises using uncooked oatmeal over liquid latex to create rotting skin. Use gelatin with food coloring and makeup to give yourself wounds. Rubber-like gelatin is easy to work. Cover your face with liquid latex to create various flesh tears and an overall pale look. Corn syrup and food coloring, mixed together, become very believable blood.
In a pinch, flour and water can be mixed together and applied to skin instead of liquid latex. The mixture will make your face white and when it dries it will create a flaky consistency. Use makeup to create dark rings around your eyes and dead, rotting areas on your skin.
Dressing Dead
Get out your zombie-hunting gear and get into the spirit of Halloween this year by becoming your favorite Walking Dead character. If you want to turn up the fright factor, make the character dead. Use makeup to whiten your face, add an ugly wound and bring back your favorite from the jaws of death. Halloween is about having fun, so have fun with your costume.
