Last updated: April 24, 2026· By Seckin Peker

Costume Guide

Tommy Miller Costume Guide

The Last of Us · Gabriel Luna · HBO

Joel’s younger brother, Jackson’s protector — cowboy work shirt, Wrangler jeans, western belt buckle, and a scoped rifle for the end of the world.

The Last of Us Gabriel Luna Dystopia Apocalypse
🤠

Quick Answer: To dress like Tommy Miller from The Last of Us, put on the white tank top, layer the burgundy cowboy cut work shirt over it, pull on the Wrangler cowboy cut jeans, fasten the leather belt with the western oval buckle, lace up the sand-coloured Chelsea boots, and carry the scoped rifle prop. The western belt buckle and cowboy cut shirt together communicate Tommy’s Texas roots and practical survivor aesthetic to any fan of the series.

Tommy Miller is Joel’s younger brother and one of the most compelling secondary characters in The Last of Us — a former soldier who survived the fungal pandemic, spent time with the Fireflies, and eventually built a life worth protecting in Jackson, Wyoming. Played by Gabriel Luna in the HBO series, Tommy is defined by the specific tension between his military pragmatism and his genuine belief that people can still build something good in the ruins of the old world. His costume reflects exactly that: functional, working-class survivalist clothing with a western edge that communicates his background and his values before he speaks a word.

Items Total7 Items
DifficultyEasy
SeriesHBO
Cost$60–$120

Tommy Miller Costume Items

Numbered Tommy Miller costume shopping infographic from The Last of Us — seven labeled items including burgundy cowboy shirt, white tank top, Wrangler jeans, leather belt, western buckle, scoped rifle prop, and sand Chelsea boots

Tommy Miller Costume Items — The Last of Us

Affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Tommy Miller The Last of Us HBO Halloween
  • 1 Cowboy Cut Work ShirtBurgundy long-sleeve Wrangler cowboy cut shirt — the outer layer that anchors Tommy’s western survivor aesthetic and his Texas roots
    See on Amazon
  • 2 White Tank TopClassic white sleeveless undershirt worn beneath the work shirt — visible at the collar and when the shirt is worn open or unbuttoned
    See on Amazon
  • 3 Wrangler Cowboy Cut JeansOriginal rigid indigo cowboy cut denim — the working-man jeans that ground Tommy’s practical survivalist look
    See on Amazon
  • 4 Leather Belt Strap without BucklePlain black leather belt strap — the strap and buckle are sourced separately for the authentic western belt look Tommy wears throughout the series
    See on Amazon
  • 5 Men’s Western Oval Belt BuckleSilver oval western belt buckle — the character-specific detail that communicates Tommy’s Texas background and distinguishes his belt from a generic leather strap
    See on Amazon
  • 6 Pellet Gun Air Rifle with ScopeScoped rifle prop — Tommy’s weapon of choice as Jackson’s patrol marksman; ensure any prop weapon is clearly identifiable as fake at the event
    See on Amazon
  • 7 Men’s Chelsea Boot in SandSand-coloured Chelsea boots — Tommy’s practical footwear; the neutral tone sits quietly below the jeans without competing with the shirt’s burgundy
    See on Amazon
Tommy Miller Halloween costume assembled and worn — burgundy cowboy cut shirt over white tank top, Wrangler jeans with western belt buckle, and scoped rifle carried at the side

How to Style the Tommy Miller Costume

The Tommy Miller costume is built on layering and practical western details — the specific combination of cowboy cut shirt, Wrangler jeans, and the western oval belt buckle communicates the character’s Texas background and his working-class survivalist identity. Put on the white tank top first, then button up the burgundy cowboy cut work shirt over it. Leave the top two buttons undone so the white tank is visible at the collar — this is how Tommy wears the shirt throughout the series and the detail that makes the layering read as intentional rather than accidental.

Pull on the Wrangler cowboy cut jeans and fasten the leather belt strap through the loops before attaching the western oval buckle at the front. The buckle should sit centred at the waist with the oval face forward. Pull on the sand Chelsea boots. For the rifle prop, carry it at the side with the barrel pointed down or slung across the back — Tommy is a disciplined ex-soldier and the way he handles a weapon communicates that discipline even when the weapon is a prop.

For hair and grooming, Tommy has a short, slightly tousled style and carries a few days of beard growth — not a full beard, but enough to communicate a man who is working too hard to shave every day. Lightly distress the jeans and work shirt if they arrive looking too new: rub sandpaper along the seams and pocket edges, and work a small amount of dirt or dark brown shoe polish into the fabric at stress points. The post-apocalyptic world of The Last of Us is hard on clothing, and Tommy’s costume should look like it has survived the journey.

The Western Belt Buckle Is the Character Detail

The western oval belt buckle is the single most character-specific detail in the Tommy Miller build. A burgundy shirt and Wrangler jeans together read as general western casual — add the western buckle and the combination becomes specifically Tommy, communicating his Texas roots and the specific working-class cowboy aesthetic that distinguishes him from the generic Last of Us survivor look. Source the buckle and belt strap separately as listed — a pre-assembled western belt rarely achieves the same combination of understated strap and prominent buckle that Tommy wears.

Distressing the Clothing for Authenticity

Tommy’s costume in The Last of Us looks lived-in and worked-in — not distressed for fashion but genuinely worn by a man doing hard physical work in a post-apocalyptic world. If the shirt and jeans arrive looking new, spend 10 minutes before the event: rub sandpaper along the cuffs, collar, pocket edges, and knee areas of the jeans. Work a small amount of dirt or dark shoe polish into the fabric at these points and along the seams. The result should look like natural wear rather than deliberate damage — subtle, not theatrical.

Tommy Miller Group & Couple Costume Ideas

The Last of Us Core Trio

Tommy, Joel & Ellie

The central Last of Us group — Tommy’s western survivor look alongside Joel’s worn leather jacket and pragmatic survivalist gear, and Ellie’s layered backpack-wearing teenage aesthetic. Together they cover the series’ emotional core: the protective older brother, the man who has stopped believing in anything, and the girl who might be the reason to start again. All three have immediately distinct visual identities and the group generates strong recognition from any fan of the HBO series or the original games.

Tommy Miller Joel Miller Ellie

Full Last of Us Ensemble

Tommy, Tess, Sarah & Riley

A broader Last of Us group drawing from across the series’ timeline — Tommy’s Jackson patrol look, Tess’s urban survivor wardrobe, Sarah Miller’s pre-outbreak Texas casual, and Riley Abel’s Firefly-adjacent aesthetic. Together they span the full emotional range of The Last of Us universe from the initial outbreak through the years of survival. A group that rewards fans who know the complete series and communicates the breadth of the Last of Us world beyond its central duo.

Tommy Miller Tess Sarah Miller Riley Abel

Post-Apocalyptic Survivors Group

Tommy, Daryl Dixon & Carl Grimes

A cross-series survivor group spanning two of television’s most celebrated post-apocalyptic worlds — Tommy’s Last of Us western survivalist look alongside Daryl Dixon’s Walking Dead crossbow-carrying biker aesthetic and Carl Grimes’s sheriff hat and growing-up-during-the-apocalypse wardrobe. Three characters from three different survivor communities who share the specific quality of having been defined by the world’s collapse. A group that rewards fans who know both series and creates strong visual diversity across the three costumes.

Tommy Miller Daryl Dixon Carl Grimes

Last of Us Perry Addition

Tommy, Joel & Perry

A tighter Last of Us group built around the Jackson community’s core figures — Tommy and Joel as the Miller brothers alongside Perry, the Jackson patrol leader who works closely with Tommy in the HBO series. All three share the same practical survivor aesthetic and the same community-protection instinct that defines Jackson’s leadership. A group that rewards dedicated fans of the HBO series specifically and creates a coherent in-universe faction rather than a cross-timeline ensemble.

Tommy Miller Joel Miller Perry
Joel Miller Last of Us HBO cosplay reference — worn leather jacket and survivor gear that pairs directly with Tommy Miller's western cowboy look for the brother duo costume

Tommy Miller DIY Costume Tips

What to Buy vs What to Already Own

The Tommy Miller costume sits in a useful middle ground — the clothing items are all real wardrobe pieces rather than licensed costume products, which means existing wardrobe and thrift stores can cover a significant portion of the build. The white tank top is almost universally already owned. The Wrangler cowboy cut jeans and the burgundy cowboy work shirt are both available at thrift stores in abundance, as western work clothing is one of the most common categories of second-hand men’s clothing. The sand Chelsea boots can often be found in existing wardrobe or substituted with any sand or tan boot. The western oval belt buckle and the leather belt strap are the two purchases most likely to require a dedicated order — western buckles are not common in general clothing retailers. The scoped rifle prop is the one item that almost certainly requires purchase and cannot be substituted convincingly from existing wardrobe or props.

  • Scoped rifle prop = must purchase; no effective substitute for the weapon-carrying survivor look
  • Western oval belt buckle = must purchase; not commonly available in thrift or general retail
  • Leather belt strap = very common; check existing wardrobe before purchasing
  • Burgundy cowboy work shirt = common in thrift stores; check before purchasing new
  • Wrangler cowboy cut jeans = common in thrift stores; check before purchasing new
  • White tank top = almost universally already owned; check wardrobe first
  • Sand Chelsea boots = check existing wardrobe; any sand or tan boot substitutes well

Priority Build Order

Source the western oval belt buckle first — it is the most character-specific single item in the clothing build and the one least likely to be available anywhere other than a dedicated western accessories retailer or online. The scoped rifle prop follows as the second priority purchase. Then visit thrift stores for the burgundy cowboy work shirt and Wrangler-style jeans — both are extremely common in second-hand western clothing sections and can be found at very low cost. Check existing wardrobe for the white tank top, sand boots, and leather belt strap before purchasing any of these. For the rifle prop: if attending an indoor event or one with strict prop weapon policies, a printed cardboard or foam rifle silhouette in the same general shape is a more practical and universally permitted substitute. The silhouette shape communicates the weapon type without the weight or restrictions of a realistic prop.

  • 1st: Western oval belt buckle — most character-specific item, source first
  • 2nd: Scoped rifle prop — or cardboard/foam substitute for indoor events
  • 3rd: Thrift stores for burgundy cowboy shirt and cowboy cut jeans
  • 4th: Check wardrobe for white tank top, leather belt, sand boots
  • Distressing: sandpaper on seams and cuffs, dark shoe polish at wear points

Tommy Miller Costume — Frequently Asked Questions

Tommy Miller wears a practical, rugged survivalist outfit — a burgundy long-sleeve cowboy cut work shirt layered over a white tank top, Wrangler cowboy cut jeans, a leather belt with a western oval buckle, and sand-coloured Chelsea boots. He carries a scoped rifle as his weapon. The look is deliberately functional and working-class, reflecting Tommy’s military background and his life as a survivor and patrol leader in Jackson, Wyoming.

Tommy Miller is played by Gabriel Luna in HBO’s The Last of Us series. Luna portrays Tommy as Joel’s younger brother — a former soldier turned survivor and community leader in Jackson, Wyoming. The character also appears in The Last of Us video games, where he is voiced and motion-captured by Jeffrey Pierce.

Yes — seven pieces, most of which lean toward thrift store sourcing or existing wardrobe. The cowboy cut work shirt and Wrangler jeans are both common in second-hand western clothing sections. The western oval belt buckle and scoped rifle prop are the two items most likely to require a dedicated purchase. Total build cost typically runs $60–$120 depending on existing wardrobe and prop choices.

Joel and Ellie are the most natural Last of Us pairings — together they form the show’s core trio. Tess, Riley Abel, Sarah Miller, and Perry complete the broader Last of Us ensemble. For a cross-series survivor group, Daryl Dixon and Carl Grimes from The Walking Dead complement Tommy’s post-apocalyptic aesthetic with their own distinct survivalist looks.

Tommy Miller’s most memorable lines from The Last of Us reflect his position between Joel’s hardened pragmatism and his own lingering idealism. His conversations with Joel about what they owe each other versus what they owe the world produce some of the series’ most emotionally resonant exchanges. His defence of Jackson as something worth protecting — a community, a future — is the defining statement of his character across both the game and the HBO series. For in-character delivery at a Halloween event, Tommy’s register is quieter and more measured than Joel’s — he is the brother who still believes that people can build something worth having, even after everything that has happened.