Last updated: July 3, 2026·🔄 Guide reviewed and refreshed ahead of Halloween 2026.· By Seckin Peker

Halloween Costume Guide

John Marston from Red Dead Redemption Halloween Costume Guide

Four looks, one outlaw who never quite finishes escaping his own past.
Cowboy Fedora Gun Leather Outlaw Rockstar Games Western
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Quick Answer: John Marston’s Halloween costume comes down to picking one of four distinct eras, each with its own hat.
  • RDR2 Look: Fedora & Trench Coat (essential)
  • Van der Linde Gang Look: Denim Vest & Bandana
  • Elegant Suit Look: Blazer & Fake Scar (essential)
  • Badass Zombie Look: Zombie Mask & Bandolier (essential)

John robs banks and trains with the Van der Linde gang for most of his life, then spends the rest of it trying to become the father his own son deserves. The fedora-style hat is the one piece that carries across nearly every stage of his life, since it’s described in-game as his most recognizable possession. Red Dead Redemption 2 released in 2018 and remains one of Rockstar’s best-selling games years later (Wikipedia), and John, not Arthur, is the character the entire series is ultimately about, so recognition here doesn’t depend on picking the right screenshot.

Items Total56 Items
DifficultyVaries by Look
VibeFour Eras, One Outlaw
Cost$50-$300

John Marston Halloween Costume Items

John Marston RDR2 Halloween costume infographic showing the dark gray fedora, black leather trench coat, and western gun belt

RDR2 Look

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John Marston RDR2 Gunslinger Rockstar Games
  • 1 Long-Sleeve Linen ShirtWorn under the trench coat and vest, so it barely shows. Any plain, light-colored shirt works if you already own one.
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  • 2 Black Cowboy ShirtLikely an alternate to the linen shirt rather than something layered with it, since John doesn’t wear two shirts at once in the game. Pick whichever color reads better with the coat you’re using.
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  • 3 Black Leather Trench CoatThe coat John wears during the assault on Mount Hagen, when he’s back in outlaw mode for one last job. It does most of the silhouette work in this look, so get one with real weight to it rather than a thin costume version.
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  • 4 Brown Leather Suit VestGoes under the coat. Not something anyone will see clearly once the coat is buttoned, so don’t overspend here.
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  • 5 Cowboy Cut Original JeansPlain, straight-leg jeans. Check your closet before buying a pair specifically for this.
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  • 6 Dark Gray Fedora Hat (essential)This stands in for John’s actual Gambler Hat, called out in-game as his most recognizable possession. Get one with a wide brim and a slight downward curve at the front, since a flat-brimmed fedora reads as a different era of hat entirely. Skip it and the silhouette flattens into generic western guy.
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  • 7 Western Cowboy Holster BeltA second belt-and-holster option alongside item nine below. Pick one or the other rather than wearing both, since John only carries one gun belt at a time.
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  • 8 Toy Western RevolverA prop for photos. Check event rules before carrying any prop weapon somewhere unfamiliar.
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  • 9 Western Gun Belt and HolsterThe functional alternative to item seven. Whichever one fits better and sits comfortably on your hip is the one to use.
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  • 10 Western BootsCheck your closet first. Any worn brown leather boot works.
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John Marston Van der Linde Gang Halloween costume infographic showing the denim vest, red bandana, and black western hat

The Van der Linde Gang Look

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Van der Linde Gang RDR2 Outlaw
  • 1 2 Pockets Dark Tan ShirtA practical work shirt, the kind John wears through most of Red Dead Redemption 2 while he’s still riding with Dutch. Nothing needs to be exact, just tan and plain.
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  • 2 Sleeveless Denim VestLayers over the shirt. This is doing more of the visual work than the shirt itself, since the denim texture is what reads as gang member rather than plain rancher.
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  • 3 Black Stretch JeansAny dark, plain jeans work. Check your closet first.
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  • 4 Red BandanaA small, cheap detail that adds color to an otherwise all-brown-and-black outfit. Worn around the neck, not over the face, unless you’re going for a robbery-in-progress look specifically.
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  • 5 Black Western HatThe second hat option in this guide, different from the fedora above. A flatter-brimmed black hat reads as younger, rougher John, before he settles into ranch life.
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  • 6 Black Leather GlovesFingerless gloves show up occasionally in this era of the game. Full-finger gloves work fine too, this isn’t a detail anyone checks closely.
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  • 7 Brown Western Belt and HolsterHolds the revolver prop. Any western-style holster belt gets the job done.
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  • 8 Replica RevolverA prop, not a costume piece. Check the venue before bringing it anywhere.
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  • 9 Replicated Toy Kansas RifleA second prop option if you want something bigger to carry. Optional, and honestly a lot to hold onto all night at a crowded party.
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  • 10 Plastic Bullet BeltWorn across the chest or around the waist. A small detail that reads as outlaw at a glance, even before anyone clocks the rest of the outfit.
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  • 11 Black Trucker BootCheck your closet first. Any plain black boot works.
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John Marston Elegant Suit Halloween costume infographic showing the black blazer, cowboy hat, and fake facial scar

The Elegant Suit Look

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Elegant Suit Formal Disguise
  • 1 Black BlazerThe base of this whole look, the piece that separates elegant suit from every other outfit on this page. Get one that actually fits, since a boxy or oversized blazer undercuts the point of a formal disguise.
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  • 2 Rugby Collar Dress ShirtWorn under the blazer and vest. Plain white or cream is closest to the source, though most of it will be covered anyway.
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  • 3 Black Wavy WigJohn’s actual hair is dark brown, not black, so this is close enough rather than exact. Skip it if your own hair is already dark.
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  • 4 Fake Scar Wax (essential)The one detail that actually ties this fancy-suit look back to John Marston specifically, since his facial scars from a wolf attack are one of his defining physical features across both games. Apply it across the right cheek and nose. Skip this and you’re just a man in a nice suit with a cowboy hat, which could be almost anyone.
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  • 5 Grey Dress Suit VestLayers under the blazer. A small detail, not something worth spending much on.
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  • 6 Leather Cowboy HatThe third and most formal hat option in this guide. Pick a cleaner, less weathered one than the hats in the other two looks, since this version of John is trying to blend into high society.
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  • 7 Feathers for CraftsAn unusual addition, likely a small decorative touch for the hat band rather than anything from a specific scene. Optional, easy to skip if you’d rather keep the hat plain.
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  • 8 Cowboy Cut JeanAny plain dark jean works under the formal top half. Check your closet first.
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  • 9 Cowboy Pocket WatchA small accessory that fits the formal setting. Tuck it into the vest pocket with the chain visible.
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  • 10 Western RevolverA prop, same rules as the other prop guns in this guide. Slightly at odds with the formal setting, since John’s Elegant Suit is meant to help him blend in, not stand out. That contradiction is honestly part of what makes the look interesting.
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  • 11 Blue Floral TieDoesn’t match the source outfit closely, John’s formal look leans navy suit and plain shirt, but it adds color and reads as period-appropriate enough not to matter at a party.
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  • 12 Leather Belt Strap Without BucklePaired with the separate buckle below. Buying them separately is more work than most costumes require, so check if a plain belt you already own will do the job instead.
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  • 13 Cowboy Belt BuckleAttaches to the strap above. A decorative detail, easy to skip if you’re not chasing full accuracy.
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  • 14 Leather Cartridge BeltThis reads more like the outlaw looks than the elegant one, so it’s a slightly odd inclusion here. Skip it if you want the suit look to actually read as formal rather than half-outlaw.
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  • 15 Western Gun HolsterHolds the revolver prop. Any holster that fits the belt works.
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  • 16 Western Ankle BootsCleaner and less worn than the boots in the other looks. Check your closet first.
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John Marston Badass Zombie Halloween costume infographic showing the zombie head mask, shotgun shell bandolier, and red fabric paint blood spatter

Badass Zombie Look

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Undead Nightmare Zombie Non-Canon
  • 1 Black Cowboy HatSame general shape as the other hats in this guide, just black. Any wide-brimmed black hat works.
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  • 2 Black Short Straight WigA different hair option than the wig in the Elegant Suit look. Skip it if your own hair works under the hat.
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  • 3 Zombie Head Mask (essential)This is what actually makes the look zombie John Marston instead of just outlaw John Marston with extra ammo. Get one with visible damage and pale, decayed skin texture rather than a generic monster mask. Without it, this is just the Van der Linde look with a bandolier.
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  • 4 Red BandanaSame item as the one in the Van der Linde Gang look. If you’ve already got one for that build, reuse it here.
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  • 5 Stripe Slim Fit Suit VestAn odd, slightly formal touch for an undead-outbreak outfit, but it layers fine over the workshirt below.
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  • 6 Tan Shoulder BagPractical, and also useful for actually carrying your stuff at a party, unlike most of the props on this page.
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  • 7 Leather Motorcycle GlovesAny dark, plain glove works here. Not a detail worth overthinking.
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  • 8 Shotgun Shell BandolierWorn across the chest. This and the mask are doing most of the work signaling apocalypse survivor rather than regular outlaw.
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  • 9 Black Skinny TieA strange detail for a zombie outbreak costume, but it adds some visual interest against the workshirt. Skip it if you’d rather keep the look purely practical.
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  • 10 Cowboy LassoA prop, mostly for photos. Not something you’ll actually use, so don’t worry about it being functional.
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  • 11 Khaki Long Sleeve WorkshirtThe base layer under the vest. Plain and slightly worn works best.
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  • 12 Brown Cowboy BootCheck your closet first. Any brown boot with some wear on it fits the survival theme better than something clean.
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  • 13 Western Jingle SpursA small, easy-to-skip detail. Only worth it if you already have boots that can take them.
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  • 14 Red Fabric PaintStands in for blood spatter across the outfit. Use it sparingly at first, since a little goes further than you’d expect on light fabric.
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  • 15 Hunting Camping Survival KnifeA visible prop weapon that fits the zombie-outbreak theme better than a gun would. Check event rules before carrying it.
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  • 16 Ripped Skinny Denim PantsThe ripped, distressed look fits the apocalypse setting. Any pair you’re willing to damage yourself works if you can’t find pre-ripped ones.
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  • 17 Leather StrapA minor accessory, likely for attaching the knife sheath or bandolier. Not something to stress over.
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  • 18 Brown Leather Gun HolsterPairs with a prop gun if you’re adding one on top of the knife. Optional, most people won’t need both weapon types.
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  • 19 Shotgun Brown Leather Hip ScabbardHolds a prop shotgun if you’re going all in on props. This is the most optional item on the entire page, most people will skip it.
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John Marston cosplay reference showing the fedora, trench coat, and gun belt from Red Dead Redemption 2

How to Style the John Marston Halloween Costume

The hat is doing the most work across every version of this costume, and it’s a different hat in each of the four looks, so pick the one that matches whichever era you’re building rather than mixing pieces from different lists. The Elegant Suit look only reads as John Marston if the fake scar is actually on, since a clean-faced man in a nice suit and cowboy hat could be almost any western character. At a dark party the silhouette carries more than the details, so if you’re missing the coat in the RDR2 look or the vest in the Van der Linde look, the outfit reads as generic cowboy instead of a specific point in John’s story.

Arthur Morgan tells John, more than once, “Don’t look back,” and John spends the rest of his life trying to live by it, right up until the moment he walks alone into a barn full of soldiers because looking back is exactly what saving his family requires. The line becomes less about avoiding regret and more about knowing when to stop running.

Set the fake scar before you leave

Fake scar wax needs a few minutes to set before you touch it, and it will not survive a night of sweating and hugging people at a party without a setting powder over it. Apply it early, let it dry fully, and carry a small touch-up kit if the night’s going to be long.

Pack the hats so they don’t crush

If you’re doing more than one look across a multi-day event, the fedora, the black hat, and the leather cowboy hat all pack flat if you stuff them with tissue paper instead of folding the brim. Cheap felt hats lose their shape fast if they get crushed in a bag.

John Marston Group Halloween Costume Ideas

Couples Idea

John Marston & Abigail Marston

Strong pairing thematically, since their marriage is the emotional center of both games, but Abigail doesn’t have a page here, so her half is entirely build-from-scratch. A plain period dress and hair tied back gets you most of the way there without much effort.

John Marston Abigail Marston

Duo Idea

John Marston & Arthur Morgan

Excellent duo. Arthur and John are the two playable protagonists across the series, and putting them side by side is about as direct a reference to Red Dead Redemption as a costume gets. Arthur’s page covers his build if you want the full list.

John Marston Arthur Morgan

Group Idea: Red Dead Redemption Full Gang Squad

John, Arthur Morgan, Dutch Van Der Linde, Sadie Adler, Micah Bell, Charles Smith

Excellent group. Arthur, Dutch, and Sadie all have full guides on this site already, so three of the five builds are already done for you. Micah Bell and Charles Smith don’t have pages yet, so those two are on you, but the core gang reads clearly even without them.

John Marston Arthur Morgan Dutch Van Der Linde Sadie Adler Micah Bell Charles Smith

Group Idea: Iconic Cowboy & Western Outlaw Characters

John, Blondie, Angel Eyes, Tuco Ramirez, Lucky Luke, Django

Might work, but John is the only video game character in a lineup of film and comic outlaws, so the connection is western archetype, not anything the characters actually share. It’s a strong visual theme regardless, dusters, hats, and guns across the board, but you’re relying on the crowd knowing four separate properties instead of one.

John Marston Blondie Angel Eyes Tuco Ramirez Lucky Luke Django
Red Dead Redemption gang members including John Marston, Arthur Morgan, and Dutch Van Der Linde for a group Halloween costume idea

John Marston Halloween Costume DIY Tips

Building the Look

Four looks means four different shopping trips, but almost everything here is closet or thrift material except the mask and the fake scar.

  • RDR2 Look: the trench coat and fedora are worth buying, everything else is common thrift material.
  • Van der Linde Gang Look: the denim vest and bandana are cheap and easy to find, the rest is basic clothing you likely already own.
  • Elegant Suit Look: buy the fake scar wax, it’s the one detail that actually identifies this version. The blazer needs to fit, so try it on if you can.
  • Badass Zombie Look: buy the zombie mask, it’s doing all the identification work here. Skip the lasso and the shotgun scabbard unless you’re really committing.
  • Guns and props across all four: check event rules before carrying anything gun-shaped in public.

Playing John at the Party

John is blunt, a little sarcastic, and uncomfortable with sentimentality, right up until it matters.

  • When someone asks who you are, just give your name and nothing else. He doesn’t over-explain himself.
  • If someone starts a long speech about their plans or philosophy, that’s your cue to look unimpressed and change the subject.
  • His line to use: “We’re thieves in a world that don’t want us no more.” Say it about anything mildly outdated, like a party game nobody plays anymore.
  • If a kid or a small animal is nearby, drop the tough act completely. He’s soft about exactly those two things.

John Marston Halloween Costume: FAQ

Pick one of four looks: the RDR2 gunslinger with the fedora and trench coat, the Van der Linde gang member with the denim vest and bandana, the Elegant Suit disguise with the fake scar, or the Badass Zombie version with the mask and bandolier. Each one works as a standalone costume, so don’t try to combine pieces across lists.

Yes. Red Dead Redemption 2 still sells well years after release, and John is one of only two playable protagonists across the whole series, not a side character. Anyone who’s played either game will recognize the hat and the scars without needing an explanation.

Four lines cover him well: “People don’t forget. Nothing gets forgiven,” his blunt read on his own past, “We’re thieves in a world that don’t want us no more,” recognizing the outlaw era is over, “Guess we’re just about done, my friend,” said to his horse before his final ride, and “Ain’t no trouble, Abigail. Ain’t no trouble at all,” his last words before sacrificing himself for his family.

The RDR2 look, specifically the fedora and trench coat combination. It’s the version most associated with his time in the Van der Linde gang and shows up most often in the game’s own marketing.

Yes, more than any other single item in that outfit. Without it, you’re just a man in a nice suit and a cowboy hat, which doesn’t point to John specifically. The scar is the one detail carried over from every other version of him.

No. It comes from Undead Nightmare, a non-canon zombie outbreak expansion for the original Red Dead Redemption. It’s a real, officially released look, just not part of John’s main story.

The RDR2, Van der Linde, and Elegant Suit looks are all fine, they’re just period clothing with no violent or revealing elements. The Badass Zombie look has fake blood and a decayed mask, so save that one for an adult or horror-themed event instead.

What does Arthur Morgan repeatedly tell John?

Which Red Dead Redemption expansion is the Badass Zombie look based on?

What are John’s last words before his final stand?