ShrekShrek, Elle Woods & Edward Cullen
2000s Costumes
Costume Wall has 199 2000s costume guides, and the decade splits between the big films and the cartoons that ran after school. Shrek gave us the swamp ogre in a lace-up shirt, Elle Woods the hot pink Harvard dress, and Edward Cullen the gray coat and tousled hair of Twilight. Around those sit the spy leads, the reality-television regulars and the Disney characters that carried the era.
199 costume guides Editorial reviewed Oct 5, 2026
Which 2000s Costume Should I Pick?
Start with the version you can build from clothes you already own, then add the pieces that name the character.
ShrekBrown vest over a beige lace-up shirt, plaid chinos, ear headband and a wide belt.
Elle WoodsHot pink dress, rhinestone sash, pink heels and a long blonde wig.
Edward CullenBlue button shirt, gray wool coat, brown tousled wig and black Oxford shoes.2000s Costume Ideas by Character
Browse the 2000s guides by character and film, then open the one you want for its kit list, sizing notes and build steps.
199 2000s costumes
Azula
Fire Nation princess in red and gold armor: complete fire nation costume set, dark blue black wig and black knee high boots.
Barry Kripke
Brown-haired Caltech engineer in a zip jacket: a purple button down shirt, army green dungaree pants and brown oxford shoes.
Batman
Caped crimefighter in armored gauntlets and gloves: a muscle chest suit, a full overhead latex mask and a set of batarangs.
Boo
Pixar’s monster-world toddler look: an oversized pink t shirt, dark purple leggings, pink ponytail hair ties, a beige teddy bear plush and white ankle boots.
Brian Moser
Charming brown-haired man with a killer streak: a burgundy button up shirt, navy pinstripe trousers and black dress shoes.
Cobra Bubbles
Lilo & Stitch’s dark-suited social worker look: black double-breasted suit, white shirt, black tie, wraparound shades and gold hoops.
Colonel Miles Quaritch
Scarred RDA officer with buzzed gray hair: a digital camouflage shirt with matching cargo pants, black combat boots and a black digital watch.
Derek Shepherd
Neurosurgeon look: a white lab coat over a navy scrub top with black shoes and an emerald stethoscope.
Dr. Otto Octavius
Brown trench coat over brown leather gloves: a black turtleneck, a silver aluminum vent hose and round tinted glasses.
Ahkmenrah
Dress up like Ahkmenrah from Night at the Museum in an open gold coat, upright crown and blue collar.
Aldo Raine
World War II commando behind enemy lines: an olive drab BDU shirt, a brown leather vest, olive army HBT trousers, a WWII canvas pistol belt and a tactical tomahawk.
Alex Munday
Charlie’s Angels crime-fighting spy look: a blue zip-front jumpsuit, red wraparound sunglasses, black lace-up combat ankle boots and a red star patch pack.
Alice from Resident Evil
Zombie-fighting heroine in a short wavy blonde wig: a red asymmetrical wrap dress, black knee-high riding boots and a silver toy pistol prop.
Amelia Earhart
Short-haired aviator in a leather flight suit: an aviator costume set and brown lace-up riding boots.
Andy Sachs (2006 Film)
Runway assistant in short white satin gloves: a green collared coat, black-and-white leopard faux fur and a black shoulder bag.
Anton Ego
Feared restaurant critic in round rimless glasses: a navy double-breasted blazer, a dark purple scarf and black oxford shoes.
Aubrey Davis
The Grudge 2 winter look: a warm coat, scarf and boots with long wavy hair for the haunted horror costume.
Augustus Gloop
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory golden-ticket look: red striped turtleneck, dark baggy jeans, red white sneakers and a Wonka golden ticket.
B-Rabbit
8 Mile battle rap look: a charcoal cuff beanie, a light gray waffle thermal shirt, a white ribbed tank, dark blue relaxed jeans and wheat work boots.
Baljeet
Dress up like Baljeet, the clever schoolmate in blue overalls from Phineas and Ferb.
Billy Brennan
Jurassic Park III expedition look: gray crew-neck shirt, brown field overshirt, khaki cargo pants, black hiking boots and the black daypack.
Borat
Kazakh TV reporter: gray business suit, gray dress shirt, gold tie, black oxford shoes and a black mustache.
Bowler Hat Guy
Dress up like Bowler Hat Guy, adult Goob from Meet the Robinsons, in his dark blanket-cape and bowler hat.
Brennan Huff — Step Brothers
Step Brothers’ man-child: charcoal argyle sweater vest over a light blue oxford, khakis, loafers and a curly wig.Showing 1–24 of 199 2000s costumes
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How to Put Together a 2000s Costume
Start with the film or show you quoted most, then let one prop and one hairstyle pin down the year.
ZukoRed and yellow costume, twin ninja swords and brown knee-high boots.
WALL-ELicensed deluxe costume over a gray base layer with a boot planter.
BoratGray suit, white shirt, gold tie and a thick dark mustache.Pick a Decade Film That Still Gets Quoted
The easiest decade costume is the film everyone still quotes. Shrek is a brown vest over a beige lace-up shirt with an ogre ear headband, and Donkey is a donkey shirt with gray jeans, ears and a tail. Elle Woods is the hot pink dress and a long blonde wig, while Andy Sachs from The Devil Wears Prada is a chic green coat over tall boots, a designer handbag and layered necklaces.
Musicals and teen films supply whole groups. High School Musical gives Troy Bolton a red graduation cap and gown, Bring It On gives a cheer uniform with pom-poms, and Mean Girls hands you Karen Smith in a pink top and a mini skirt. Pick the scene people remember, then copy the clothes from that one scene, because a single clear reference beats a mix of several films. A couple can double as John and Jane Smith, which needs only a sharp suit for one and a sleek dress for the other.
Cartoon and Television Leads from the Decade
After-school cartoons fill the gaps between the big films. Zuko and Sokka from Avatar: The Last Airbender wear red armor or a blue tunic with arm wraps, and the Phineas and Ferb cast runs from Baljeet in blue overalls to Perry the Platypus in a teal jumpsuit and a fedora. Kim Possible is a black crop top and green cargo trousers, and her rival Dr. Drakken wears a navy lab coat over a black turtleneck.
Live-action television is just as recognizable, and most of it is smart-casual clothing. The Big Bang Theory gives Leonard Hofstadter a graphic tee and a zip hoodie, Raj Koothrappali a sweater vest, and Howard Wolowitz red jeans and a plaid shirt. Supernatural puts Sam Winchester in a checked shirt, jeans and work boots, while Psych dresses Shawn Spencer in a blue tee, a bomber jacket and retro sneakers. The rule holds across the decade: when a character wears ordinary clothes, the costume is a wardrobe you may already own.
Horror and Villain Looks for the Party
The decade was heavy on horror, and those costumes photograph well in low light. Pyramid Head is the towering helmet and bloodstained butcher apron from Silent Hill, the Silent Hill Nurse is a bloodied white uniform with a pointed heel, and Twilight’s Edward Cullen is a gray coat, a blue shirt and pale makeup. Donnie Darko is a skeleton jumpsuit with a gray hoodie, and The Vampire Diaries gives Elena Gilbert a moto jacket and a vervain necklace for a lighter option.
Supervillains are just as dated and just as much fun. Lucius Malfoy is a long black robe, a high-collared suit and a blonde wig, Dr. Drakken is a black turtleneck under a navy lab coat with blue face paint, and the Joker gives you a purple coat with green hair and a broad red grin. Pick one strong silhouette and commit to the makeup, because a half-finished villain reads as a generic monster.
Building the Y2K Look from Your Own Wardrobe
A 2000s costume is often a closet raid. Letty Ortiz is a black ribbed tank, dark carpenter pants and combat boots; Skinny Pete is a black beanie, a zip hoodie and baggy jeans; Tony Soprano is a leather jacket over a bowling shirt with a gold chain and a fake cigar. Sokka is a blue tunic with arm wraps and knee-high boots, and Colette Tatou is a white chef coat with houndstooth pants for a kitchen-set look.
Add the one accessory that dates the outfit. Tommy Vercetti needs the palm shirt and a gold watch, McLovin needs a curly wig, round glasses and a fake ID, and the Most Interesting Man in the World needs a gray three-piece suit and a white beard. A gold chain, a chunky watch or a pair of wrap-around sunglasses does more for the era than any single garment, so choose the prop before you shop.
2000s Costume FAQ
What are the most popular 2000s costumes?
Shrek, Elle Woods from Legally Blonde, and Edward Cullen from Twilight sit at the top, with the Avatar: The Last Airbender cast close behind. Cartoon favorites such as the Phineas and Ferb crew and the Lilo & Stitch characters also fill out 2000s party lists.
How do I make a 2000s costume from clothes I already own?
Start with a plain base: jeans, a tank or a button-up shirt. Letty Ortiz is a black tank and boots; Skinny Pete is a beanie, a hoodie and baggy jeans; Tony Soprano is a leather jacket and a gold chain. Add one prop that dates it.
Which 2000s costumes work for a group?
Avatar: The Last Airbender gives you Zuko, Sokka and Toph in one set; the Harry Potter films give a whole Hogwarts house; and the Atlantis crew has a full expedition. Phineas and Ferb characters match easily because they share one cartoon palette.
What props define a 2000s costume?
Small objects do the work: Borat needs the thick mustache and a gray suit, James Bond needs the tuxedo and a prop pistol, and McLovin needs the curly wig, glasses and fake ID. For horror, Pyramid Head needs the helmet and butcher apron.
Are 2000s costumes good for Halloween?
Yes. The decade leans on horror and villains, so Pyramid Head, the Silent Hill Nurse and Lucius Malfoy fit Halloween directly. The comedy characters work too, and a group can mix both, with one half in the Shrek cast and the other in horror.
What should I wear for a Y2K party?
Reach for low-rise denim, a fitted tank or a graphic tee, a zip hoodie and white sneakers. Ryder wears a windbreaker and baggy jeans; Tommy Vercetti wears a palm shirt and a gold watch. Keep the accessories chunky and the hair slicked or highlighted.
Choose Your 2000s Costume
Choose Shrek for a comedy group, Elle Woods for a bright solo look, or Edward Cullen for a moody film costume. Zuko, WALL-E and Borat show how far the decade stretches, from an animated prince to a robot and a mock reporter.
