Jake Long DIY Costume Guide

What You’ll Need

Jake Long’s everyday outfit captures early-2000s New York skate culture: an oversized red jacket accented with bold yellow trim, relaxed blue cargo shorts, skate shoes, and sharp black spikes tipped in bright green. It is an accessible streetwear build, but getting the proportions and hair right prevents it from looking like random gym clothes.

Because most pieces start as regular garments, the real work comes down to styling the hair and modifying the outerwear so the cartoon silhouette translates cleanly into real life.

Styling the Spiky Green Hair

Jake’s hair defines his look before anything else does. The hairstyle requires short, chunky spikes that stand straight up, paired with vivid green tips across the front. Starting with a pre-spiked black synthetic wig saves hours of crimping and teasing, though you will still need to sharpen the individual clumps with strong-hold hairspray or tacky styling glue.

Once the spikes are dry and firm, apply temporary green hair color spray directly to the ends. Spraying from a few inches away onto a piece of cardboard held behind the spikes keeps the green pigment isolated to the tips without dusting the black base. Let the color dry completely before putting the wig on so the mist does not transfer onto your face or jacket collar.

Modifying the Red Jacket

The centerpiece of the outfit is Jake’s vibrant red zip-up jacket, which features thick yellow banding along the bottom hem and sleeve cuffs. Off-the-rack athletic fleece jackets provide the right rich red shade and collar structure, but they almost always come in a solid color.

To add the yellow accents, stiffened felt sheets work well because the edges do not fray when cut. Measure the circumference of the jacket’s waist hem and wrist cuffs, cut matching strips of yellow felt, and attach them using fabric glue or heat-fusible webbing. If you want the pieces to survive washing, a simple straight stitch along the top and bottom of each strip secures the felt permanently while maintaining clean cartoon-like lines.

Shorts and Footwear

Jake wears medium blue cargo shorts with a loose, relaxed fit that falls right around the knees. A standard pair of cotton flex cargo shorts matches the mid-2000s baggy skater aesthetic without needing any modification. Large side cargo pockets provide accurate silhouette lines while doubling as convenient storage for convention essentials like phones and badges.

For footwear, low-profile skate sneakers in gray and blue anchor the lower half. Sporty everyday runners or skate shoes with clean panels keep the look grounded and comfortable for long hours on your feet. Plain white or gray crew socks tucked neatly under the hem of the shorts complete the street setup.