What You’ll Need
Short Black Straight Wig with Bangs
Green Scrunchie
Black Sleeveless Crop Top
Purple Lipstick
Women’s Mini Skater Skirt
Black Leather Choker Necklace
Leather Cuff Bracelet
Women’s Knee High Boots
Purple High Waisted Leggings
Building Sam Manson’s Look From the Ground Up
Sam’s outfit is assembled from a strict black, green, and purple palette, but the individual pieces are simple enough that most of the work goes into the details. The hair comes first. She wears a black bob with blunt bangs that sit just above the eyebrows. A short black wig with straight bangs is the practical choice unless you already have that cut. The defining feature is the small ponytail pulled from the top center of the crown. Take a section of hair from the top of the wig, tie it back so it sticks up slightly, and secure it with a green scrunchie or hair tie. The green is the only color in her hair, and it echoes the ectoplasm green of the show’s ghostly palette.
The makeup is where her face gets its signature look. Her skin is pale, and a foundation one shade lighter than your natural tone will get the effect without looking theatrical. The most important element is the deep purple lipstick—not pink, not red, but a dark, saturated purple. Apply it cleanly; Sam’s look is sharp rather than messy. Her eyes are violet in the show, so purple contact lenses will make the resemblance stronger if you’re comfortable wearing them, but they aren’t required.
For the torso, Sam wears a black sleeveless crop top that leaves her midriff exposed. The distinguishing detail is the purple oval emblem on her chest. Cut a small oval from purple felt and either pin or glue it to the center front of the top. Felt is the easiest material to work with here because it doesn’t fray and will hold its shape while worn. The oval should sit centered on the chest, roughly in line with the collarbone.
Her skirt is a black plaid skater skirt worn high-waisted, paired with purple leggings or tights underneath. The skater cut gives the outfit movement without restricting you, which fits the character’s constant motion. The purple tights add color to the lower half of the outfit and tie the look together with the lipstick and emblem. If you prefer a screen-accurate approach, plain black tights also work in some versions of her design, but purple keeps the palette consistent.
Accessories are minimal but matter for the silhouette. A black leather choker sits at the neck, and a leather cuff bracelet goes on each wrist. These are standard goth accessories available at most costume or alternative clothing shops, and they don’t require any modification. The combat boots are the final element. Knee-high black boots with a chunky sole fit the character’s practical, tough aesthetic. They should be laced snugly enough that they feel secure while walking, since they’ll be doing the most work if you’re on your feet at a convention.
The Fenton Thermos is the one prop worth carrying, though a “Save the Frogs” sign also fits her activist side. A silver or gray thermos with a simple cylindrical shape reads clearly as the show’s ghost-capturing device from a distance. If you can find one with a small green accent, even better.
