Travis Bickle DIY Costume Guide

What You’ll Need

Travis Bickle’s wardrobe reflects a disheveled mix of Vietnam-era surplus and 1970s street clothes. The silhouette is defined by an oversized olive field jacket, stiff denim, and worn combat boots, topped with aviator shades and his severe late-film mohawk.

Recreating this outfit comes down to finding the proper military cut and accurate insignia rather than relying on costume packages that look too clean or modern.

The M-65 Field Jacket and Patches

The centerpiece of the entire build is an olive drab field coat. The Rothco Vintage M-65 Jacket in Olive Drab captures the loose, utilitarian shape, complete with shoulder epaulets, brass hardware, and four spacious cargo pockets. Sizing slightly up helps achieve the relaxed, boxy drape seen on screen.

Two distinct insignia set this jacket apart from standard surplus. The Taxi Driver King Kong Company Patch Set provides the embroidered shoulder emblems, including the circular King Kong patch sewn to the upper right sleeve. Below the collar on the left chest, pin on the round We Are The People Pin to replicate his campaign volunteer badge.

Shirt, Holster, and Under-Layers

Under the jacket, Travis wears a patterned snap-front western shirt. An Orange Plaid Western Shirt brings in the warm seventies colors that peek out beneath the drab canvas. Leaving the top few buttons open and the hem untucked keeps the layers looking natural and lived-in.

Underneath the coat, he rigs a concealed shoulder harness. A Costume Shoulder Holster straps across the torso to hold the TSD 8-Inch Barrel Spring Powered Airsoft Revolver under the left arm. If you leave the jacket partially unzipped, the leather-look straps remain visible across the chest. Always check convention weapon policies regarding airsoft props, and keep orange barrel markings intact whenever attending public events.

Trousers, Boots, and Eyewear

For pants, straight-leg or bootcut medium-wash blue denim works best. Let the cuffs fall over a pair of sturdy Black GI-Style Combat Boots. These high-top boots ground the lower half with an authentic military surplus silhouette.

The Mirrored Aviator Sunglasses finish the daytime street look. The silver wire frames and reflective teardrop lenses conceal the eyes, giving him that detached, unreadable expression.

The Mohawk and Grooming

For his climactic appearance, Travis shears the sides of his head down to the scalp and leaves a narrow crest of hair down the center. If you prefer not to buzz your own hair, a bald cap combined with a trimmed mohawk hairpiece creates the same striking profile without permanent changes.