Moonrise Kingdom is a gift to anyone who likes a costume with a tight colour story. Suzy Bishop’s collared dresses, Sam Shakusky’s patch-covered scout uniform and the adults’ workwear all live in the same small palette of muted pink, mustard, khaki, forest green and powder blue, set in the mid-1960s. Because the film’s clothes look homemade and period-plain, most of these come together from closets, thrift stores and uniform shops, with craft felt filling the gaps. I’ve kept every idea to practical shoes, neat hair, simple makeup and one or two character props. The list runs from solo characters to couples and full groups.
Thrifting the Mid-Sixties Pieces
Almost every look below starts from a thrift rack, and a few habits make the hunt quicker.
- For Suzy, search for plain shift or A-line dresses with long sleeves and a high round neck. The collar can always be added later, so the shape matters more than the trim.
- For Sam and the scouts, men’s work shirts in olive or tan and chino or cargo shorts cut to the knee are the nearest match. Cotton twill takes badge stitching well; shiny polyester puckers around every patch.
- For the adults, shop by colour first. Faded plaid, soft powder blue and a true royal blue are what make Walt, Laura and Social Services read, more than the exact cut.
- Check hems and waistbands before you buy. Taking up a skirt or cutting trousers down to knee-length shorts is a quick job; letting out a shift dress that’s too tight usually isn’t, because there’s rarely enough seam allowance.
Wash anything thrifted before you sew patches or collars onto it. Cotton can still shrink a little, and it pulls freshly stitched pieces out of line when it does.
1. Suzy Bishop Pink Dress Costume
Suzy’s pink dress is the look people know best, so I treat the collar as the main event. Find a long-sleeve dusty pink shift with white cuffs and a wide Peter Pan collar; if yours is plain, cut both from white felt and attach them with removable fabric tape, which lifts off later without marking the dress. White knee-high socks with black-and-white saddle shoes or dark Mary Janes, and a burgundy beret over smooth shoulder-length brown hair. Her blue eyeshadow is part of the character, so I’d add a soft wash of it and keep the rest of the face plain. Black binoculars are essential, with a woven shoulder bag and an old hardback to carry. Go a size loose so you can sit and move comfortably all evening.
2. Suzy Bishop Yellow Dress Costume
The mustard dress is Suzy’s brighter alternative, and the shape matters as much as the colour. I look for a short A-line or shift with long sleeves, princess seams and a contrasting white collar; princess seams are what give that neat, fitted schoolgirl line through the bodice. White knee socks and dark brown Mary Janes go with straight brown hair parted dead centre, the ends turned under. A light line of blue-gray eyeshadow carries the retro feel. Binoculars round the neck, a paperback in a structured woven bag, and beetle-shaped clip-on earrings if you want a detail fans will catch. Mustard reads clearly in daylight, so it’s a good choice for an afternoon party outdoors.
3. Suzy Bishop Purple Coat Costume
If the night is cold, this is the Suzy to build. Layer a berry-purple swing coat over the pink collared shift, looking for oversized buttons, a rounded neckline and a gentle flare, which is the 1960s shape. Opaque white tights are warmer than knee socks here, with dark saddle shoes and a burgundy wool beret. Keep the hair straight and the makeup soft pink so the coat stays the loudest thing. Wear the binoculars over the coat, not under it, or the character disappears. A small yellow suitcase or a woven creel-style bag with a book peeking out is all you need to carry.
4. Suzy Bishop Raven Costume
Suzy’s raven from the school production is the darker, more theatrical option. Start with a black long-sleeve tunic or simple knee-length dress, then layer black felt feathers across the shoulders and attach light wings under the sleeves. I cut the feathers in rows and overlap them from the bottom up, like roof tiles, so each row hides the glued edge of the one beneath. The headpiece is a rounded black fabric bird with a short yellow felt beak and big painted eyes, worn high enough that her brown bob still shows. Black tights and flat shoes, soft charcoal shadow rather than heavy paint, and a folded play programme to hold. It should look handmade, because in the film it is.
5. Sam Shakusky Khaki Scout Costume
Sam’s uniform is mostly about the badges and the hat. Start with an olive-khaki button-up shirt and matching knee-length shorts, then sew or pin colourful homemade merit badges across the chest, sleeves and pockets. A bright yellow neckerchief, a yellow web belt, tall brown socks and sturdy tan lace-ups make the base. His round brown glasses and faux-fur coonskin-style cap are what people recognise first, so don’t skimp on either. Carry a canvas backpack, round canteen, folded island map and pocket compass, and pin a small gold-and-pearl brooch near the collar for those who know. A crisp new shirt looks wrong on him, so I roll the sleeves and rub washable brown chalk into the bag until it looks a few days into the trip.
6. Sam Shakusky Storm Costume
Sam in the storm is the scout uniform made weather-ready, and honestly the most practical version for a damp October night. Wear the olive shirt, matching shorts, handmade badges and yellow neckerchief, then add a light poncho; a clear one keeps every badge visible, while muted yellow suits the period. Waterproof tan boots replace the lace-ups, over tall brown socks. Round glasses and the faux-fur cap go on as usual, and a smudge of gray costume powder across the cheeks gives the storm-tossed look without anything frightening. Carry a rolled map in a tube, a compass and a canvas pack with a folded blanket strapped on. Faux fur turns limp and clumpy in rain, so I’d bring a spare plastic bag for the cap.
7. Sam Shakusky Wedding Costume
For Sam’s wedding look, keep the full uniform and add only a few ceremonial touches, since the charm is that it’s improvised. That means the olive-khaki shirt and shorts with merit badges, yellow piping, neckerchief, tall brown socks and tan shoes. Wear the round glasses, but swap the faux-fur cap for a small handmade floral crown or a neatly placed scout hat. Pin a cream fabric flower beside the gold brooch and tie a narrow ribbon around the neckerchief. A paper certificate, a tiny bouquet or a homemade ring box makes a safe prop. It’s strongest next to a pink-dress Suzy, though scout uniform plus flowers is odd enough to read on its own.
8. Sam And Suzy Couple Costume
Sam and Suzy as a pair depend on contrast: khaki against pink, sturdy against neat. One of you wears the olive scout shirt and shorts with patches, the yellow neckerchief, tall brown socks, tan shoes, round glasses and the faux-fur cap. The other wears the dusty pink collared shift, white knee socks, dark Mary Janes and a burgundy beret over straight brown hair. Keep both faces youthful, with light blush and little else beyond Suzy’s blue lids. Sam carries the map, compass, canteen and backpack; Suzy carries binoculars, a woven bag and a book. It thrifts easily, and every bit of hand-stitching you add shows up close.
9. Sam And Suzy Beach Dance Costume
The beach dance is the film’s playful moment, adapted for a public party. Suzy wears her pink collared shift with white socks and dark flat shoes rather than going barefoot, plus the beret, straight brown bob, subtle eyeliner, binoculars and woven bag. Sam wears the complete khaki uniform with patches, yellow scarf, tall socks, tan shoes, glasses and cap. The prop that makes this version is the little portable record player. I’d make it from a light cardboard box painted like a vintage case, with a strap handle so it hangs from one hand. A striped picnic blanket and a battery lantern are nice extras, with Sam’s sleeves rolled and Suzy’s bag worn crossbody so it all looks relaxed.
10. Sam And Suzy Runaway Costume
The runaway version is the couple look loaded with luggage, and the luggage tells the story. Sam wears his patched khaki shirt, matching shorts, yellow neckerchief, brown knee socks, tan shoes, round glasses and faux-fur hat, with a canvas pack carrying a rolled blanket and a light camping cup. Suzy wears the pink shift with white collar and cuffs, knee socks, saddle shoes, burgundy beret and straight brown hair, with soft pink cheeks. She carries binoculars, a woven bag, a small yellow suitcase and a stack of old books. Real books get heavy quickly, so I fill the suitcase with empty boxes and carry just one or two volumes on top.
11. Sam And Suzy Wedding Couple Costume
Their runaway wedding makes a sweet, slightly odd couple costume, and the oddness is the point. Sam wears his full khaki uniform with glasses, tall brown socks, tan shoes, neatly combed hair and a cream flower boutonniere, with the yellow neckerchief still showing. Suzy wears a pink or pale yellow collared shift with white knee socks, dark Mary Janes and a small floral crown over straight brown hair, plus soft blush and delicate eyeliner. Each of you can hold a small bunch of white fabric flowers, and a handmade paper certificate and ribbon ring box round out the scene. I’d keep the flowers deliberately few, so it looks put together on an adventure rather than ordered from a florist.
12. Scout Master Ward Costume
Scout Master Ward is the grown-up, buttoned-up take on the scout uniform. Choose a fitted khaki button-up shirt and matching shorts with structured pockets, then add yellow piping along the sleeves and pocket edges with ribbon or fabric tape. Ribbon piping only looks crisp if it’s stitched, because wet glue soaks through thin khaki and dries as a dark line. Add rows of neat camp patches, a bright yellow neckerchief, an olive web belt, tall tan socks and polished brown shoes, plus a green ranger hat for authority. Keep the hair tidy, with an optional faux mustache. Clip a prop walkie-talkie and whistle to the belt and carry a clipboard with a pretend camp schedule. Every button fastened is what separates him from Sam.
13. Captain Sharp Police Costume
Captain Sharp is a quiet, comfortable adult costume and a useful splash of blue in a khaki group. Wear a powder-blue short-sleeve uniform shirt with navy straight-leg trousers, a dark belt, a matching tie, a navy jacket and polished black shoes. A flat police-style cap and a small gold badge finish the outline; use a generic costume badge, never a real department insignia. Neat hair, a soft faux mustache if you like, and a little shading under the eyes for his tired look. A notebook and pencil, a folded island map and a vintage-style radio make easy props, with a cardboard nameplate reading “Sharp” on the shirt.
14. Walt Bishop Plaid Shirt Costume
Walt Bishop is the costume for someone who wants to look rumpled on purpose. Tuck a muted plaid button-up into high-waisted brown trousers and add a worn cardigan or casual tan jacket, a dark leather belt, plain socks and brown loafers. I’d pick the plaid from a thrift rack rather than buy a new shirt, because faded colour does half the character work. Square-framed glasses, slightly tousled hair and a little under-eye shading give him that distracted weariness. Carry a folded newspaper, house plans and a vintage-style thermos; a small cardboard model of the Bishop house helps him read in a group. Keep the fit loose, as if he’s had a long weekend at home.
15. Laura Bishop Blue Dress Costume
Laura Bishop is all control and structure, so the fit has to be tidy. Start with a fitted powder-blue shirt dress, or a blouse and skirt, with a pointed collar and a hem below the knee. A narrow belt, neutral stockings and low navy pumps keep it period. Style short brown hair in a set 1960s bob or wear a neatly curled wig, with defined brows, soft blue-gray eyeshadow, pink lipstick and a touch of blush. The megaphone is the character, so carry a light costume version in white or cream; anything heavier tires the wrist long before the party ends. A structured handbag, folded legal papers and a pale blue cardigan for warmth complete her.
16. Social Services Blue Cape Costume
Social Services works because it’s almost entirely one saturated blue. Wear a structured royal-blue dress or skirt suit with a high neckline and knee-length hem, and layer a matching cape or short boxy coat over it. If you can’t find a cape, a simple half-circle of blue wool-blend felt fastened at the neck is an easy sew, and felt hangs without needing a hem. Opaque blue tights, sensible navy pumps and a structured blue bag follow. A smooth strawberry-blonde bob with curled ends, from a wig if needed, goes with pale foundation, precise brows and muted rose lipstick. Carry a blue folder of generic case notes, an ID card on a lanyard and a compact umbrella. She’s at her clearest standing beside Captain Sharp or Sam.
17. Cousin Ben Camp Counselor Costume
Cousin Ben is the counsellor who knows every shortcut, so his uniform should look a little more confident than the scouts’. A fitted mustard-yellow camp shirt with matching shorts or tan trousers, a contrasting neckerchief, web belt, tall socks and rugged brown lace-ups make the base. Add several tidy handmade patches, laid out differently from Sam’s so the two don’t blur together in photos. A brimmed camp hat, a small whistle, short hair and natural makeup. Carry a clipboard, a coil of rope and a paper camp map, with a fabric armband to set him apart from the younger scouts, and a small handmade ceremony booklet as the in-joke. He’s a handy adult role when you’re organising a big scout group.
18. Commander Pierce Scout Leader Costume
Commander Pierce should look more decorated and more formal than anyone at Camp Ivanhoe. Begin with a dark olive or deep khaki military-style jacket and matching trousers, then add rows of colourful badges, braided yellow trim, a neck scarf and a wide utility belt. Tall brown socks or polished boots go with the trouser length, and a structured campaign hat gives the leadership silhouette. A campaign hat sits high and catches wind, so a thin elastic under the back of the head keeps it on outdoors. Neat gray hair, a groomed faux mustache if you like, and a light contour for age. Carry a wooden walking staff, an inspection clipboard and a rolled camp banner, with straight posture to match.
19. Moonrise Kingdom Narrator Costume
The Narrator is one of the warmest costumes on this list, which makes him a smart pick for an outdoor night. Wear a vivid red wool coat over a tan sweater, collared shirt and brown trousers, with a striped knit cap in red and neutral tones and sturdy brown hiking shoes. Round glasses and a trimmed beard, real or soft faux, set the character. Keep the cheeks a little rosy, as if you’ve been standing on a cold coast. Carry a wooden pointer and a topographic map; a cardboard tide chart or island diagram makes it interactive. Don’t sling a bag across the coat, because the red is the whole costume.
20. Redford Khaki Scout Costume
Redford lets someone be Sam’s scout rival without copying Sam. Wear a buttoned olive-khaki camp shirt with neat badges and matching cuffed shorts, the standard yellow neckerchief, an olive belt, tall brown socks and sturdy brown shoes. Swap the faux-fur hat for a structured scout cap and skip the round glasses; those two changes are what keep him from reading as a second Sam. Hair tidy but windswept, makeup natural. A paper trail map, whistle and canvas satchel suit him, with a flashlight and magnifying glass clipped to the belt for the search-party feel. A name patch reading “Redford” helps, since he’s a less familiar face.
21. Camp Ivanhoe Scout Group Costume
A Camp Ivanhoe group is the easiest big group to coordinate, because everyone starts in the same uniform: an olive-khaki button-up, matching shorts, yellow neckerchief, tall brown socks and tan or brown shoes. Olive khaki varies a lot between shops, so I’d have everyone hold their shirts together in daylight beforehand and swap any that look too green or too gray next to the rest. Then vary the badges, name patches, hats and bags so each scout stays an individual. One person takes the round glasses and faux-fur cap as Sam, another the ranger hat as Scout Master Ward. Split the maps, whistles and canteens among the group, and line everyone up by height for the photo.
22. Bishop Family Group Costume
The Bishop family is polished 1960s clothing on people who clearly aren’t getting along, and that mismatch is the fun of it. Suzy wears her pink collared shift, burgundy beret, white socks, dark shoes and binoculars. Laura takes a powder-blue dress, low pumps, a set bob and a cream megaphone, while Walt gets a faded plaid shirt, brown trousers, cardigan, loafers and square glasses. Up to three more people can be the younger brothers in coordinating striped pajamas, robes and slippers with neatly combed hair, carrying a cardboard record player and storybooks. Keep everyone’s makeup soft. It suits parents dressing with older kids, and Suzy’s binoculars keep her at the centre.
23. Island Search Party Group Costume
The island search party brings the adults together without forcing everyone into scout uniforms. Put Captain Sharp in powder blue and navy, Scout Master Ward in decorated khaki, Laura Bishop in structured blue with a megaphone and Walt in rumpled plaid, with extra people as olive-uniformed scouts carrying maps and flashlights. Closed-toe shoes all round, since the group should look ready for rough island ground. Give each person a recognisable hat, because at a distance hats are what separate the characters. Share a large paper map, binoculars, clipboards and walkie-talkies, and gather everyone around the open map for the photo. The mix of blues, browns, yellows and greens mirrors the film’s carefully composed palette.
24. Noye’s Fludde Bird Group Costume
The pageant birds should look deliberately handmade, the way a school production would. Dress each person in a simple long-sleeve tunic and opaque tights in their own bird colour, from black and gray to rust, blue or cream. Overlap felt feathers across the chest and shoulders and add light fabric wings under the arms. If several people are making feathers, agree on one template and one way of attaching them, so the whole flock looks like it came out of the same classroom. Each bird gets a rounded headpiece with a soft felt beak and big painted eyes, plus flat shoes. Eyeshadow in each bird’s colour is enough makeup. Suzy’s raven anchors the group in black, and everyone holds sheet music or a programme.
25. Suzy Raven And Sam Scout Duo Costume
Pairing Suzy’s raven with Sam’s scout uniform recreates the moment they first meet, at the play. The raven wearer needs the black tunic, layered felt feathers, black tights, flat shoes, light wings and a bird headpiece with a yellow beak, with the straight brown bob left showing and soft charcoal around the eyes. Sam wears the decorated olive shirt, matching shorts, yellow neckerchief, brown knee socks, tan shoes, round glasses and a scout cap; for this earlier scene a structured cap stands in for the fur one. Give Suzy sheet music and Sam a folded programme. Black plumage next to crisp khaki is a strong pairing, and far fewer couples choose it than the pink-dress version.
26. Suzy With Kitten Costume
Suzy with her kitten adds one sweet detail to the standard pink-dress look. Wear a dusty rose shift with long sleeves, white cuffs and a broad Peter Pan collar, white knee socks, black-and-white saddle shoes and a burgundy beret over straight shoulder-length hair. Natural makeup with soft blush, clean eyeliner and a muted pink lip suits it. Carry binoculars and a woven crossbody bag of old books, with a realistic plush gray kitten sitting in the open top. Stitch or safety-pin the plush to the bag lining, or it will tumble out the first time you bend down. A small yellow suitcase adds the runaway angle, and a plush is far kinder than bringing a real cat to a party.
27. Suzy Bishop Book Costume
Suzy runs away with a suitcase of books, and this version builds the costume around them. Start with the classic pink collared shift, white knee socks, saddle shoes, burgundy beret and straight brown bob, with lightly defined eyes and pink cheeks. The binoculars stay round your neck, but swap the purse for a structured woven book bag. Fill it with thrifted hardbacks wrapped in handmade pastel dust jackets with invented titles and small painted illustrations, rather than copies of real covers. Thin paper jackets tear at the spine within an evening of handling, so I cut them from card-weight paper and score the folds first. A yellow suitcase can hold more volumes, though I’d keep the real weight to two or three books.
28. Last-Minute Sam Shakusky Costume
A convincing Sam comes together from closet and thrift pieces faster than any other look here. An olive or tan work shirt with matching cargo shorts is the base, with circles of coloured felt safety-pinned on as merit badges. Tie a yellow bandana at the neck and add a tan belt, long brown socks and brown shoes. Cheap round reading glasses work if you pop the lenses out, which saves you squinting all night. For the cap, take a winter trapper hat and stitch on a fabric tail. A small crossbody bag covered in gray felt passes as a canteen, with a printed map and a simple compass. Even without replicas, the colours, glasses, scarf, patches and hat say Sam clearly.
29. Gender-Swapped Sam And Suzy Couple Costume
Swapping Sam and Suzy keeps every signature detail and simply moves it onto a different silhouette. The Sam-inspired wearer can choose an olive scout dress or romper, or a shirt with tailored shorts, decorated with badges and yellow trim, plus brown knee socks, tan boots, round glasses, the faux-fur cap, a compass and a backpack. The Suzy-inspired wearer can wear a dusty pink collared shirt with high-waisted pink trousers, finished with a burgundy beret, dark loafers, binoculars, a woven satchel and old books. Hair and makeup can suit each person, though a little blue eyeshadow helps the Suzy side. As long as khaki stays with Sam and pink with Suzy, the pair still reads clearly as a couple.
30. Moonrise Kingdom Family Costume
A full family can cover Sam, Suzy, Captain Sharp, Scout Master Ward and one or more Camp Ivanhoe scouts. Sam takes the decorated olive khaki with glasses and the fur cap, Suzy the pink collared dress, beret, white socks, dark shoes and binoculars. Captain Sharp is powder blue and navy with a police-style cap, and Ward the formal khaki with a green ranger hat. Any extra children or adults wear simplified scout shirts, shorts, yellow scarves, tall socks and brown shoes. I’d give each person a single prop of their own, from maps and books to canteens and flashlights, so nobody ends up juggling three things. Natural makeup and tidy hair keep it easy, and the setup stretches to any family size.
Merit Badges That Look Hand-Stitched
Sam’s patches, Ward’s rows of badges and the whole Camp Ivanhoe group depend on homemade badges, and the film’s look is round, bright and a little imperfect rather than shop-bought.
Cut From Felt, Edge With Thread
I cut circles and small shields from wool-blend felt, which holds a cleaner edge than thin acrylic craft felt, then run a blanket stitch round each one in a contrasting colour. That stitched edge is what makes a felt circle look like a badge instead of a sticker. A simple symbol in the middle, like a tent, a fish or a star, is plenty.
Pin for One Night, Sew for Keeps
Safety pins from inside the shirt are fine for a single party, but a pinned badge flaps and catches on bag straps. If the costume will be worn again, tack each badge with a few stitches at the top and bottom. Iron-on adhesive is quick on cotton twill, though the edges can lift after a wash or two.
Knee Socks and Shorts on a Cold Night
So many of these costumes put people in shorts or a short dress with knee socks, which is fine indoors and miserable on a cold street. Skin-tone thermal tights under the knee socks barely show in photos and keep legs warm. For Sam and the scouts, a thin thermal base layer fits under the khaki shirt without changing its shape. Wool-blend knee socks are warmer than cotton and stay up better, especially with a strip of elastic stitched inside the cuff.
Suzy’s Collar and Sam’s Cap Carry the Theme
Moonrise Kingdom gives you far more than the familiar Sam and Suzy pairing: a solo character, a couple, the Bishop family or a whole island search party. What makes any of them work is the same: a complete period outfit, tidy hair, light makeup, walkable shoes and one prop people can name. Thrifted shift dresses, work shirts and old coats keep it affordable, and handmade collars, patches, feathers and book jackets give it the storybook feel. Hold to dusty pink, mustard, khaki, powder blue, red and forest green, and even a quick version looks like it stepped out of the film.
Related posts:
