Carbon Costume

In The Big Lebowski, Philip Seymour Hoffman plays Brandt, Jeffrey Lebowski’s personal assistant.  Brandt is often tasked with delivering important messages for Lebowski and is the go-between for him and the Dude as they attempt to smooth out the misunderstanding that propels the film forward.  Brandt wears classic grey suits and geometric-patterned ties that were extremely popular in the 1990s.

In the 2010 movie True Grit, Mattie Ross (played by Hailee Steinfeld) is a headstrong young 14-year-old girl who enlists the help of U.S. Marshal and bounty hunger Reuben J. “Rooster” Cogburn to bring the man who killed her father to justice.  Cogburn initially tells Mattie to return home but she insists on accompanying him on his quest to track down Tom Chaney, and she eventually proves herself a capable ally.  Mattie wears her father’s coat and hat, which are clearly too large for her, over her Victorian period clothing.  You can find a replica bodice jacket online, but if the cost is too high, you can also use a modern blazer with a similar silhouette.

In the Coen Brother’s film The Big Lebowski, The Stranger (played by Sam Elliott) is the narrator of the film.  He appears at the beginning, middle, and end, and even speaks with The Dude at the bowling alley bar while sipping on a sarsaparilla.  The Stranger is dressed like a relatively run-of-the-mill cowboy, but Sam Elliott’s trademark mustache really helps solidify the character as something special.

Carl Showalter played by Steve Buscemi is one of the two antagonists in the 1996 film Fargo. Carl and his partner Gaear Grimsrud are hired by Jerry Lundegaard to kidnap his wife so he can use the ransom money to hide that he has been embezzling money from his car dealership. Carl is very talkative with a short temper and hates smoking. This outfit is perfect for fall and should be very comfortable for going out.

Theodore Donald “Donny” Kerabatsos (played by Steve Buscemi) is a member of the same bowling team as the Dude and Walter.  A soft spoken man, Donny is often told to shut up impolitely by Walter prior to his death in the film.  Despite being an exceptional bowler, Donny is often seen wearing what appear to be secondhand bowling shirts, as he dons a colorful array, each with a different name embroidered on it (none of which are Donny).  If you have some modest sewing skills, you could add your own personal flourish to whichever color shirt you choose to wear for your costume.

Bunny Lebowski (played by Tara Reid) is the wife of Jeffrey Lebowski in The Big Lebowski and a huge source of frustration for Brandt, as she flirts heavily with the Dude.  She is a former runaway and porn star with a shopping problem that puts her into very deep debt.  To recreate Bunny’s outfit, you’ll need to tap into your very rad ’90s side, as she favors neon green and very small bikinis.  Of course, depending on your comfort level, there are many ways you can channel the same vibe while covering up a little more.  Don’t forget your green toe polish, as Bunny’s little toe plays a big role in the film.

In the Coen Brothers’ film The Big Lebowski, Maude Lebowski (played by Julianne Moore) is a provocative avant-garde artist and the daughter of Jeffrey Lebowski.  She is highly critical of her father’s relationship with Bunny, and is the person responsible for the Dude losing his rug.  During their initial real life interaction, Maude is seen wearing a long olive green robe, and later, she dons a gold Viking valkyrie costume in one of the Dude’s dreams.  When crafting your Maude costume, you will need to decide whether the silhouette or the color of her robe are more important to you, as it can be very difficult to find one that does both.  Adding additional props and touches to a fabricated Maude Viking costume can help bring your costume to the next level.

Llewyn Davis (played by Oscar Isaac) is a struggling folk musician on the edge of a breakdown. He bounces between his dreams and harsh reality during the winter of 1969. These unsteady course takes him back to old friends, old lovers, and old wounds that he hasn’t properly seen to. Through the ups and downs of the music industry – and what happens when he can’t break into it – Llewyn has to figure himself out or risk losing it all. His costume is a simple daily look from the ’60s, rounded by his ever-present guitar case and the cat that acts as his companion through most of the movie.