Rick Grimes is a popular choice for Halloween, Cosplay, or conventions. Rick is arguably the main character in The Walking Dead, a story that takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where the dead roam free.
Rick has a variety of looks for you to choose from. Prefer Rick as a sheriff? Or do you like how he looks better in everyday clothes? Do you want your version of rick to be clean or do you want him to look bloody and battered?
Regardless of which look you prefer I have thoroughly researched everything you need. From his sheriff uniform, boots, and watch to his casual clothes, weapons, and backpack, here is everything you need for a Rick Grimes costume!
Here is a tribute to Rick that covers his time from seasons 1 through 6.
Mandatory Accessories
Cowboy Boots
There is only one constant when it comes to Rick Grimes - his boots! No matter what else he wears, Rick can be seen with his trusty kicks.
I've researched the boots worn by actor Andrew Lincoln who plays Rick Grimes and found that they are made by Justin, model 2222, but those are discontinued. Fortunately, model 2253 (also called Bay Apache) is very similar, and given that they are going to be covered by your pants I bet no one will ever know that they aren't the same style. FYI - I think he might have worn Stetson boots in the first season, but I'm not positive about this.
One last thing. I've never worn cowboy boots but I've heard that they need to be worn for a while to break them in. If true, you might not want to wear these for the first time with your Rick Grimes outfit. Instead, wear them around your house until they feel right.
Sheriff Costume
Cosplay Sheriff Costume
If you want your costume to be as authentic as possible then you'll want to look at a Cosplay outfit. Cosplay costumes are usually higher quality than mass produced ones, and they include a lot of details to make them look like replicas of the clothes worn by actors.
I found several Cosplay costumes for Rick Grimes' sheriff clothing, such as the one seen here. Most that I saw include most of what you need, including the hat, sheriff badges, shirt, pants, and holster. Be sure to read the descriptions to see if you need anything else to complete your look.
Sheriff Costume
You can also create your own look instead of going with a Cosplay costume. There are officially licensed Rick Grimes sheriff costumes. Some include a shirt and pants, while others are just the shirt.
Sheriff Hat
Rick's hat was very important to him early on in the series. He later gave it to his son, Carl, but before that happened Rick was rarely seen without it. Make sure your hat includes the gold cord seen here.
Brass Collar Pin
It is traditional for members of law enforcement to wear brass pins on the collars of their shirts, and Rick was no exception. I wasn't able to find an exact replica of the pin worn by Rick but this eagle pin will work well. They come in pairs so put one on each side of your collar. You can see where to place them by looking at this picture of Rick.
Name Badge
Rick wore his name badge on the flap of his right shirt pocket, which you can see here.
Sheriff Badge
Rick was a sheriff for King County, and his badges have this information on them. You will need two badges - one for your shirt (center it over the left pocket) and one for your hat (center it). You can see where to place them by looking at this picture.
Sheriff's Dept. Patch
The last thing you will need to complete your Rick Grimes sheriff costume is the "King County Sheriff's Dept." patch. You will need two - one for each shoulder. You can see where they go here.
Casual Costume
Rick has had several casual outfits. Here are examples of how you can dress if you want to do a casual version of Rick Grimes.
|
|
No matter which shirt you choose you will probably want to distress it to make it look dirty and ragged. Here is a video on how to distress your shirt. It doesn't discuss coloring it, but you can try dying it, adding color with something like shoe polish (go easy on the polish or it will be much too dark!), or other methods.
White T-Shirt
After Rick shed his sheriff outfit he was seen wearing a white shirt. At some point his shirt was clean, but the lack of a washing machine, as well as fighting walkers, meant that it didn't take long for it to get dirty. These shirts come in packs of three or more, which you can take advantage of by making some of them dirty.
Beige Shirt
Rick also wore a beige (khaki?) shirt. Make sure that you unbutton the top button or two, and roll the sleeves up to your elbows.
Brown Suede Leather Jacket
Rick has worn several jackets but I would argue that the most recognizable one is the one he started wearing in the fourth season. It is made of dark brown suede leather, has what looks like beige fluffy material on the collar, has pockets, and zips up. The one worn by Andrew Lincoln came from a vintage clothing shop but it is easy to find one that looks almost identical.
Brown Corduroy Jacket
Rick wore a jacket that looks like this. It is light brown, with darker brown corduroy on the shoulder area, has pockets, and buttons up.
Black Jeans
I've researched the type of jeans worn by Andrew Lincoln. Although I am not 100% positive, I'm fairly sure that they are 511 slim levi jeans. If you look closely you can see the red Levi tag on the back of his pants but the large brown levi tag has either been removed or is covered by his belt. You can go with 511 jeans or another model or brand, but make sure they are black. You can distress them if you like, since Rick's jeans ended up with rips and holes.
Blood, Guts, And Weapons
There is no such thing as "too many weapons" in a zombie apocolypse. Therefore I have gathered just about any type of weapon you can use to battle the undead. Most of them are covered in blood, which you should proudly display as a sign of your ability to protect yourself and loved ones.
As for the blood and guts, you do know that the dead are walking, right? Occasionally they need to be put out of their misery, which means things are going to get a bit gruesome. Have fun making yourself look battle worn.
Blood
Any given episode of The Walking Dead finds Rick and his gang covered in blood. You can have fun by adding a little (or a lot!) of fake blood to your face and/or Rick Grimes outfit.
Fake Blood
Guts And Body Parts
It's a sad fact that guts and body parts are a an everyday aspect of life in the zombie apocalypse. Feel free to incorporate body parts with your costume. You can string them into a necklace, put them in your pockets, or whatever else you can think of.
Body Parts And Guts
Gun
A gun is probably the #1 must-have item. Just be sure to use your bullets sparingly, since you don't want to be caught with an empty chamber when surrounded by walkers.
Prop Gun
Gun Holster
Now that you have your gun you need someplace to carry it. Pockets aren't a good option because they can be awkward or too small. A gun holster will prove to be invaluable as you go about your life scavenging for food and supplies.
Hip Gun Holster
Rifle
Rifles are just as important as guns. They let you take out walkers from a distance, which means you get to stay safe while taking down the dead heads.
Prop Rifle
Axe
Axes come in handy when you need to chop off body parts. Perhaps your friend has been bitten and needs a quick amputation. Or, maybe a certain female someone is holding your son and won't let go as you are all swarmed by walkers. Regardless of the situation, you'll be grateful that you have an axe on hand.
Prop Axe
Knife
Knives are easy to use and aren't heavy. Plus, they don't require ammunition the way guns and rifles do, and you can find a knife fairly easily in a world where the dead live again.
Bloody Knife
Machete
Machetes are very effective when it comes to cracking through the skull to kill zombies. Rick doesn't often use a machete but when he does, he wields it like a pro.
Prop Machete
Optional Accessories
Backpack
Need something to carry your water, meager rations, and weapons? The King County Sheriff's Department backpack is perfect! As you can see, it comes in brown and black, and is sturdy enough to be used every day.
|
|
Duffle Bag
Remember way back to the very first season of TWD when Rick collected all the guns, rifles, and ammunition from the King Country Sheriff's Department armory? He put them in a duffel bag and he continued to carry the bag in several episodes. This is a replica of Rick's bag, but the best part about it is that it durable enough to be used on a daily basis, such at a trip to the gym, or when you feel the need to get out of Dodge with a bag full of weapons!
Beard
Rick grew a beard during season 5 that he later shaved off. You can sport your own beard to give your version of Rick a grisly bear appearance. Don't worry, you don't have to wait months to grow your own! Simply use a fake beard.
Silver Watch
Time may have lost meaning in Rick's world, but that hasn't stopped him from wearing a watch. The watch worn most of the time by Andrew Lincoln is a Kenneth Cole KC3584. Unfortunately this model is discontinued, but I've found another model by Kenneth Cole that is very similar. Whatever you choose, make sure it is stainless steel and plain.
Baseball Cap
Regardless of what clothes you decide to wear, you can top it off with a King County Sheriff's Dept. baseball hat.
King County Sheriff's Dept. Baseball Cap
