A John Constantine costume is a suit that looks like it has been slept in. The version most people search for is Keanu Reeves in the 2005 film: a black suit, a white shirt open at the collar, a black tie hanging loose and a long black coat on top. The Hellblazer comics have a second, older look with a tan trench coat, a loose red tie and blond hair, and that one is covered below too. Both are cheap to build, because the whole point is that nothing is neat.
How to Make John Constantine Costume
Black Suit Jacket and PantsWhite Dress ShirtBlack NecktieLong Black OvercoatBlack Oxford Dress ShoesSilver Flip LighterFake Puff CigarettesHoly Shotgun PropHoly Shotgun CartridgeHoly Water Vial NecklaceSaveTap any item in the photo to shop itClick any item in the photo to shop it
| # | Item | Description | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black Suit Jacket and Pants | A plain black two-piece in a slim cut. Skip the tie that may come in the photos; you will use the one below. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 2 | White Dress Shirt | Plain white, long sleeved. Leave the top buttons undone and let the collar sit open, as in the film stills. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 3 | Black Necktie | A narrow black tie. Knot it, then pull the knot down a few inches so it hangs loose against the open collar. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 4 | Long Black Overcoat | A single-breasted black coat that reaches the knee or lower. Wear it open over the suit, with the collar up in the wind if you can. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 5 | Black Oxford Dress Shoes | Plain black lace-ups. Scuff them a little; nothing about Constantine is polished. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 6 | Silver Flip Lighter | A Zippo-style flip lighter in brushed chrome, the classic chain-smoker's prop. It is the item people look at in photos, so keep it in your hand. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 7 | Fake Puff Cigarettes | Fake cigarettes for the hand and mouth. Candy cigarettes work as well, and neither needs lighting. Many venues ban even fake smoking props, so check the rules first. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 8 | Holy Shotgun Prop | A gold, scroll-engraved EVA foam prop shaped like the cross-barrelled Holy Shotgun from the film. It is movie-inspired rather than licensed, about 27 inches long, light and non-functional, so it is safe to carry. Check event rules before bringing any prop weapon. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 9 | Holy Shotgun Cartridge | A small engraved brass-look shell that nods to the Holy Shotgun's ammunition. Keep it in a coat pocket or hang it from a cord as a talking point. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 10 | Holy Water Vial Necklace | A glass holy water vial on a chain with a cross on the label, a small occult-hunter detail that sits well against an open white collar. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
Getting the Constantine Details Right
The look is all in what is undone. The shirt collar is open, the tie is loose and crooked, and the coat hangs unbuttoned. Dress sharply, then take it apart. A tidy tie spoils the character at once.
Keep everything black and white. In the film there is no other colour: black suit, black tie, black coat, white shirt. A grey or navy suit reads as an office worker, so go dark and plain.
The hair is short, dark and messy. Reeves wears it cropped and tousled, so a quick rake with a little product is all it needs. Add a couple of days of stubble if you can, and a tired, flat stare. The attitude does as much as any item.
For poses, put one hand in a coat pocket, hold a cigarette in the other, and look unimpressed. The occult props (items 8 to 10) are optional but are what make the costume read as Constantine rather than a tired man in a suit. A small silver cross on a chain is a quick nod to the film's exorcist side, but it needs no purchase if you already own one.
Alternate Looks and Budget Options
Comic Hellblazer. The Hellblazer comics show John Constantine in a black suit and a tan trench coat, and Wikipedia calls the black suit and tan trenchcoat his traditional ensemble. For the comic version, swap the black overcoat for a tan trench coat, swap the black tie for a burgundy necktie worn just as loose, and keep the suit and white shirt. The tie is red in much of the artwork.
The Sting-style blond version. The character was drawn to look like the musician Sting, which is why the comic John has short, spiky blond hair, and why the film's dark hair is a departure. If you want the comic look, add a short blond wig in a dirty, layered shade. The tan trench plus a loose red tie plus this wig is the full early-Hellblazer outfit.
Budget. Thrift a black blazer, trousers and a long dark coat, and buy only the shirt and tie. A secondhand overcoat in black or tan is the single biggest saving, and it carries the whole silhouette.
Group idea. Constantine fits any Justice League Dark or occult-detective group. Pair him with Zatanna, who has worked alongside him in the comics, or go as him beside a friend in a long coat for a pair of cynical investigators.
About John Constantine
John Constantine is a working-class occult detective, exorcist and con man from Liverpool who works out of London. Created by Alan Moore, Stephen R. Bissette and John Totleben, he first appeared in Saga of the Swamp Thing #37 in 1985 and received his own series, Hellblazer, in 1988. It became the longest-running title of DC's Vertigo imprint. He is known for his cynicism, dry wit and constant chain-smoking, and he has been a member of Justice League Dark. In 2005's Constantine, directed by Francis Lawrence, he was played by Keanu Reeves, a film that has built a cult following since release. The film is loosely based on the comics.
