Macklemore's giant tiger-print fur coat is one of the best-known outfits in music video history, and the "Thrift Shop" joke is that it all came from a thrift store on a twenty-dollar budget. It's an easy costume to build, and it's fun to wear because everyone knows the song.
How to Make Macklemore Thrift Shop Costume
Tiger-Print Faux Fur CoatExtra-Large Faux Fur CollarBlack Skinny JeansGold WatchStrong Hold Hair PomadeTwenty Dollar Play BillsGarage Sale Price StickersSaveTap any item in the photo to shop itClick any item in the photo to shop it
| # | Item | Description | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tiger-Print Faux Fur Coat | A mid-length tan and black tiger-stripe faux fur coat, worn open. This is the costume; everything else supports it. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 2 | Extra-Large Faux Fur Collar | A tawny fake-fur stole. In the video the coat has a huge, fluffy tan collar that rises up around the head, so drape this over the coat's own collar and let it puff up. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 3 | Black Skinny Jeans | Plain black slim pants. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 4 | Gold Watch | A gold-tone watch. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 5 | Strong Hold Hair Pomade | Macklemore's hair is blond and swept up off the forehead. Use pomade to hold it in place. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 6 | Twenty Dollar Play Bills | "I'm gonna pop some tags, only got twenty dollars in my pocket." Keep a few in your hand or pocket. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 7 | Garage Sale Price Stickers | Stick price tags all over the coat, and pop them off during the party. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
In the video the coat is worn open over a bare chest; a plain black tee is the safer choice. Ride a small bike or scooter if you dare, since in the video he rides a mint-green kid's bike in the coat. If you can't ride, walk in slowly and stare at the camera.
Getting the details right
- Bigger is better. The collar is comically large. If yours looks normal, add another stole.
- Keep it cheap. The whole song is about a thrift-store find, so a coat that looks slightly worn is better than a brand-new one. Skip the designer clothes.
- Sing it. "This is f---ing awesome" gets a laugh every time. Have the song ready on your phone.
Macklemore costume ideas to go with it
- A duo: put a friend in a long brown fur coat, a red shirt and black pants, like the man walking beside him in the video.
- A whole thrift store: the video is full of people in mismatched, odd thrift-store outfits, so a group of friends can each dress as their own weird find.
About Thrift Shop
"Thrift Shop" is a song by the American hip hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, featuring Wanz. It was the fourth single from their debut album The Heist (2012). The lyrics praise buying second-hand clothes and saving money instead of showing off expensive brands.
It was an independent release, but it became a sleeper hit: it reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, sold more than 6 million copies in the U.S., and was Billboard's number one song of 2013. The music video came out on August 29, 2012, and has more than 1.9 billion views on YouTube. At the 2014 Grammy Awards, it won Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song.
