The Sandman has been a big hit on Netflix this summer! Whether it is for a Halloween Costume or cosplay, here are some tips to help you recreate this look.
The Sandman
Based on the beloved award-winning DC comic series written by Neil Gaiman, THE SANDMAN is a rich, character-driven blend of myth and dark fantasy woven together over the course of ten epic chapters following Dream’s many adventures. On the show, when the Sandman, aka Dream (Tom Sturridge) — the powerful cosmic being who controls all our dreams — is unexpectedly captured and held prisoner for over a century, he must journey across different worlds and timelines to fix the chaos his absence has caused. The series also stars Boyd Holbrook, Patton Oswalt, Vivienne Acheampong, Gwendoline Christie, Charles Dance, Jenna Coleman, David Thewlis, Stephen Fry, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Mason Alexander Park, Donna Preston, Vanesu Samunyai (formerly known as “Kyo Ra”), John Cameron Mitchell, Asim Chaudhry, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Joely Richardson, Niamh Walsh, Sandra James-Young and Razane Jammal.
The Sandman Costume
The costume for Dream, aka The Sandman, is simple. All black and hair that is reminiscent of the looks worn by Robert Smith of The Cure.
Black Floor Length Trench Coat
Any Black Floor Length Trench Coat or Over Coat should do the trick for this look. There aren’t too many recognizable features to the coat he wears. Plus the show itself has so many filters that make it hard to make out details. The coat has a collar that is usually propped up. And he wears the coat opened and unbuttoned. He is also seen wearing a knee-length double-breasted overcoat in a few episodes.
Black Crew Neck tee
Dream wears a black crewneck tee. The tee rides high on the neck. It looks like it is just a plain, no-pocket tee. But we don’t get any shots of Dream with his coat off. So there is no telling if it is short or long-sleeved. Any black tee should suffice. If you’re planning to wear this costume to an event where it may be hot, consider wearing a cooling tee instead.
Black Pants
All black pants/trousers are easy enough and may already be in your closet. It looks as if he is wearing dress pants but it is hard to tell from the reference photos.
Black Boots
Another item that might be easy to find in your closet is the shiny black boots that Dream wears. We know they go above the ankle from photos but it’s hard to tell how high they go. There aren’t many reference photos for his shoes.
Hair
Hair that is reminiscent of the looks worn by Robert Smith of The Cure will be key in pulling off this look. It’s what will set this costume aside from Neo in The Matrix. We’ve included a hair tutorial video. You can also attempt this style on wigs. I recommend starting with a wig that has longer strands than what you need, something that you can cut accordingly.
The Sandman Costume – Helm
Dream’s Helm is a great way to get around the need for a wig or having to style your hair. You can usually find plenty of options for the helm on cosplay sites or sites like Amazon.
The Sandman Costume – Bag of Sand
Dream’s Sand Pouch is one of the symbols of his power. The pouch has a drawstring at the top and looks like it’s made of black leather. It also has a little of a distressed feeling to it. The ends of the drawstrings look like they have some beading. But for a costume, all you need is a black drawstring pouch to make it recognizable. If you want to have some extra fun with it, you can even carry some sand with you.
Raven
A raven always travels with the Dream Lord. Pick up a fake Raven to carry around with you to get that look. It would make for a great prop. If you could get it to hang on your shoulder that would be extra cool.
The Sandman Alternate costume – Battle Outfit with Lucifer
There are a few variations of the Sandman costume that you can consider. In episode four, “A Hope in Hell”, Dream is seen wearing two distinct looks. When he arrived in Hell his coat is different. He is wearing a knee-length double-breasted overcoat. During his battle with lucifer, Tik Tok Fashion Influencer Alyssa Bradley, @miss.lys, pointed out that Dream’s battle look against Lucifer in episode 4 “A Hope in Hell” was actually a piece from Gareth Pugh’s Fall 2021 Collection.
@miss.lys An extremely niche tiktok for the fellow fashion nerds #thesandman #dream #garethpugh #fashiontiktok #fashion #costumedesign #greenscreen #sandman
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