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Peter Griffin Costume Guide (Family Guy)

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Peter Griffin Costume

Peter Griffin has worn the same thing in every episode of Family Guy since 1999: a white button-up shirt, green trousers, a black belt, brown shoes and round glasses. Add a large belly, short brown hair and his split chin and you're done. It is one of the easiest cartoon costumes around and one of the most recognisable.

The fun is in the family. We already have guides for Brian, Stewie, Chris and Meg, and Lois (green top, tan trousers, red hair) is just as easy, so a full Griffin household is within reach for almost no money.

At a glance

  • Difficulty: Very easy
  • Rough budget: $25–$60
  • Time to put on: 10 minutes
  • What people recognise first: White shirt + green pants + glasses + belly

What you need

  • White button-up shirt — Plain white, buttoned to the top. Buy it big so it fits over the belly padding.
  • Green trousers — A mid to dark green. Chinos or work trousers are right; avoid bright or neon green.
  • Black belt — Worn high over the belly.
  • Brown shoes — Plain brown lace-ups.
  • Round glasses — Small, round, thin frames. Peter's are a key feature.
  • Padded belly — Peter is large all over, but the belly is what matters. A costume belly or a pillow under the shirt works.
  • Short brown wig (optional) — Peter's hair is short and brown, combed down. Only needed if yours is long or a different colour.

How to put it together

Outfit

  1. Strap on the belly padding and put the white shirt on over it, buttoned up.
  2. Tuck the shirt into the green trousers and fasten the black belt high on the waist.
  3. Brown shoes, then the glasses.

Face

  1. Peter's chin is split by a vertical crease. Draw a short vertical line in brown eyebrow pencil on the chin and blend it slightly.
  2. His expression is a blank, open-mouthed grin. Practise the laugh: 'Hehehehehe.'

About the character

Peter Griffin is the father in Family Guy, Seth MacFarlane's animated sitcom about the Griffin family of Quahog, Rhode Island, which premiered in 1999 and is still running. He's a well-meaning, impulsive, frequently idiotic husband to Lois and father to Meg, Chris and Stewie, with a talking dog, Brian, and a best friend, Quagmire, next door.

His outfit, like those of most MacFarlane characters, was designed to be drawn identically every time, which makes it one of the few costumes you can assemble entirely from a thrift store in an afternoon and still be recognised from across a room.

Frequently asked questions

What does Peter Griffin wear?

A white button-up shirt, green trousers, a black belt, brown shoes and round glasses, in every episode. He has short brown hair and a cleft chin.

What should Lois wear for a couples costume?

A light green or teal sleeveless top, tan or khaki trousers, flat shoes, and a short reddish-orange bob. Pearl earrings are a nice touch.

How do I make Peter Griffin's chin?

Draw a short vertical line down the centre of your chin with a brown eyebrow pencil and soften it. Combined with the glasses and the grin, that's enough to read as Peter.

Can I do Peter Griffin without a padded belly?

You can, but the belly is a big part of the silhouette. A pillow held with an elastic bandage under the shirt is a free fix that improves the costume a lot.

Further reading

More Animated TV costumes