Scarface Costume Guide: How to Dress as Tony Montana
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Tony Montana, played by Al Pacino in Brian De Palma's Scarface (1983), has several outfits, but two are worth copying. The first is the white suit with a black shirt worn open at the collar, which is the look on the film's poster and the one most people expect. The second is a double-breasted plaid suit with a red striped shirt and gold chain, which is easier to find and less likely to be duplicated at a party.
Whichever you choose, the details that sell it are the open collar, gold jewellery, slicked-back dark hair and a small scar on the face. The famous line, "Say hello to my little friend!", comes with a large prop rifle. If you want to carry one, read the prop advice below first.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate
- Rough budget: $80–$150 for the plaid suit version
- Best-known version: White suit, black open-collar shirt
- What people recognise first: The suit with an open shirt and gold chain
What you need
- Double-breasted plaid suit — For the plaid version. Wear it slightly oversized with wide lapels, in 1980s style.
- Red striped dress shirt — Worn open at the collar with no tie.
- Red pocket square — A small detail that ties the shirt colour to the suit.
- Gold chain — Visible at the open collar. Tony's jewellery is chunky, not delicate.
- Aviator sunglasses — Optional, but they suit the 1980s Miami look.
- Black ankle boots — Polished leather with a slight heel.
How to put it together
White suit version
- Wear a white two- or three-piece suit with a black dress shirt.
- Leave the top two or three shirt buttons undone and spread the collar over the jacket lapels.
- Add a gold chain and black shoes or boots.
Plaid suit version
- Put on the red striped shirt, open at the collar, then the plaid suit trousers and jacket.
- Fold the red pocket square into the breast pocket and add the gold chain.
Hair, scar and props
- Slick dark hair back with gel or pomade, or use a short dark slicked-back wig.
- Draw a thin scar on one cheek with brown-red eyeliner and blur the edges.
- If you carry a prop rifle, use an obviously fake toy with an orange tip, and check the event's rules first. Most conventions ban realistic replica guns.
About the character
Scarface (1983) was directed by Brian De Palma, written by Oliver Stone and loosely remakes the 1932 film of the same name. Al Pacino plays Tony Montana, a Cuban refugee who arrives in Miami during the 1980 Mariel boatlift and rises to run a cocaine empire before his downfall.
The film had mixed reviews on release but became a major pop-culture reference, especially in hip-hop, and Tony's suits, his catchphrases and the film's final shoot-out are now among the most quoted scenes in gangster cinema.
Frequently asked questions
What does Tony Montana wear in Scarface?
His best-known outfit is a white suit with a black shirt open at the collar. He also wears a double-breasted plaid suit with a red striped shirt, Hawaiian-style shirts early in the film and gold jewellery throughout.
Which Scarface outfit is easiest to put together?
The plaid suit with a red striped shirt is usually easier to buy as a set. A white suit is harder to find in a good fit and shows every mark, but it's the version most people recognise.
Can I bring a toy gun with a Scarface costume?
Check the event's rules first. Most conventions and many venues ban realistic replica firearms. If props are allowed, use an obviously fake toy with a bright orange tip.
Do I need prosthetics for Tony Montana's scar?
No. A thin line drawn on the cheek with brown-red eyeliner, with the edges blurred, reads clearly in photos. Slicked-back dark hair matters just as much for the look.
Further reading
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