Ash Costume Guide (Sing)
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Ash is the teenage porcupine rocker in Sing (2016) and Sing 2 (2021), voiced by Scarlett Johansson. She starts the first film playing backup to her boyfriend and ends it on stage alone singing 'Set It All Free'. Her look is pure pop-punk: spiky purple quills, a black leather jacket, a red tartan mini skirt, fishnets and boots, with an electric guitar slung across her.
Because the outfit is real clothing rather than animal costume, this is one of the easiest Sing characters to wear. The quills are the only thing you need to make or buy specifically. Everything else is a punk outfit you may already own. For a group, our Nooshy (Sing 2) guide pairs well, and the other Sing characters are mostly colour-blocked animals that are easy to add.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Easy
- Rough budget: $40–$90
- Time to put on: 15 minutes
- What people recognise first: Purple spikes + leather jacket + plaid skirt
What you need
- Spiky purple quill headpiece or wig — Ash's quills are a dark purple-magenta and point backwards in thick spikes. A short spiky purple wig works; a headband with felt spikes is a good DIY alternative.
- Black faux-leather jacket — A cropped biker jacket with a little hardware. Roll the sleeves to the forearm.
- Red tartan mini skirt — Red and black tartan, pleated. Wear it over black shorts if you'll be moving around.
- Black fishnet tights — Over opaque black tights if you want more coverage; the layered look is still punk.
- Black combat boots — Chunky, lace-up. Ash's are plain black.
- Black tank or band tee — Under the open jacket.
- Toy or inflatable electric guitar — A real one is heavy; an inflatable or a cheap toy guitar on a strap gives you the silhouette.
- Grey-brown face paint and black nose — Ash's face is a soft grey-brown with a small dark nose. A light wash of paint and a dot of black on the nose tip is enough.
How to put it together
Outfit
- Put on the tank top, skirt and tights, then the boots.
- Add the jacket open at the front and push the sleeves up.
- Layer a few black rubber bracelets or studded cuffs on one wrist.
Quills and face
- Put the spiky wig or headband on so the spikes sweep back from the forehead.
- Apply a light grey-brown face paint, darker around the eyes, and paint the tip of your nose black.
- Add a strong winged eyeliner; Ash's eyes are large and lined.
Guitar and performance
- Sling the guitar low across your body.
- Learn the chorus of 'Set It All Free' for the inevitable request.
- Her signature move is shooting quills when she's angry; a handful of purple pipe cleaners in a pocket makes a good gag.
About the character
Ash is one of the main contestants in Buster Moon's singing competition in Sing, the Illumination animated film from 2016. A porcupine with a punk-rock sound, she spends much of the film in the shadow of her boyfriend Lance until he leaves her, after which she writes and performs her own song. In Sing 2 she returns as a working musician and helps convince the reclusive rock star Clay Calloway to perform again.
Her design mixes porcupine and pop-punk: the quills double as a spiky hairstyle, and her outfit is a leather jacket, plaid skirt and boots that could come from any mid-2000s rock show. That is why the costume translates so well to real clothes.
Frequently asked questions
What does Ash from Sing wear?
A black leather jacket over a dark top, a red and black tartan mini skirt, fishnet tights and black boots, with spiky purple quills and an electric guitar. In Sing 2 her outfit is similar with a few more studs.
How do I make Ash's quills?
Either buy a short spiky purple wig, or glue stiff felt or craft-foam spikes in dark purple to a wide headband so they point backwards. Six to eight spikes of different lengths look right.
What song does Ash sing in Sing?
'Set It All Free', an original song for the film, performed by Scarlett Johansson. In Sing 2 she sings 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For' with Clay Calloway.
What are good group costumes from Sing?
Rosita the pig (pink top, apron), Johnny the gorilla (leather jacket, cap), Meena the elephant (grey hoodie, big ears), Gunter (gold sequin leotard) and Buster Moon the koala (grey suit, bow tie). Nooshy the lynx is the Sing 2 addition.
Further reading
More Pop Culture costumes
- Evil Dead Ash Costume — Pop Culture
- Maeve Millay Costume — Pop Culture
- Nooshy Sing 2 Costume — Pop Culture
- Uncle Fester Costume Plus Size — Pop Culture
- Evil Morty Costume — Pop Culture