Slash Costume Guide (Guns N' Roses)
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Slash is one of the few musicians you can impersonate with a silhouette. The top hat and the curtain of black curls covering his face are enough on their own, and adding mirrored aviators, a leather jacket or open vest, tight black jeans and a Gibson Les Paul finishes it. It has been his look since Guns N' Roses broke through with Appetite for Destruction in 1987 and he hasn't changed it since.
This is an easy costume to put together from a rock-themed wardrobe, and most of the budget goes on the hat and the wig. Pair it with an Axl Rose (bandana, flannel around the waist, bike shorts) for a two-person costume that everyone recognises.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Easy
- Rough budget: $45–$100
- Time to put on: 10 minutes
- What people recognise first: Top hat + black curls + aviators
What you need
- Black top hat — A medium-height felt top hat. Slash's has a silver concho belt as the hat band; buy a concho belt or chain and wrap it around the crown.
- Silver concho hat band or belt — Wrapped around the base of the top hat. This detail separates Slash from a generic top hat.
- Long black curly wig — Shoulder-length or longer, with tight curls and a fringe that falls over the eyes. Pull it forward; his face is usually half hidden.
- Aviator sunglasses — Classic aviators, often mirrored. He wears them on stage under the hat.
- Black leather jacket or leather vest — A black biker jacket, or a leather vest worn open over a bare chest or a band T-shirt.
- Tight black jeans or leather pants — Skinny and black. Add a studded belt with a large buckle.
- Band T-shirt (optional) — A GN'R or other rock tee under the jacket, or go without under a vest.
- Toy or inflatable Les Paul guitar — Slash plays a Gibson Les Paul, usually a sunburst finish. An inflatable in a sunburst colour is the easy option.
- Silver rings and bracelets — He wears rings on most fingers and a few leather and silver bracelets.
How to put it together
Clothes
- Put on the jeans with a studded belt, then the T-shirt if you're using one, then the jacket or vest.
- Boots: black leather with a slight heel or Converse high-tops both match different eras.
- Load up the silver rings and bracelets before the wig so you can see what you're doing.
Hat and hair
- Put the wig on and pull the fringe forward so it covers the eyebrows and partly the eyes.
- Set the top hat straight on top and push it down slightly so the curls spill out all around.
- Put on the aviators under the hair.
Guitar and pose
- Sling the guitar low on a long strap, around hip height.
- The pose is head down, hat tilted forward, one leg out, mid-solo. A cigarette prop is period-accurate but optional.
About the character
Slash, born Saul Hudson in London in 1965 and raised in Los Angeles, was the lead guitarist of Guns N' Roses from 1985 to 1996 and rejoined the band in 2016. Appetite for Destruction, the band's 1987 debut, became one of the best-selling albums ever, and his riffs on 'Sweet Child o' Mine', 'Welcome to the Jungle' and 'November Rain' are among the most recognisable in rock.
Between stints with GN'R he formed Slash's Snakepit and Velvet Revolver and released solo albums with Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Guns N' Roses in 2012. The top hat, bought on a whim before an early show and finished with a concho belt, has been his trademark for nearly forty years.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of hat does Slash wear?
A black felt top hat with a silver concho belt wrapped around the crown as a hat band. The conchos are the detail that makes it his rather than a generic top hat.
What guitar should I carry for a Slash costume?
A Gibson Les Paul, ideally in a sunburst finish. For a costume, an inflatable or toy guitar in that shape and colour is lighter and safer than the real thing.
How do I do Slash's hair?
Use a long black wig with tight curls and a full fringe, and pull it forward over the eyes. The hat sits on top and pushes the curls outward. Your own hair can work if it's long, dark and curly.
What's a good partner costume with Slash?
Axl Rose: a red or white bandana, a flannel shirt tied around the waist, white bike shorts or ripped jeans and a band tee or open leather jacket. Duff McKagan with a padlock necklace and bleached hair makes a third.
Further reading
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