With Netflix’s You set to return in just about a month, and fans eagerly anticipating the twisty, stalker, dark, and always-cringey-but-semi-adorable world of Joe Goldberg, we are about to plunge into another season and character overhaul as Netflix Novel launches Season 5. The Netflix thriller starring Penn Badgley, has become notorious for its engaging storytelling, shocking plot developments and stylish aesthetic dictated by the characters and its themes. As Joe takes on yet another character and city, what is transformed is not only his mental state but also his wardrobe. For the fans and the aspirational and inspirational fashionista’s, the latest season of You opens up a world of costume inspiration that could not be more chic, mysterious, and downright binge-worthy.
In this blog, we showcase the most iconic, easily DIY-able and on-trend You Season 5 costume inspirations. Whether you are planning for Halloween, a watch party or just enjoy referencing or curating inspired fashion looks, this is your chance to cozy up as Joe – or your choice of character for the final season.
Joe Goldberg’s London Look – Tailored But Twisted
In season 5, Joe is living amongst the elite of London. The humble book undertakers of New York and LA are gone for good. Now, Joe is rocking a tailored yet twisted look. Take some good quality, slim-fit wool overcoats in earthy tones, dark navy or charcoal suits to immerse himself with the academic elite, and fitted dress shirts that disguise his deadly personality with the sophistication of David Beckham.
His most striking outfit in the trailer is dark double-breasted trench coat over a black turtleneck. This whole outfit shouts high-class intellectual but with Joe there is always something lurking beneath. Add a pair of black leather gloves and some form of short hairstyle and suddenly you have an outfit that portrays almost elegance with danger. This approach is perfect for one who cosplays Joe but with more European flair and maybe a little mystery and intelligence to your costume persona.
Kate’s Cold Elegance – Power Dressing with Definition
Charlotte Ritchie reprises the character of Kate Galvin, and Kate’s ensemble suggest she’s got the ownership of an art dealer and can take Joe on. Kate in Season 5 is wearing fitted blazers, cashmere turtlenecks and fitted tailored pantsuits in olive green, beige, and charcoal.Kate wore power, not ridiculousness. While a fair bit of Kate’s outfits were feminine, she wore with confidence without being garish; she was bold.
One costume piece that we saw to a great extent, was the chunky dark green double breasted blazer with gold-tone buttons. Together above a silk blouse and wide leg slacks, was perfect for anyone wishing to feel confident with an unrestricted, powerful, while still delicate femininity. Other than this, for very little accessorizing is needed with this, maybe a trendy handbag, and small gold dangle earrings. Kate’s costumes demanded more than style; they were about power, intelligence, and subtle rebellion. They would suit anyone wishing to merge posh with power.
Marienne’s Bohemian Darkness – Rebellious Romanticism
Marienne (Tati Gabrielle) continues to have a haunting presence in Season 5. She is still dressed in a bohemian style; however, this time , she refers to this style as a whole new vibe. You can expect to see her dressed in bohemian maxi skirts, flowy layered shawls, muted floral prints, and pastel tough footwear. There will be long coats created in fun warm colours like burnt sienna or faded rust, and made out of earthy fabrications like wool and cotton.
To emulate Marienne, consider a vintage bookstore mash up with Parisian street fashion. Add wavy hair, a statement scarf, and a well-loved leather satchel. You can definitely see why her wardrobe works for someone walking that fine line of a tortured artist, or a soul who is trying to escape – beautifully messy yet poetic.
Nadia’s Academic Cool – Gen Z Meets Noir
It is easy to see why fans loved Nadia Farran so much (played by Amy-Leigh Hickman) in Season 4. With her style influence moving into the new season, it’s hard not to become a die-hard fan of Nadia appeared youthful, but decidedly noir. Stylistically, she merged current Gen Z styles, like cropped sweaters, plaid skirts, denim jackets, with vintage trench coats and berets. It looked smart. It looked edgy. It didn’t look quite right.
An exemplary Nadia-inspired costume would consist of a button-up shirt layered under a knitted vest and paired with a houndstooth coat. You might wear black tights and ankle boots with her. Her accessories would commonly include a satchel bag and round glasses to compliment her studiousness. For those with a penchant for incorporating vintage style with youthful rebellion, Nadia’s look perfectly lends itself to a colourful part costume.
Rhys Montrose Reimagined – The Villain in Plain Sight.
While unmasked at the end of Season 4, Rhys Montrose continues to linger, especially as a figment of Joe’s fractured psyche. The theatrically hallucinatory alter-ego of Joe, Rhys, has few, purposeful, and memorable costume ideas. Rhys should be considered a devil in normal clothing: charcoal suits, fine wool sweaters, collared shirts it is all there and polished brown leather shoes. Rhys intentionally dresses not to be noticed or draw attention to his persona, whichadds to his insidiousness.
If you want something devious but tasteful, a good look-a-like of Rhys’ outfit would be a custom grey blazer with a cashmere crewneck (beige or dull navy would be a safe choice), finished leather gloves, a nice watch, and of course slicked back hair to make the overall ensemble look sleazy, but slick class. This is an option for those who enjoy eloquence, control, and a bit of stupidity!
Lady Phoebe’s Upper Crust Style – Couture with Chaos
S5 also references another clear style influence- Lady Phoebe a British socialite we met in Season 4, whose style is exuberant, luxe and completely chaotic! She wears prints, metallic, faux furs, wears a crocodile bag from knit, and in a way she represents a hyper-stylish personality! Lady Phoebe holds herself with a sense of confidence that reflects her wealth and status, but her look also feels over-the-top and funny!
To recreate the over-the-top looks with endearing charm of Lady Phoebe, look for exaggerated silhouettes, colorful heels, and silk gloves, and of course some sparkle! Be sure to style your hair in soft curls or an elegant twist. While some of her outfits feel satirical, and outlandish, Phoebe’s contrasts to the more ominous parts of the show provide a stimulating mismatch, making her one of the most visually bold characters to dress as!
Joe’s Classic Cap and Hoodie Combo – The Legendary Disguise
Of course, no You costume roundup would be complete without Joe’s most famous look from the earlier seasons: the navy baseball cap, plain hoodie, and dark jeans! It also became synonymous with Joe’s stalking behavior, and is an easy-to-pin-together costume for last-minute party planners.While he has (thankfully) swapped this look for some gentlemanly tailoring and pieces in Season 5, the hoodie-cap one remains iconic. Add the blank, emotionless stare or vacant look, a faded messenger bag full of “murder kit” props that scream costume and fake, and BAM! you have an instantly recognizable and absolute last-minute costume. As the saying goes, sometimes less is more, especially when it conjures cultural context.
Couple Costumes – Joe & Kate or Joe & Marienne
For couples who love the show, dressing as Joe and one of his lovers is a great way to style for this theme. Joe and Kate are a strong, stylish couple. Dressing for the couple as well will tie the look together. Joe and Kate Shared tailored outerwear and rich, neutral colors. Joe and Marienne’s look together evokes contrasting feelings like romance and danger, and drama with each aspect tied together with layers of texture and poetry.
You do not have to be super obvious with costumes like this to pull them off together – the two of you having matching color palettes, intense stares across the room, or small props like an old book or vintage keys can go a long way to upgrade the costume. These costume ideas are good for themes because they will have a story attached to them within your costume (it can serve as a hook to engage guests in conversation or storytelling).
Costume Details That Complete the Look:
What makes You costumes more than just clothing is the psychological layers that each piece suggest. The style of Joe’s fitted coats keep his secrets hidden. A fitted & tailored coat on Kate serves as armor, and Marienne’s “boho” layers symbolize a life of escape. In addition, accessories are another major component of the costume. Real characters often held books, like Marienne that have compartments, an old-school diary, or even a unique prop, like the cup of black coffee.
The effect can be further improved by styling your hair and make up in each character’s unique way. Joe often has neatly tousled hair, Kate’s is polished perfection, and Marienne’s make up is flawless minimalism. Paying attention to these final details can take your costume from mediocre to great!
Where to Wear These Costumes:
The best part about You Season 5 costume ideas is their versatility (and frankly, issue-less junk and suitability for a costume party or a murder mystery event). You may also see some people walk around in Joe’s or Kate’s outfits as casual outfits because of their fashion edginess (and apparent desirability). Even with some tweaks, these costumes can be made into streetwear inspired by the show—still displaying small nods towards your favorite characters and plots without becoming overly cosplay.Even social media sites for editing like TikTok and Instagram, have embrace the idea of fashion edits based on You, and your costumes might be great for the type of content. For videos depicting reenactment of the series scenes or just a photo set with friends, these outfits would be looking fresh with a dash of sinister.
Final Thoughts – Dress in the Killer Way :
You Season 5 represents not just the conclusion for Joe Goldberg Oufits but serves as a new beginning for the series visual language. The costumes function as more than costumes, they are all psychological indicators, manipulation devices, and at times possible protection. Everyone’s gets a moment to shine in their wardrobe choices from Joe’s immaculate but tormented professor look, to Kate’s high-society armor, and Marienne’s lost runaway look, there is a usable narrative for every costume in Season 5.
Costumes inspired by the most recent season of You allow you the opportunity to straddle a fine line between the strange and the sophisticated. Whether you wish to express Joe’s inherent duality, Kate’s authoritative nature, and/or Marienne’s quiet sadness, there is an appropriate look for every fan.And while Joe Goldberg’s captivating story may be finished, the narrative of his wardrobe is just getting started.
So as the final season unfolds and the suspense increases, remember to engage with it additionally. Instead of just observing, enter the You space as a character by interacting with the wardrobe. After all, in a world of obsession and deception, looking the part is half the entertainment.