Costume reference photos for drawing and character design

Costume reference slices: fantasy cultist, noir detective, red-robed queen and sci-fi soldier

Every costume reference on this page shows a real outfit on a real body, so you can see how clothes sit, fold and layer before you design your own. Use the free photos to study fantasy, historical, sci-fi and everyday costume, and the packs just below if you want hundreds of angles of the same outfit for character design reference.

On this page: Packs · Fantasy and medieval · Historical · Sci-fi and cyberpunk · Everyday outfits · Accessories and props · How to use them · Practice · FAQ

Best costume reference packs

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NewPreview of Sci Fi Soldier - Stock Model Pose Reference Pack

Sci Fi Soldier – Stock Model Pose Reference Pack

by Faestock · Cubebrush · 300+ images · Photos

About 300 photos of one model in leather body armor and combat kit, posed with rifles and pistols while standing, kneeling and crouching. A solid base for sci-fi soldier and tactical costume design.

$9View pack

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Most costume packs we list feature female models, with a few male and casual exceptions. For male outfits in motion, see our male pose references, and the free photos below include men too.

Fantasy and medieval costume reference

Fantasy costume starts with real period clothing. Layers, straps and heavy cloth are what make a knight, a noble or a traveller read as a character, so study how each piece sits on the body before you invent your own.

Woman in a blue dress holding a knight's helmet beside a man in armor, a costume reference for drawing
Armor next to everyday cloth. The dress hangs softly while the armor holds its shape, and the straps cross the chest in clear lines. Photo: Liviu Boldis / Unsplash
Man in a purple tunic and a black hat with a feather at a medieval fair
A tunic, a hat and one feather. Three simple shapes are enough to place a character in a period. Photo: Liviu Boldis / Unsplash
Woman in a long green medieval dress with elaborate headwear and red cloth over one arm
A long dress with cloth draped over the arm. The hem hides the feet, so read the silhouette first and the folds second. Photo: Liviu Boldis / Unsplash

Historical costume reference

Historical clothing is built around a silhouette, such as a bell skirt, a high collar or a wide brim. Draw that shape first and the details fall into place. The two black and white portraits come from museum collections and show how period clothes looked when they were new.

Woman in a vintage red floral dress holding a white lace parasol in front of an old building
A full skirt over a narrow waist makes a bell shape. Draw that shape first, then the pattern. Photo: Tan Duong / Unsplash
Three women seated on a bench in Victorian-era hats and dark dresses
Three hats, three silhouettes. Brim size and tilt change the character before any face is drawn. Photo: Adele Erolsky / Unsplash
Black and white portrait of a seated woman in a striped Victorian dress with a lace headpiece
A museum portrait. Look at the high collar, the fitted sleeves and the lace cap. Photo: Smithsonian / Unsplash
Victorian woman standing in a long pale gown against a dark background
A pale gown against a dark wall shows the whole silhouette. The long skirt flares toward the hem. Photo: The Metropolitan Museum of Art / Unsplash

Sci-fi and cyberpunk costume reference

Sci-fi outfits mix hard and soft shapes, with panels, lenses and cables on top of ordinary cloth. These cosplay photos show how that works on a real body. Free photos in this style are thin, so the packs above and your own cosplay photos will go further.

Cosplayer in a futuristic cyborg costume with silver hair, a visor and white wings
Hard panels, a visor and soft wings in one costume. Notice how the hard shapes sit on a soft body. Photo: Lei Hwang / Unsplash
Man in dark clothing and a mask with electronic gadgets and red cables attached
A mask built from small parts. Use it for the layered detail, such as lenses, cables and straps. Photo: Fukuro 0wl / Unsplash

Everyday outfit reference

Modern clothes are the hardest to fake because everyone knows what they look like. These full-length photos show denim, layers and loose cuts the way they fall in daylight.

Woman in a denim jacket, white top and jeans standing outside a modern building
Denim on denim. Jacket and jeans fold in different places, so check where the fabric bunches at the elbows and knees. Photo: Zulfugar Karimov / Unsplash
Woman in overalls and a white crop top standing outdoors
Overalls are layered shapes, with straps, a bib and a loose leg. Good practice for clothing that sits over other clothing. Photo: Michael Kyule / Unsplash
Woman in striped trousers, a white shirt and a headscarf against a green wall
Stripes follow the form. Watch how the lines bend where the leg bends. Photo: WALL KURT / Unsplash
Man in a camouflage jacket and black trousers standing on a street with his arms out
A full-length male outfit with a loose jacket and wide trousers. The pattern makes the folds easy to see. Photo: Babak Eshaghian / Unsplash

Accessories and props reference

Hats, gloves and boots finish a character, and they are small shapes that are easy to get wrong. Draw them on their own a few times before you add them to a figure. For how cloth folds, hangs and catches light, see our fabrics, drapery and folds references.

Vintage black button-up boots with a small heel on a floral rug
Button-up boots. Good for the heel, the row of buttons and the shine on the leather. Photo: Erik Mclean / Unsplash
Woman in a wide-brim black hat and long black gloves with her hands raised to her face
A wide brim and long gloves. Gloves wrinkle at the wrist and knuckles, which is where most glove drawings go wrong. Photo: JD-Photos / Unsplash
Leather boots and shoes lined up in rows on a market table
Boots and shoes in several heights and colors. Quick shape references for footwear. Photo: lee seunghyub / Unsplash

How to use these costume references

Start with the silhouette. Fill the outfit in solid black. A strong costume reads from its outline alone, whether that is a bell skirt, a cloak or a wide hat.

Pick three signature pieces. Most memorable characters rest on three things, such as a hat, a coat and a pair of boots. Choose them first and keep the rest simple.

Draw the body, then dress it. Block in the figure with a rough pose, then wrap the clothes around it. Cloth follows the body, so fold lines bend where joints bend.

Mix periods on purpose. Take the shape of a Victorian coat, the fabric of a modern jacket and the straps from armor. Changing one thing at a time keeps the design readable.

Collect your own costume reference. Thrift shops, fairs and cosplay events give you angles no stock photo has. Ask before you photograph someone.

Practice costume drawing

Looking at references only gets you halfway. So draw them against the clock.

  • Gesture drawing tool. Timed figure photos in interval mode (30 seconds to 10 minutes) or class mode (30 minutes to 2 hours). Warm up the body before you dress it, and start with 30 seconds. The tool also includes nude photos, so tick “Only covered models” if you would rather not see them.
  • Gesture drawing guide. How to warm up with quick poses before a longer drawing.
  • Drawing prompt generator. Give the outfit a character, such as a ranger, a duchess or a courier.
  • 3D form tool. Block in the body as simple forms, then wrap the costume around it.
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Costume reference FAQ

Quick answers to common questions. Click one to open it.

How do I design a costume for a character?

Start with the silhouette and three signature pieces, then add color and one detail that tells the story, such as a badge, a patched sleeve or a worn glove.

How do I draw clothing on a character?

Block in the body first, then wrap clothes around it. Fold lines follow the joints, and fabric bunches where the body bends. Our fabrics and drapery references show how.

Where can I find free costume reference?

This page has free photos sorted by style. Stock sites such as Unsplash and Pexels have cosplay, reenactment and museum photos, and the free Elven Nightgown pack in the list above gives you 30 poses. More free packs are on our free references page.

How do I draw historical costumes accurately?

Look at period portraits and museum photos first, then check the silhouette against a reenactment photo. Clothes changed a lot within a single century, so pin down the decade.

Can I use cosplay photos as costume reference?

Yes for shapes, layers and construction. Cosplay often exaggerates, so check the proportions against a real body.

Can I use these photos for my artwork?

The free photos here come from Unsplash, whose license lets you draw from them, even for work you sell. Paid packs come with the creator’s own license, listed on the store page.

More references