It’s an annual tradition at Washingtonian to dream up easy Halloween costumes ripped from local happenings for all you procrastinating nerds. (Some ghosts of headlines past include Political Patty, Commander Biden and a Secret Service agent, and the rabid fox on Capitol Hill.) Four years ago we crowned the escaped Maryland zebras “the hottest Halloween costume of 2021,” with groups donning stripes in homage to the untamable flock. This year, in the first week of September, we’re ready to call it: The DIY costume of the year is DC’s Sandwich Guy, Sean Charles Dunn.
Rising to fame for tossing a sandwich at a Customs and Border Protection officer in August, Dunn has become the definitive folk hero of the federal takeover, inspiring Banksy-style street art across the city. Federal prosecutors have charged the former Department of Justice paralegal with misdemeanor assault after a grand jury failed to indict Dunn on the initial felony charge. His image—pink collared shirt, khaki shorts, a sandwich in hand and then suddenly not in hand—is now an indelible icon of this moment in Washington.
Lucky for you, Dunn’s look is easy to replicate, thanks to the fact that it really is just an outfit for an average night out. All you need is some variation of a pink collared top (Dunn’s appears to feature a fun lace design), beige bottoms, and a Subway sandwich. The best part of this costume is that it’s also deeply practical: No matter your plans, you’ll have a snack ready to go. Bonus points for those who make a pilgrimage to 14th and U streets, Northwest, the original scene of the “assault with a deli weapon.”
Are you dressing up as Sandwich Guy? Tag @washingtonianmag on Instagram to show off your costume or email a photo to dbyck@washingtonian.com.
Daniella Byck joined Washingtonian in 2022. She was previously with Outside Magazine and lives in Takoma.
