Daryl Dixon is one of the best fighters in World of The Walking Dead.
The Walking Dead Universe holds some of the best characters in the history of television. And part of the reason why they have the best is because of all of the truly unique traits each character has, with no two alike. Whether they are your favorite person in The Walking Dead Universe or your least, this is because of each thing that makes them an individual – right down to their rocking apocalyptic fashion!
We have seen numerous characters change their appearance over the last 11 years that the show has been on our screens; who can forget big bearded Rick? Living in an apocalypse would mean clothes are hard to come by, or you need to rely on some hand me downs to get you through the tough times, or like Negan in 1022 “Here’s Negan,” where we discovered that he bought himself the famed black leather jacket pre-apocalypse, much to his wife’s (Lucille) dismay.
Even down to some of the walkers, such as Jadis’ (Pollyanna McIntosh) Winslow, wearing the spikey armor in 710 “New Best Friends” – which was truly terrifying, the costume is very reflective on the person. But one of the longest-serving characters has had some very varied appearances during his time on the show, Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus). Fans of Daryl will have their own favored appearances of him, whether they are going right back to the start of the outbreak or staying in the present – each of Daryl’s looks has also been a good indication of how far into the apocalypse they are with his ever-changing, yet all to familiar looks.
Let’s have a look at some of Daryl’s best looks!
Daryl Dixon -Short haired and sleeveless
If we go way back to 2010 and 103, “Tell it to the Frogs,” fans got their first glimpse of Daryl himself. Daryl was one step ahead, knowing that the way to kill walkers was via the head. He was also seen sporting a whole bunch of squirrels indicating he was a hunter, which was worn over a sleeveless shirt in khaki green and paired with one of TWD’s most important props – the Crossbow!
We can also see a red handkerchief in his back pocket if we look closely, probably with some traces of motorbike oil…and walker blood. Daryl seemed to represent a very different person during this time, down to his disposition. It seems the lack of layers on Daryl here was truly reflective of his character at the time. Except, he was and always will be a great asset to the new world.
Daryl’s short hair was certainly one of his more well-known and recognized appearances. It was the start of his evolution as a character, and the fact his look changed so drastically demonstrated and showed us that the world is now a new place, and he is a new man. The person he once was has gone, and he is better now than before and surrounded by his new family. Maybe he can style a mullet like Eugene one day!
Daryl Dixon and the Ponchos
Daryl has had three poncho looks during his time in the apocalypse. These offer multiple uses, such as retaining heat and stopping rainfall from distracting him against killing those walkers. The first comes from 305, “Say The Word,” and we see a nice red, yellow, brown and black pattern on a beige background bringing a little bit of color and life to the undead world.
The second poncho look is the gross walker gut poncho that has become synonymous across The Walking Dead Universe. We see Daryl and various community members in 1016 “A Certain Doom” try and escape the Whisperer army, but the only way to do this is to dress like them. Although this is vital to the protection and safety of characters (when they cannot escape masses of hoards), it has to be one of the most grotesque things our characters wear.
The third of Daryl’s poncho looks is one of his more common appearances, as seen in later seasons, including 1018 “Find Me,” in which Daryl is looking for a missing Rick after he was blown up 905 “ What Come’s After.” Fans also got to see what he was doing and who he encountered during this period. This helped to keep Daryl dry (a little), as he encountered a pretty rough storm during this episode which makes it even more convenient to him – it was just a crying shame his map didn’t have one as well! The khaki color also helps Daryl blend into the woods, so this super cool crossbow fighter has extra protection against any sneaky walkers or threats.
Although these two types of ponchos were different styles, they both are iconic to his evolution and character on the show and serve as some favorites for cosplayers!
‘A’ Daryl Dixon
Negan and the Saviors took Daryl back to the Sanctuary after Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) thought he would be a good addition to his group. This was seen in 703 “The Cell,” which broke the hearts of many fans because no one likes or needs a sad Daryl. Thankfully, he managed to escape his captors and got back to temporary safety at the Hilltop!
During his time at the Sanctuary, Daryl had two new looks. Three if you count him literally wearing…well, nothing in his cell when his belongings were all taken away. But the main costume here was a spray-painted orange ‘A’ branding the front of a pale sweater along with sweatpants. Daryl walked barefoot in the Sanctuary with this look until he managed his escape. Perhaps this worked in his favor as it made it easier for him to tiptoe around – or maybe he is just too great in tough situations!
The second was seen in 708 “Hearts Still Beating” when he found his way out of the Sanctuary in disguise consisting of a cheque shirt and hat courtesy of Dwight…or not so much! I think it is fair to say that even though this was an awful time for Daryl, it showed us how resilient and brave he is.
Daryl Dixon’s Angel Wing Vest
Possibly the most iconic look and piece of apocalypse fashion on Daryl is his angel wing vest. This has become a staple of his appearance, and in a way, Daryl now doesn’t seem complete unless he has this vest on his back. We have seen him in a black leather jacket before during season 3, but his leather vest is certainly the most classic piece of his costume.
We saw the wings begin to fade in more recent times, especially the one on the right side. But, thanks to a very clever and arty Judith Grimes (Cailey Fleming), she painted it back on and presented it to the man himself during 1011 “Morning Star” – well done, Judith! I
As far as apocalypse fashion goes, Daryl certainly has had many cool looks that have spread far and wide, showing how much he has adapted and grown during his time in the apocalypse and on the show. It is always a pleasure to see what the creators do and what they add to the characters. Especially when we can see how far they have come during the apocalypse like Daryl!
Will we get some new looks from Daryl during season 11? We can find out when The Walking Dead returns on AMC on August 22, Star on Disney Plus on August 23 for UK viewers.