The main characters on Supernatural largely wore the same style of clothing over its fifteen-year run. Sam and Dean Winchester weren’t too big on fashion and didn’t mind their usual outfits unless they had to go undercover as part of their activities of supernatural hunting.
Still, Jared Padalecki’s Sam had quite a few instances where he put on different appearances and fans have very much appreciated these looks. It’s worth looking back at Sam’s different stylistic choices and why they suited him so well, since a lot of them aren’t the kind of outfits that fans generally associate him with.
Cowboy Look
It’s worked out well that Jared Padalecki now stars as the lead character in Walker, which has a distinct cowboy feel to it. On Supernatural, Sam donned the look when he went back in time with Dean to the old west, although he did the bare minimum.
Sam’s look had to do with a jacket and a cowboy hat, while Dean went a bit too all-out. Sam was smarter since he blended in and didn’t look like he was trying too hard. This appearance is good for him to come across as a man set for action who gives off a sense of authority.
Ascot With Suit
While Sam isn't typically criticized all that much because of how popular he is with the fans, quite a few were shocked to see him wear an ascot with a suit because it was so out of character. Then again, this was an alternate Sam who was spoiled by his father and had a snooty personality.
With that in mind, this Sam actually looks pretty good, since it instantly communicates what his characterization is supposed to be. Tying it all together is his man-bun, which makes for a classy combination with the purple suit and ascot.
Three-Layered Jacket Ensemble
As part of the darker personality that Sam began to cultivate when he was under the influence of demon blood, the show started to fit him in darker clothes. This three-layered ensemble has Sam wear a greenish-tinge grey jacket and t-shirts.
It makes Sam look tougher and conveys a serious personality, which contrasts with the otherwise lighter shade he wears that goes with his usually sensitive attitude. The jacket accentuates his shoulders to complete the look and is bolstered by his naturally tall frame.
Turtle Neck Sweater And Glasses
The reliance on pretty much the same style is one of the things that has aged poorly about Sam in Supernatural, while this outfit has been quite the reverse. At the time, it was laughable to see the alternate version of Sam in a turtle neck sweater with glasses, but it now seems quite becoming.
Sam gives off a sophisticated vibe here, and the intention to make him seem like a Steve Jobs rip-off works just as well. It’s nice to see Sam in a much cleaner and no-frills wardrobe, which is how perhaps he would have been had he gone on to graduate from Stanford.
Classic Plaid Shirt
The Sammy that Supernatural fans love is the one who wears plaid and doesn’t stress about his appearance. While it’s nothing fancy or outwardly memorable, it’s what shows his real identity of being an uncomplicated guy who doesn’t want attention on himself.
Interestingly, fans of the series have shown greater interest in plaid shirts because Sam wore them so much, so he can be credited with making the outfit popular to an extent. This was Sam’s default look that he usually wore at the beginning of most episodes.
Red Sweater
On this occasion, Sam and Dean posed as counselors for Child Protective Services and decided to put on a sensitive appearance. Dean got stuck with the cardigan, but Sam looked very nice in the red sweater that he wore over a shirt to look more businesslike.
It helps that the shade of the sweater is perfect and isn’t too bright or dark, while the long sleeves enable it to make Sam look serious. The outfit would have been great if Sam had a normal lifestyle, but was too out there for someone who fought monsters for a living.
Trench Coat Suit
It wasn’t a big deal to see Sam and Dean in suits since they wore them almost every episode to pose as the FBI. Adding in a trench coat made things different, though, and the brothers wore heavier layering because they were working a case in a colder area here.
Sam wore a trench coat over a suit, which had the effect of making him seem like a senior-level officer. It was also nice to see someone else in the main cast try out a different kind of formal look after Castiel was the one who usually wore a trench coat.
The Priest Look
It’s not difficult to put on the appearance of a priest, as adding in the collar is basically the key. Still, Sam looked like a whole other person in priest garb, as the buttoned-up shirt instantly enables him to seem like a straight shooter true to his faith.
On this occasion, Sam’s clothing was more mature, as he’d feigned as a priest in the first season as well which wasn’t all too convincing. The all-black ensemble without any extravagant design coupled with the more aged features of Sam did the trick in making him look like a genuine priest.
All-White Suit
There’s little argument that Lucifer is among the best Supernatural villains, and he’s technically the one wearing the white suit here rather than Sam. Still, it is Sam who’s acting as Lucifer’s vessel and he pulls off the god’s fallen angel vibe here magnificently.
The point of the all-white ensemble was to drive home the idea that Lucifer was the most beautiful of God’s angels, with Lucifer himself considering himself to be the most magnificent. This suit brings all the focus on Sam and that’s exactly what Lucifer wanted, as he gave off a glow that highlighted his angelic features.
Black Denim Jacket With White T-Shirt
For once, Sam and Dean got with the times and looked hip to modern audiences, with the pair donning black jackets to blend in with Los Angeles. The brothers were infiltrating a club to capture Lucifer, who was using a rockstar as his latest vessel.
Dean went all-in with black, but Sam arguably beat him in style by choosing to contrast with his wardrobe choice. Sam wore a black denim jacket that stood out because of the white t-shirt underneath, making for a perfect clash in colors that spoke to the quality of the outfit.