The Definitive Ranking Of Elliott's Iconic Outfits On "Search Party"

    Through five seasons of chaos, one thing in Search Party remained consistent: Elliott's impeccable sense of style.

    Blake Harper
    by Blake Harper

    BuzzFeed Staff

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    After five seasons, Search Party has officially come to an end. The hilarious satire of millennials' desperate and self-important attempts to find meaning in the world experienced a lot of change over 50 episodes, transforming from a murder mystery to a courtroom drama and finally into a journey toward spiritual enlightenment.

    But no matter how chaotic or absurd Search Party became, we could always rely on one constant: the outrageous and magnificent fashion of Elliott (John Early). And to honor the series coming to an end, I have ranked (almost) every episode of Search Party purely based on Elliott's best outfit in the episode.

    Note: Four episodes were not featured in the rankings. One was left out because Elliott does not appear in the episode, and the other three were excluded because he is wearing the same outfit as in the episode before it. Enjoy!

    46. "The Mystery of the Golden Charm" (Season 1, Episode 5)

    John Early and Jefferey Self at the airport
    HBO Max

    There are no bad Elliott outfits in this show, but something had to come in last. And while the zip-up hoodie is something I'd love to own, it's just not that memorable.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    45. "The Gospel of Judas" (Season 5, Episode 6)

    John Early talking to Alia Shawkat.
    HBO Max

    Elliott's outfits get more and more extreme over the course of the show, but this one is suprisingly simple. The hat is great, but overall the ensemble just doesn't compare to his finest work.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    44. "Obsession" (Season 2, Episode 6)

    John Early in a robe with rashes on his body.
    HBO Max

    Even when Elliott is having a full-blown psychotic break, he still manages to pull off an unforgettable look. That's the sign of a true style icon.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    43. "The Return of the Forgotten Phantom" (Season 1, Episode 8)

    John Early talking on his phone.
    HBO Max

    Elliott's lowest point as a character also features one of his low points as a fashion artist. But still, the chain-linked fence shirt is a lot of fun.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    42. "The Girl in the Basement" (Season 4, Episode 1)

    Meredith Hagner and John Early talking.
    HBO Max

    Winter is often a time when everyone's sense of style goes right out the window in favor of comfort. But not Elliott, who continues to bring the heat even when Brooklyn is at its coldest.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    41. "In God We Trust" (Season 3, Episode 6)

    John Early talking to the camera.
    HBO Max

    Surprisingly, Elliott's outfit on his television debut on Open Fire (a parody of the "debate" shows you can find on Fox News) is a bit on the subtle side. The shirt is fantastic, but you'd expect a bit more.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    40. "The Woman Who Knew Too Much" (Season 1, Episode 2)

    Meredith Hagner, John Early, and John Reynolds at brunch.
    HBO Max

    Elliott establishes himself as an innovator early on with this bold plaid-on-plaid outfit. It's a sign of what's to come, as his looks get more and more outrageous and wonderful.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    39. "Irrefutable Evidence" (Season 3, Episode 9)

    John Early talking.
    HBO Max

    When Elliott returns home to see his estranged family, he wears an outfit that is subdued by his standards. But who wouldn't want that jacket?

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    38. "The Rookie Lawyer" (Season 3, Episode 2)

    John Early and Meredith Hagner at a door.
    HBO Max

    Once again, it's a bold and inspiring look that only falls this low because of how phenomenal Elliott is at his best.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    37. "The Inferno" (Season 3, Episode 9)

    John Early and Meredith Hagner sitting.
    HBO Max

    It's a great sweater, but this may be one of the rare instances of Elliott being upstaged by someone else. The power of Portia's coat is hard to deny here. 

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    36. "The House of Uncanny Truths" (Season 1, Episode 10)

    John Early holding his phone.
    HBO Max

    If there was any doubt Elliott could pull off athleisure, that question is answered definitively here. I mean, just look at that monochromatic fit.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    35. "Suspicion" (Season 2, Episode 4)

    John Early sitting at a desk.
    HBO Max

    A good outfit that is unquestionably elevated by the ripped sleeves. It's the little details that make Elliott a pioneer of fashion.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    34. "The Whistleblower" (Season 3, Episode 3)

    John Early sitting and talking.
    HBO Max

    This is technically the same outfit he wears in "The Rookie Lawyer," but it has its own unhinged energy thanks to the sloppy dye job that I think improves it.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    33. "The Secret of the Sinister Ceremony" (Season 1, Episode 6)

    John Early, Meredith Hagner, and Alia Shawkat standing.
    HBO Max

    As the gang heads to a cult dinner, Elliott obviously wears an outfit that ensures he stands out. The matching floral look is impeccable, with the chain adding a nice bit of flavor.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    32. "The Mysterious Disappearance of the Girl No One Knew" (Season 1, Episode 1)

    John Early and Meredith Hagner having brunch.
    HBO Max

    Elliott's debut outfit stands out because it's a style he doesn't really return to over the course of the show. But he nails it with a Hawaiian shirt that countless Brooklyn thrifters would kill to find.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    31. "The Accused Woman" (Season 3, Episode 1)

    John Early and Meredith Hagner talking.
    HBO Max

    So much is happening here, and it's all fantastic. No notes.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    30. "Password to the Shadows" (Season 1, Episode 9)

    John Early sitting on a couch.
    HBO Max

    One of Elliott's less outrageous looks is actually a testament to how versatile his style really is. Even with a simple all-white look, he can still blow everyone else away.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    29. "Kings" (Season 5, Episode 3)

    John Early and Meredith Hagner talking.
    HBO Max

    Elliott teaches us all that we should never be afraid to take risks. Pairing the striped jacket and the zebra print hat is a gambit that pays off splendidly.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    28. "Conspiracy" (Season 2, Episode 2)

    Meredith Hagner and John Early talking to Alia Shawkat.
    HBO Max

    While there are certainly staples in Elliott's wardrobe, occasionally he'll really shake things up and deliver something like this khaki western look. It works!

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    27. "Something Sharp" (Season 4, Episode 2)

    John Early talking.
    HBO Max

    This kind of feels like a modern twist on a Holden Caulfield look, and whether or not that's intentional is beside the point. What matters here is that this is a beautiful coat.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    26. "Paralysis" (Season 2, Episode 3)

    John Early pointing.
    HBO Max

    This is the kind of shirt you wish you had the courage to buy, but for Elliott, it's just a mid-tier look. 

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    25. "The Night of One Hundred Candles" (Season 1, Episode 3)

    Meredith Hagner and John Early talking.
    HBO Max

    Elliott knows how to up his style game for big events, and here, he delivers an amazing all-black look for Chantal's candlelight vigil.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    24. "Doctor Mindbender" (Season 4, Episode 5)

    Meredith Hagner, John Reynolds, and John Early talking.
    HBO Max

    Elliott excels at finding clothing items that immediately draw you in, and this sweater is a perfect example of that. You almost forget anyone else is in the scene, and you certainly don't remember what they were wearing. (With all due respect to this excellent ensemble!)

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    23. "Genesis" (Season 5, Episode 1)

    Jeffery Self and John Early sitting and talking.
    HBO Max

    This look could almost be considered "minimal," but the more you look at it, the more it draws you in. The striped pants and the white hat perfectly complement his flowy floral shirt.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    22. "The Riddle Within the Trash" (Season 1, Episode 7)

    John Early speaking into a microphone.
    HBO Max

    Elliott's unique sense of style blossomed more in the later seasons of the show, but this was one of his most striking early season outfits. That shirt-jacket combo is absolutely inspired.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    21. "A National Affair" (Season 3, Episode 4)

    John Early talking to Meredith Hagner.
    HBO Max

    The jacket is one of the only items of clothing Elliott brings back over the course of the show, but it's put to much better use here as it matches seamlessly with his shirt.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    20. "Book of the Wars of the Lord" (Season 5, Episode 9)

    John Early holding a drink.
    HBO Max

    Just look at the colors at work here. It's a mix that should not work yet somehow does. And that's the risk-taking that separates truly great fashion from run-of-the-mill style.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    19. "Public Appeal" (Season 3, Episode 5)

    John Early and Jeffery Self holding champagne.
    HBO Max

    We've now reached the best of the best. The bedazzled sweater is in the Elliott Style Hall of Fame, and that's all there is to it.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    18. "Acts of the Apostles" (Season 5, Episode 5)

    John Early sitting.
    HBO Max

    Why do I not own a pair of zebra print pants to go with a matching zebra print hat? These are the questions I never knew I had until Elliott showed me the light.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    17. "Hysteria" (Season 2, Episode 8)

    John Early sitting at a desk.
    HBO Max

    Elliott has a reliable rotation of hats throughout the series, but this one is right up there with the best of them. And combine it with that magnificent shirt, and you have an instant classic.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    16. "Exodus" (Season 5, Episode 2)

    Meredith Hagner and John Early talking on the phone.
    HBO Max

    That shirt. Just look at it. The colors, the design, and the bottom two buttons being completely unbuttoned. It's glorious.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    15. "Rogue Witness" (Season 3, Episode 7)

    John Early looking defeated.
    HBO Max

    Obviously, Elliott was not going to disappoint fashion-wise when he finally took the stand for Dory and Drew's case. The jacket is simultaneously a classic and completely its own. I hope if I'm ever called up as a witness for my friend's murder trial, I can look half as good.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    14. "Psychosis" (Season 2, Episode 10)

    John Early and Meredith Hagner sitting at a table.
    HBO Max

    At his best, Elliott wears at least one item that toes the line between a disaster and a triumph. And that hat is doing a tight rope walk right on that line, definitively landing on the latter side to help deliver an all-time Elliott fashion performance.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    13. "Escape to Nowhere" (Season 3, Episode 3)

    John Early talking to the camera.
    HBO Max

    This is the type of outfit you expect from Elliott when he ends up on TV. It's absurd in all of the right ways, and the longer you look at it, the less sure you become of where the shirt ends and where the jacket begins. It's almost hypnotic.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    12. "Leviticus" (Season 5, Episode 4)

    Meredith Hagner, Jeff Goldblum, Alia Shawkat, and John Early talking.
    HBO Max

    Before he even knew he was going into a candy store, Elliott dressed like a character from Willy Wonka. It's like he has a sixth sense for picking the perfect outfit for every occasion.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    11. "The Infinite Loop" (Season 4, Episode 8)

    John Early talking to Meredith Hagner and John Reynolds)
    HBO Max

    Who else on the planet would look at that sweater and those pants and think they go together? Nobody, and that is what makes Elliott a genius.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    10. "The Reckoning" (Season 3, Episode 10)

    John Early holding a glass of wine.
    HBO Max

    Why don't more turtleneck sweaters have wings? I'm not sure. But it feels like only a matter of time before winged-sweaters are the latest fashion craze, as Elliott can't help but be a trendsetter.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    9. "Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity-Jig" (Season 4, Episode 4)

    Christopher McDonald, John Early, and Jennifer Lafleur talking.
    HBO Max

    The shirt is great on its own, but major bonus points here for "the Elliot Guns," which I am obviously including as part of the outfit.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    8. "Paranoia" (Season 2, Episode 5)

    Alia Shawkat, Meredith Hagner, and John Early talking.
    HBO Max

    An ascot on its own is a bold choice but an ascot of this length? It's downright courageous. Add in the matching gloves, and you have an automatic entry into Elliott's top 10.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    7. "Song of Songs" (Season 5, Episode 8)

    Meredith Hagner and John Early talking.
    HBO Max

    Leave it to Elliott to choose the perfect outfit to experience true enlightenment. Though this look would suggest he may have already achieved the inner wisdom everyone else is searching for.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    6. "The Thoughtless Woman" (Season 4, Episode 6)

    John Early, Meredith Hagner, and John Reynolds talking.
    HBO Max

    What's better than one amazing coat? Two amazing coats! Elliott shows a fundamental understanding of the "more is more" fashion philosophy here, and he even manages to match with the hardhats they're given. That's pure instinct.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    5. "Revelation" (Season 5, Episode 10)

    Meredith Hagner and John Early walking.
    HBO Max

    Elliott's final outfit on the show was no less fantastic than what we'd all come to expect from our favorite lying narcissist. It's weird. It's gorgeous. It's GORP-y. And it's genuinely one-of-a-kind.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    4. "Denial" (Season 2, Episode 7)

    John Early sitting in a chair next to Louis Carbonneau.
    HBO Max

    While recovering from his stress and paranoia-induced breakdown, Elliott dons his first truly unforgettable outfit in the series. The all-pink velour tracksuit is, simply put, a work of art.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    3. "The Shadows" (Season 4, Episode 10)

    John Early speaking into a microphone.
    HBO Max

    Technically, Elliott never wore this outfit, as this entire episode seemed to be imagined in Dory's head. But it's a tribute to Elliott that even in his friend's imagination, he still delivers daring looks. Leopard print at a funeral? Sounds tacky but not the way Elliott does it.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    2. "A Dangerous Union" (Season 3, Episode 8)

    John Early talking into a microphone.
    HBO Max

    Elliott treats every day as an excuse to dress like he's going to the Met Gala, so there was a lot of pressure to see if he could top himself at his wedding. And, of course, he overdelivered with this masterpiece that is equal parts ridiculous and undeniably masterful.

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    1. "Frenzy" (Season 2, Episode 9)

    John Early looking confused.
    HBO Max

    This is not just Elliott's best look. It's one of the most iconic outfits in the history of television. From head to toe, it's absolutely perfect, and it is the moment that solidified Elliott as a fashion legend. It's a big YES from me. 

    Watch this episode on HBO Max.

    You can watch all five seasons of Search Party on HBO Max. Stream this and countless other TV shows and movies for just $9.99 a month with an ad-supported plan or go ad-free for $14.99 a month.