Recording a comedy special is a big deal. There are cameras recording your every move, a large live audience, and the potential to have it blasted to millions of viewers when it is put on a streaming service. Obviously, the jokes are the most important part, as the hour-long special revolves around comedy, but with such a large audience, the comedian better look good! Comedians will make different choices when it comes to their outfits, with some going glitzy and big and others deciding on more monochrome, lowkey fits. Today we take a look at how different comedians dressed during their stand-up specials, and how each comic brought their own flair to the stage!

1. Dave Chappelle

Dave Chappelle is a comedy icon. With 8 specials and the award-winning “Chappelle Show” under his belt, it is no surprise that the comedian would have a little self-love in his outfits. In 3 of his Netflix specials -- “Sticks and Stones”, “Equanimity and The Bird Revolution”, and “The Closer” -- Chappelle has his own logo somewhere on his body. “Sticks and Stones” is the most obvious, with Chappelle rocking a green jumpsuit with his logo on the shoulder and a patch reading “Chappelle” on his chest. In “Equanimity”, Chappelle is seen wearing a gray corduroy jacket with his same-color logo on the sleeve. And in “The Closer”, Chappelle is fitted in a full black leather suit with a classy, simple chain bearing, you guessed it, his signature “C”. Not only were the outfits clean, but he was able to put his own touch on it, literally branding the outfits for himself. I suppose, when you create one of the most popular sketch shows of all time, you should make yourself a logo and slap it everywhere. 

2. Wanda Sykes

Wanda Sykes, another comedy legend, currently has 2 specials on Netflix. In both, she decides to go for the style of classy color, rocking a beige brocade suit in 2019’s “Not Normal” and a black, white, red, and blue jacket adorned with hearts in 2023’s “I’m An Entertainer”.

3. Chris Rock

Chris Rock, despite having loud, in-your-face comedy, tends to keep his performance outfits more lowkey, letting his storytelling do the work. In his recent special, "Selective Outrage", the comedian decided to “rock” (get it?) an all-white fit with a black belt and a black chain bearing the symbol of the late artist Prince. In a similar vein, but the opposite end of the color spectrum, Rock went with an all-black outfit featuring a simple T-shirt and black pants for his 2018 special “Tambourine”. 

4. Michelle Buteau

Michelle Buteau currently only has one special on Netflix, but this doesn’t stop her from bringing the style! Not only is her comedy incredibly fun, but so is the sequined, shiny black suit and heels she wears while bouncing around the stage. Buteau’s jokes, outfit, and persona are flashy, loud, and oh-so fun.

5. Bert Kreischer

Whether you know the name Bert Kreischer from his 4 standup specials on Netflix or his recent movie The Machine, the comedian is instantly recognizable. This is due to his energetic storytelling as well as his funny habit of removing clothing at the beginning of his act. Part of Kresicher’s performance is that he always performs shirtless. It doesn’t matter if it’s at a local open mic or on a Netflix special viewed by millions of people, Kriescher’s belly is always in full, uninterrupted view. The comedian explains why he makes this stylistic choice in an interview with Vlad TV, describing how he used to “get on stage, rip [his] shirt off, and kill a beer.” He does this to remind himself to have a good time while performing. And if you watch any of his specials, you’ll notice that he certainly is. 

6. Ali Wong

Ali Wong not only has 3 wildly successful comedy specials on Netflix, but she also has some of the best outfits on this list. In all 3, she is seen wearing a tight, knee-length dress (even while pregnant), each adorned with a colorful nature print pattern. She began in 2016 with her first special, “Baby Cobra”, stunting in a black and white dress decorated with stripes and flowers. Next, she pulls out cheetah print for her 2018 special “Hard Knock Wife", and finally wraps it up with red leopard print in 2022’s “Don Wong”. In terms of style, Wong always kills it, and we can’t wait to see what animal she puts on next. 

7. Anthony Jeselnik

Anthony Jeselnik is one of the greatest joke writers of our generation, with his specials being full of surprising, and shocking, punchlines that you never see coming. He delivers these jokes in a very deadpan, chill manner, and his outfits reflect this. Along with his laidback demeanor, Jeselnik chooses to go more lowkey with his outfits. He is seen wearing blue jeans, a gray shirt, and a simple leather jacket in his 2019 special “Fire in the Maternity Ward”. Jeselnik looks casual, chill, and unassuming, all which make his fiery jokes hit that much harder.

8. John Mulaney

John Mulaney sticks to a more classic performance style of comedy, opting to wear a full suit for every one of his specials. But fear not, he certainly adds his own whimsical spin on it. Whether he’s rocking a full maroon suit in his recent “Baby J” or pulling out a full blue one for “The Comeback Kid”, Mulaney always looks classy while bringing the fun.

9. Seth Meyers

Before the COVID pandemic, Seth Meyers was like every other late-night talk show host, wearing a full suit and tie in every episode of his popular show “Late Night with Seth Meyers”. But following COVID and recording his show for 2 years inside his own home, Meyers returned to the late-night scene in more casual wear, usually seen on air wearing a sweater or dress shirt and jeans or black pants. This is why his outfit of jeans and a gray sweater in his 2019 special “Lobby Baby” works so well.

10. Christina P

Christina P came to play in her 2022 special “Mom Genes”. The comedian took the stage in a hot-pink pantsuit adorned with diamonds along the seams. Pair this with her flashy pearl necklace and sequined blouse, and the comedian has every eye in the room on her. 

11. Gabriel Iglesias

The world-famous comedian is known for his trademark Hawaiin shirts, which he always wears when performing. In fact, in his recent special “Stadium Fluffy”, the comedian is seen in his classic Kangol flat cap and a Hawaiian shirt… that has photos of himself on it! Well, they are not exact photos but images of a Funko Pop version of the comedian, complete with microphone and custom “Fluffy” baseball jersey. How sick is that?!

12. Michael Che

While we are used to seeing Michael Che in a suit and tie, seated behind the "Weekend Update" desk on "Saturday Night Live", the comedian opts for more casual outfits when performing standup. In both of his specials, “Matters” and “Shame The Devil”, the comedian is seen sporting a hoodie, jeans, and Nike Air Jordans. 

13. Sarah Silverman

Sarah Silverman performs comedy for everyone and pairs this with a more casual, everyday style. In her recent special on HBO titled “Someone You Love”, the comedian performs in jeans, a gray cardigan, and a worn T-shirt reading “love your mother”. It’s simple, sweet, and makes her dirty jokes all that more entertaining.

14. Katt Williams

Katt Williams is a true comedy legend and makes sure you know it! The comedian is seen in his 2022 special “World War Three” rocking a silver jacket with black stars and matching black pants adorned with silver stars. This outfit, paired with his massive, diamond-encrusted chain and Dior sneakers, exude confidence and swag and play so well with this legend’s comedic persona. 

15. Sebastian Maniscalco

Sebastian Maniscalco has not only been an all-star in the comedy scene for years, but he takes elements of all the fashion we’ve discussed today and works them effortlessly. Whether it’s wearing a full suit and tie in 2022’s “Is It Me?”, a pink sweater and black jeans in 2014’s “Aren’t You Embarrassed”, black jeans, a dress shirt, and striped vest in 2012’s “What’s Wrong With You People”, or an all-black fit with a clean blue leather jacket in 2019’s “Stay Hungry”, the comedian can take any outfit and make it work on stage. He already has 5 specials spanning 10 years, and we can’t wait to see what he puts on next.