ABOUT THELONIOUS:
Transform into Lord Farquaad’s iconic henchman with this simple, step-by-step guide to building your own Thelonious cosplay.
STEP 1: THE FOUNDATION:
Thelonious wears a light gray one-piece under a darker gray leotard. To replicate this seamless look, we opted for a matching set of gray workout compression pants and a long-sleeved athletic shirt.
STEP 2: THE OVERSHIRT & BELT:
Layer a dark gray workout leotard over your foundation. Keep in mind that athletic leotards are inherently snug. While this perfectly matches Thelonious’s skintight silhouette, you may want to size up if you prefer a bit more breathing room! Cinch the waist with a black or dark gray belt. Aim for a rectangular gold buckle, though any simple belt will do the trick if you don’t have an exact match.
STEP 3: MEDIEVAL TOUCHES
To accessorize, you’ll need a pair of black leather, executioner-style gauntlet gloves. These are staple cosplay accessories, so you’ll easily find plenty of high-quality options online. For footwear, we chose authentic medieval-wrap boots. They look fantastic and screen-accurate, but be warned: the soles offer almost zero foot protection or support, so plan accordingly if you’ll be walking around a convention all day.
STEP 4: PROPS
Find yourself an ornate handheld mirror (preferably not a family heirloom) that you can safely pretend to smash at the most opportune moments. For an extra crowd-pleasing detail, grab some cardstock and string to craft your own DIY “Pick Number 3, My Lord!” sign to wear around your neck.
No Thelonious costume is complete without his signature executioner hood, and crafting one is easier than it looks with these straightforward DIY steps.
STEP 1: MEASUREMENTS
Start with a generous length of black fabric. This step is much easier with a friend to help, but it can certainly be done solo. Drape the fabric over your head and use a white fabric pen (or a lightly pressed pencil) to trace the general outline of the hood. You’ll want to trace an even curve that goes from the edge of one shoulder, dips down to roughly the center of your chest, and comes back up to the opposite shoulder.
STEP 2: CUTTING
Remove the fabric and connect your traced lines to create a slightly smaller curve at the top, evening out the shape as needed. You should be left with a large oval that fits easily over your head while draping comfortably across your chest and back. Carefully cut out this egg-shaped design using fabric scissors or a sharp craft knife.
STEP 3: THE EYES
To replicate his glowing yellow eyes, grab a pair of cheap, yellow-tinted sunglasses. Place the hood back on your head and lightly mark the exact placement for your eyes. Cut out two narrow, oval-shaped eye holes, making sure they are slightly pointed toward the bridge of your nose and rounded on the outer edges. From here, you have two options: pop the lenses out of the sunglasses and glue them directly to the inside of the fabric, or simply wear the glasses underneath the hood.
STEP 4: ADDING STRUCTURE
To achieve that structured, cylindrical head shape Thelonious is known for, cut a thin strip of cardstock or cardboard and glue the ends together to form a ring. Make sure the ring is wide enough to slip comfortably over your head and sit around your neck. Glue this ring to the inside of the hood so it rests just above your shoulders. This trick gives the head area its distinct shape while allowing the rest of the fabric to drape naturally over your chest and back.
A Thelonious costume is just the beginning: he’s not the only unique Shrek cosplay idea we’ve featured! If you’re on the hunt for a truly one-of-a-kind Shrek couples costume, check out our gender-defying Female Lord Farquaad costume guide. Looking for another unexpected yet adorable pairing? You’ll love our Donkey and Dragon costume breakdown.
Need a quick and easy Shrek group costume? Our Three Blind Mice outfit guide is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. For an even more out-of-the-box idea, see what it takes to pull off a handsome human Shrek costume.
Still searching for the perfect fit? Browse our roundup of the best homemade Shrek costumes and DIY Shrek costume ideas from Pinterest, and bask in all that nostalgic, swamp-filled goodness!
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