How to Make a Mugatu Costume

Appearing in the 2001 film Zoolander, Jacobim Mugatu is an evil fashionista who brainwashes the titular Derek Zoolander – a washed-up male model – into killing the President of Malaysia. Comedy actor Will Ferrell plays Mugatu, who is never seen without his pet Chihuahua by his side. Mugatu’s signature look is a grey sweater with his own name embroidered across the front, trussed up with a black corset. The relatively neutral colors of his attire are set off by a shock of peroxide blonde hair, coupled with a curly peroxide blonde beard. The instantly recognizable nature of the character and the cult status of the film make this a surefire costume party winner.

Measure the distance across the chest of the grey sweater to determine how much space the letters must take up. Divide this by six to determine the amount of space taken up by each letter. Draw a box on scrap paper which is the size of the maximum area the letter can be and draw the rough shape of the letter inside it. Repeat this for the remaining five letters of Mugatu.

Refine the shape of the letters in the boxes and cut out to make a template. Trace around the edge of the letters onto the black fabric in chalk and then cut each letter out of the fabric. Position each letter on the chest of the grey sweater to read “Mugatu” and then sew into place.

Measure the distance from the top of your breastbone to your chin; make a note of this measurement, marking it “width”. Then measure the circumference of your neck, double this measurement and note this down under the heading “length.” Double the circumference and use these measurements to cut out a strip of the black fabric. Fold the edge of the fabric over by 1/4 inch and sew a hem the whole way along the two longest sides. Then, sew the two shortest sides together in a seam to make a snood that sits around the neck on top of the grey sweater.

Measure the distance from your waist to your rib cage, then measure the circumference of this area. Use these two measurements to draw a rectangle on the sheet of black fabric. This will be used to make the corset part of Mugatu's costume. Cut the shape out and sew a hem down both of the longest sides. Put the grey sweater on and ask a friend to pull the black fabric rectangle tight around your waist. Ensure this is still comfortable to wear and ask your friend to sew a seam connecting the two shortest sides and completing the corset.

Put the black trousers and shoes on. Apply the false blonde beard and cropped blonde wig. The costume is now complete.