What You’ll Need
Western Embroidered Shirt
Blue Denim Cowboy Cut Wrangler Jeans
Brown Faux Leather A-Line Skirt
Sheepskin Leather Bomber Coat
Bolo Tie
Turquoise Silver Rings
Brown Leopard Oversized Glasses Frames
Brown Oval Buckle Belt
Brown Cowboy Boots
Jean and Gene Thibedeau bring an unmistakable blend of folksy Midwestern academic style and retro Western wear to The Umbrella Academy. As leaders of The Keepers, their outfits look like they were pulled straight from an off-grid thrift store in 1990s Ohio, pairing heavy shearling, yoke embroidery, and rugged denim with oversized vintage eyewear.
What makes them fun for a duo or solo cosplay is that their wardrobes mirror each other without being identical matching sets. They share a color palette rooted in warm tans, worn leather, faded denim, and silver-and-turquoise accents, letting you assemble two distinct looks that clearly belong side by side.
Western Shirts and Heavy Outerwear
Gene’s upper half centers on a structured Western button-down featuring contrast piping or embroidery across the front yoke. You want a firm cotton or poly-blend weave that holds crisp pocket flaps rather than a floppy modern flannel. Tucking the shirt tightly into your waistband keeps the torso looking clean and emphasizes the vintage belt buckle.
Both characters lean heavily into cold-weather outerwear, with shearling-lined bomber jackets serving as their most recognizable layer. Look for a coat with substantial fleece lining at the collar and cuffs, ideally in distressed brown sheepskin or textured faux leather. Because you will be wearing this over a button-down shirt, check that the shoulder seams have enough room for easy movement on a convention floor.
Denim Jeans and A-Line Skirt
For Gene, rigid cowboy-cut Wrangler jeans in medium-to-dark blue provide the exact silhouette seen on screen. These should sit at your natural waist with a straight, slightly flared leg that stacks neatly over the shafts of your boots. Avoid modern skinny cuts or heavy pre-distressed whiskering; standard workwear denim looks much more grounded in their timeline-obsessed aesthetic.
Jean swaps out trousers for a brown faux leather A-line skirt that hits around the mid-calf. A button-front or paneled cut gives the garment enough structure to balance out heavy knit sweaters or oversized jackets. Make sure the waistband accommodates a wide belt, as her waistline is usually defined by leather and metal hardware.
Footwear and Leatherwork
Footwear for both characters is grounded in practical Western boots with moderate walking heels and rounded or medium-almond toes. Dark tan or reddish-brown leather works best, especially with slight scuffing or natural wear. Since boot shafts will hide beneath Gene’s jeans or sit right below Jean’s skirt hem, focus primarily on ankle fit and walking comfort.
Tie the leather tones together with a sturdy belt fitted with an embossed or polished oval buckle. Keep the metalwork antiqued brass or weathered silver rather than bright chrome, reflecting their practical, vintage-hunting lifestyle.
Bolo Ties, Glasses, and Turquoise
Gene rarely goes without a bolo tie cinched snugly against his buttoned collar. A braided black leather cord tipped with silver aglets and centered around an engraved stone or slide gives the collar instant character. Position the slide just beneath the collar band so the embroidered shirt yoke remains fully visible.
Jean’s single most critical accessory is her pair of oversized leopard-print glasses. The frames should have thick rims and exaggerated proportions that dominate the upper half of the face. If you do not require prescription lenses, clear fashion frames with anti-reflective coating prevent glare under convention hall lighting.
Layer several chunky turquoise and sterling silver rings across both hands to complete the Southwestern academic detail. Stacking mismatched stones on multiple fingers reflects the cluttered, artifact-collecting nature of their research headquarters.
