What You’ll Need
Building Lieutenant Dan’s New York Look From the Ground Up
The New York City version of Lieutenant Dan is one of those costumes that looks more complicated than it actually is. Almost everything comes from thrift stores or basic military surplus, and none of it requires sewing. The whole outfit depends on a few loud, recognizable pieces working together.
The blue tropical shirt is where the costume lives or dies. You want a short-sleeve Hawaiian shirt with a busy floral or palm print in bright blues and whites. The louder the pattern, the better. It should fit loose through the shoulders and chest, and you will wear it completely unbuttoned with nothing underneath except a plain white crewneck undershirt. The undershirt should be a basic cotton tee, slightly worn and relaxed rather than crisp and new. If it looks too clean, rough up the collar and hem with sandpaper.
Green military woodland camouflage cargo pants handle the lower half. Any pair with the classic mottled green and brown pattern works, as long as they have a loose cut and utility pockets down the thighs. If you are using a wheelchair, the pant legs will bunch up around the knees when you sit. Fold the excess fabric inward and secure it with safety pins from the inside so the pants keep their shape without looking pinned from the outside.
The red paisley bandana and the wig are really one piece, because the wig affects how the bandana sits. Start with a shoulder-length brown wig with volume and loose waves. Pin it down with bobby pins over a wig cap so it does not shift during the day. Then tie the bandana around your forehead with the knot at the back of your head, letting the paisley pattern show fully across the front. The bandana should sit low enough to frame the wig rather than sit on top of it.
A pair of military dog tags on a silver ball chain adds the right military detail without much effort. Standard-issue tags with a long chain are fine. Black fingerless gloves finish the hands, and they should be snug through the palm so they do not slide around when you are gripping the wheelchair handrims or holding the cigar.
The fake cigar is worth getting right. A realistic puff cigar made of resin or molded plastic looks much better than a cheap brown tube, and you will be holding it in most photos. If you are using a wheelchair, go with a standard manual model with chrome handrims. Older chairs with thinner frames and simpler armrests match the period better than modern padded transport chairs.
Weathering the clothing is optional but helps sell the lived-in feel. A quick soak in diluted black tea will dull down brand-new fabric and take the harshness out of the camo pants and undershirt. Skip this on the Hawaiian shirt if you want to keep the colors bright, since the shirt is supposed to be the loud piece.
Facial hair is a separate consideration from the rest of the costume. Lieutenant Dan has a solid five o’clock shadow in these scenes, and if you cannot grow one naturally, stipple on dark brown face paint with a sponge. Apply it in layers, let it dry, and seal it with setting spray so it survives a full convention day. Keep the application uneven and patchy rather than smooth, since a perfect beard line will look more like makeup than stubble.
If the wheelchair is part of your plan, practice turning, stopping, and navigating doorways before the event. The chrome handrims will give you blisters if you are not used to them, and you will be using your arms constantly. Keep a small bag in one of the cargo pockets for your phone and wallet so you are not juggling items while moving through a crowd.
