El Chapo Costume
Recreate the notorious cartel leader's viral interview and arrest looks.
Dressing up as Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán has become a popular pop-culture choice for Halloween and costume parties. The look typically replicates his infamous Rolling Stone interview outfit or his high-profile arrest appearances. With a distinctive patterned shirt, a signature mustache, and a baseball cap, this costume is easy to assemble using everyday clothing.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~15 min
- Budget
- $20–60
Try it on
See yourself as El Chapo
One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.
One render, $1. No account needed — if it fails you're not charged. Pricing.
Your photo is sent to Google's Gemini API to make the render and isn't used for training. Renders are AI-generated and labelled.
Want a different costume on this photo, or a whole group in costume? Open the Try-On Studio.
What you need for a El Chapo costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete El Chapo costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
Blue and gray paisley shirt
A shiny, satin-like button-down shirt featuring a bold blue and gray paisley or vertical stripe pattern.
DIY: Use a fabric marker to draw vertical ornate patterns on a light blue button-down shirt.
Dark wash jeans
Classic straight-cut or relaxed-fit dark blue denim jeans.
DIY: Use any pair of dark blue jeans or work pants you already own.
Black baseball cap
A plain, unstructured black canvas baseball cap.
Fake black mustache
A thick, self-adhesive chevron-style black mustache.
DIY: Use black face paint or an eyebrow pencil to draw a thick, full mustache above your lip.
Toy handcuffs
A pair of silver plastic toy handcuffs to reference his high-profile arrests.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made El Chapo costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the blue and gray paisley patterned button-down shirt, leaving the top two buttons undone for a casual look.
- 2
Tuck the shirt into a pair of dark wash blue jeans secured with a simple black belt.
- 3
Apply the self-adhesive thick black mustache directly to clean, dry skin on your upper lip.
- 4
Place the black baseball cap low on your head, slightly shading your eyes.
- 5
Carry the toy handcuffs or hook them onto one of your belt loops as a thematic prop.
Makeup & hair
Keep your hair simple or completely hidden under the baseball cap. Apply a thick, dark brown or black adhesive mustache, trimming it to sit neatly above your upper lip.
El Chapo for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with someone dressed as a DEA agent or a prison guard for a classic cat-and-mouse dynamic.
- group
- Have friends dress as bodyguards in tactical gear or fellow inmates in orange jumpsuits.
- Plus size
- The loose-fitting paisley button-down and relaxed-fit jeans offer a comfortable, true-to-size fit for all body types.
Tips
- Choose a shirt with a bold, shiny satin-like finish to match the flashy style of the original interview photo.
- Keep a spare adhesive strip for the mustache, as sweat or talking can cause it to peel off during the night.
- For an alternative arrest look, swap the paisley shirt for a dirty gray tank top or a black-and-white striped prison uniform.
El Chapo costume FAQ
- What shirt did El Chapo wear in the famous interview?
- He wore a blue and gray paisley-striped button-down shirt by the brand Barabas, which became a viral sensation after the interview photos were published.
- How do I make a DIY El Chapo costume?
- Simply combine a blue paisley or patterned button-down shirt, dark jeans, a black baseball cap, and a thick fake mustache.
- What are some good props for this costume?
- Plastic toy handcuffs, a fake brick of play money, or a prop walkie-talkie work well to complete the look.
Did you know? The California-based clothing brand that made the blue paisley shirt El Chapo wore in his 2016 interview saw its website crash due to a massive surge in sales immediately after the photos were released.