Li Shang Costume
Bring honor to your next event as the legendary Chinese army captain.
Captain Li Shang is the brave and disciplined military leader from Disney's 1998 animated classic Mulan. This costume is a popular choice for Disney fans who want a strong, heroic look, featuring his signature warrior armor and sweeping red cape. The outfit perfectly balances traditional Chinese-inspired military gear with a recognizable animated aesthetic.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $45–120
Try it on
See yourself as Li Shang
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 Li Shang costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Li Shang costume — one box instead of 7 pieces.
Gray tunic
A long-sleeved gray or light blue-gray tunic that reaches mid-thigh.
DIY: Use an oversized gray long-sleeve t-shirt cut straight down the sides.
Black armor vest
A sleeveless black vest with a high collar, representing his chest armor.
DIY: Cut the sleeves off a black high-collar jacket and paint gold trim along the edges.
Red cape
A vibrant red cape that drapes over the shoulders, secured with a medallion or clasp.
DIY: Drape a length of red fabric over your shoulders and pin it with a gold brooch.
Brown waist sash and belt
A wide brown fabric sash worn around the waist, topped with a thinner brown belt.
DIY: Wrap a strip of brown fabric or a wide brown scarf around your waist.
Black trousers
Simple, loose-fitting black pants or leggings that tuck easily into boots.
DIY: Use any plain black sweatpants or dark gray trousers you already own.
Black shin guards or boots
Knee-high black boots or black fabric shin guards wrapped over black shoes.
DIY: Wrap black fabric strips or black vinyl around your calves over black sneakers.
Toy Chinese sword
A plastic or foam Chinese jian (straight sword) with a gold hilt.
DIY: Cut a sword shape out of sturdy cardboard and paint the blade silver and hilt gold.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Li Shang costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the gray long-sleeved tunic as your base layer.
- 2
Pull on the black trousers and tuck them securely into your socks to keep them slim-fitting at the bottom.
- 3
Layer the black sleeveless armor vest over the gray tunic.
- 4
Wrap the wide brown sash around your waist, securing it tightly, then fasten the brown belt directly over it.
- 5
Attach the red cape to the shoulders of the vest, ensuring it drapes evenly down your back.
- 6
Put on your knee-high black boots, or wrap black fabric around your calves to simulate traditional shin guards.
- 7
Tuck the toy sword into your waist belt or hold it ready for action.
Makeup & hair
Style your hair into a neat, high topknot or bun at the crown of your head, securing it with a black hair tie. Keep makeup minimal and natural, focusing on clean, defined eyebrows.
Li Shang for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with Mulan in her green matchmaker dress or her green soldier armor.
- group
- Join forces with Mulan, Mushu, and fellow soldiers Yao, Ling, and Chien-Po.
- kids
- A simplified version with a printed armor t-shirt, red cape, and soft foam sword.
- Plus size
- Use a loose-fitting gray tunic and an open-front black vest with an adjustable tie sash.
- pet
- A small red cape and a black fabric collar designed to look like armor plates.
Tips
- Secure the cape with safety pins to the shoulders of your vest so it doesn't pull back on your throat.
- Choose flexible, breathable pants if you plan on striking martial arts poses for photos.
- If your hair is too short for a topknot, use a small clip-on hairpiece or a black wig styled in a bun.
Li Shang costume FAQ
- What kind of sword does Li Shang carry?
- He carries a traditional Chinese straight sword known as a Jian, which features a straight, double-edged blade.
- How do I make the armor look more realistic?
- You can use craft foam painted with black and metallic gold acrylic paint to create structured shoulder plates and collar details.
- Is this costume comfortable for walking around?
- Yes, because it uses loose-fitting tunics and pants, it is highly mobile and comfortable for long events.
Did you know? In the original 1998 film, Li Shang's singing voice was provided by legendary entertainer Donny Osmond, who sang the iconic training anthem 'I'll Make a Man Out of You.'