Bodyguards, Entourage, Security

Costume Advice

SHADOW AND SHIELD ROLES

(Security Guards, Bodyguards, Spies, Agents, Assassins, Prison Guards, Game Wardens, and Private Enforcers)

This category includes anyone who’s paid to watch, protect, track, intimidate—or eliminate. Whether they wear a badge, carry a briefcase bomb, or just silently lurk in the shadows, the Shadow & Shield crew knows how to hold their ground, read a room, and keep secrets until they explode.

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EXAMPLE LOOKS OF SHADOW AND SHIELD COSTUMES.

TYPES OF MURDER MYSTERY PARTY CHARACTERS

Who Falls into the Shadow & Shield Crowd?

Elite Bodyguard – Always scanning the room. Wears sunglasses at night. Knows seven ways to disarm someone with a pen.
VIP Security Detail – Earbuds in, arms crossed, no sense of humor.
Secret Agent / Spy – Charming. Well-dressed. Carries gadgets and lies effortlessly.
Assassin-for-Hire – Smooth, quiet, and always “just passing through.” Their luggage is suspiciously heavy.
Prison Guard – Gruff, no-nonsense, maybe a little too desensitized.
Game Warden / Ranger – Outdoorsy, suspicious of everyone, probably armed. Good with tracks and traps.
Private Military Contractor – Tactical vest, grim expression, not great at parties.
Celebrity Handler / Entourage Muscle – Flashy clothes, power poses, lots of “You can’t talk to them right now.”
Black Ops Operative – No name, no past, no mercy. Only seen when they want to be seen.
VIP Club Bouncer - clipboard and get ready to tell people they aren't on the list.

Classic Aesthetic

THE COSTUME: Closet Staples You Might Already Have

Classic Agent / Spy / Bodyguard Look:

Black suit or blazer with dark sunglasses (indoors, always).
Crisp white shirt or turtleneck. Maybe a tie—maybe not. Depends on how cold-blooded your character is.
Black dress shoes or boots.
Optional: sleek leather gloves, discreet earpiece, or lapel pin with a hidden meaning.

Tactical / Security Look:

Cargo pants or tactical trousers.
Fitted black or olive green shirt.
Combat boots or black work shoes.
Utility belt, fake radio, and maybe some Velcro patches that say SECURITY, AGENT, or UNIDENTIFIED.

Outdoor Tracker / Game Warden / Guard:

Green, khaki, or camo clothing.
Patches, fake ID badge, ranger hat, or wide-brimmed cap.
Hiking boots or beat-up sneakers.
Binoculars or a notepad with "track sightings” written on it.
Bonus: animal claw necklace or something, just cryptic enough to raise questions.

HAIR & MAKEUP:

For the polished spy or secret agent, everything should be slick: hair gelled or neatly combed, makeup minimal and precise.
The assassin's look is often clean, cold, and surgical.
If you're playing a rougher character—like a guard, tracker, or enforcer—mess up your look a bit. Smudge some brown or gray eyeshadow under your eyes for stress. Grease up your hands. Add a fake scar or a nose that “broke back in '07.”

ACCESSORIES:

Toy handcuffs, fake sidearm (clearly fake), flashlight.
Fake earpiece—can be made from a Bluetooth earbud and some wire.
Notepad labeled “Observation Log” with weird doodles and notes like “Subject 7 – acting twitchy.”
ID badge on a lanyard: “Department of External Containment – Level 4 Access.”
Black leather gloves or fingerless tactical gloves.
Locked briefcase. DO NOT open it. Ever.
A “Do Not Approach” card you flash at nosy guests

CHARACTER & ROLEPLAYING TIPS

Voice & Speech

Be clipped. Direct. Speak like you're always calculating outcomes. Spies may be suave and diplomatic, but guards, wardens, and contractors keep it business-only.
Assassins may not speak at all—just stare. Or smile. Slowly.
- Phrases to drop:
  - “That’s classified.”
  - “I’d tell you, but then I’d have to disappear again.”
  - “This perimeter is compromised.”
  - “Copy that. Moving to Plan B.”
  - “I don’t need backup. I am the backup.”

Behavioral Quirks

Frequently scan the room. Touch your earpiece. Whisper into your wrist.
Stand with your back to the wall. Refuse to sit with your back to the door.
Whisper codewords to yourself like “Target acquired” or “Zone Red confirmed.”
Constantly take notes or mark suspicious guests.
Check your fake watch and mutter, “They’re late.”

Bonus Touches

Speak in code: “The raven's out of the nest. Repeat. The canvas has been removed.”
Pretend your sunglasses are facial recognition-enabled.
Let people catch you eavesdropping—but never admit it.
Carry a dossier labeled “Confidential” with party guest photos and ominous notes.
Bring a decoy phone that “self-destructs” when dropped (fake smoke or dramatic acting encouraged).
“Accidentally” reveal a tattoo with coordinates, tally marks, or a barcode.

More notes on character roles:

Entourage characters: The entourage is there to take care of their employer - they aren't there to impress anyone or stand out - especially not against their employer. Therefore, the entourage, which is made of bodyguards, publicists, management, and other assistants, tend to wear dark, solid-colored clothing that is professional and geared toward the event. If you are attending a party with your employer, you'd wear either semi-formal or formal attire - but it shouldn't stand out, so dark, solid colors. Since you're playing on a team with others, feel free to get with them before the party and designate your roles within the entourage - you'll be playing the game as a group together. If you're a bodyguard - follow the advice for a bodyguard below. If you are a publicist - go very trendy, but don't dress more outrageous than your employer. Management and other personal assistants should be more subdued than the publicist in dark, solid colors. If your entourage is big enough, you can assign a few groupies - superfans in the group. They'll need to make some fan gear for their employer to wear.

Bodyguards and Secret Service: A bodyguard shouldn't stand out, but you should dress professionally in a dark, solid colored clothing (e.g., black suit), an earpiece, have walkie talkies, and (toy) weapons (guns on a holster). You must be prepared to protect your employer (e.g., a celebrity, tycoon, or politician), so your attire should look very professional, but be comfortable. If you are female, it's best to still wear a suit, as it would be more challenging for you to take down a threat to your employer in a dress with heels. Other optional props would be a baton, handcuffs.

Spy characters: A spy is more flexible. You need to blend into your surroundings - you don't want to be over the top and draw attention and you don't want to underdress or appear as though you're trying to hide in plain sight. But you must be comfortable, as you never know what will happen when and if you're discovered. A good spy costume would be any of the Kill Bill costumes, or a Carmen Sandiego look. Having the earpiece and toy weapons are optional - you might only be on a fact-finding mission.

Prison guards: Your attire needs to look more like a uniform. Unfortunately, there's not a 'prison guard costume,' so you'll need to create your own look. Choose a color scheme and stick with it with your jacket, shirt and pants. Prison guards are usually in gray, blue, or khaki/tan. There are links to windbreaker jackets above and some solid color shirts - but you are likely to already have something that will work in your closet. There are also a couple of badge links - you could wear the badge with the jacket and the same color pants and you're good! A Walkie Talkiem baton, and handcuffs are great props, and the earpiece, as well. For a cheeky prop- bring a ball and chain and some shackels as a prop.

Security guard characters: Unlike bodyguardsand secret service, the security guard is more casual and doesn't need to blend in to the eventgoers, so you should wear a black shirt and pants and the security windbreaker and hat. The walkie talkies and earpiece are great props.

Assassins: An assassin can look like anything - there are no rules. But if you want to give a cheeky nod to the movies, you could wear an actual assassin's costume. There are some links above. The Kill Bill costumes are great, but there are more to choose from - even the Punisher movie has some good costumes for assassin characters. You definitely need some toy weapons in holsters.