A TF2 Spy costume is mostly a good suit: a pinstriped two-piece, a crisp white shirt, a narrow tie, black gloves and a balaclava over the whole head. The mask is what makes it the Spy rather than a man in a suit, and it costs less than the tie. The RED and BLU versions differ only in colour, so you can build either one from the same list.
How to Make a TF2 Spy Costume
Pinstripe Suit Jacket and PantsWhite Dress ShirtBurgundy NecktieBrown Knit BalaclavaBlack Leather GlovesBlack Oxford Dress ShoesBlack Pocket WatchCandy CigarettesSaveTap any item in the photo to shop itClick any item in the photo to shop it
| # | Item | Description | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pinstripe Suit Jacket and Pants | A brown pinstripe two-piece for the RED Spy, whose suit is a muted reddish-brown with fine stripes. Skip any vest that comes with it; the Spy wears only jacket and trousers. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 2 | White Dress Shirt | Plain white, long sleeved, with a collar that sits flat under the jacket. Let the cuffs hang just past the jacket sleeves, where they fall over the gloves in the game art. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 3 | Burgundy Necktie | A dark red tie, long and narrow, tucked into a closed jacket. This is the RED team colour; the BLU swap is below. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 4 | Brown Knit Balaclava | A knit ski balaclava in brown with a wide opening for the eyes, matching the brown pinstripe suit as the RED Spy's mask does. Wear it with the collar tucked under the shirt. A black balaclava also works, and is the choice for a BLU Spy. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 5 | Black Leather Gloves | Slim black leather gloves, worn with the white shirt cuffs pulled out over the wrist. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 6 | Black Oxford Dress Shoes | Polished black lace-up shoes, the same plain pair a real suit would use. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 7 | Black Pocket Watch | Stands in for the Spy's cloaking watch. A closed black pocket watch on a chain is the nearest real thing, and it gives you something to hold while you vanish. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 8 | Candy Cigarettes | The Spy's cigarette case is part of his gear, so carry a candy cigarette (or an unlit prop) rather than a real one. Many venues ban even fake smoking props, so check the rules first. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
Getting the TF2 Spy Details Right
The silhouette comes first. The Spy is tall and narrow, so a slim-fit jacket does more than any accessory. If the suit is baggy, have the jacket taken in. Button it and keep the tie pulled up to the collar.
The mask should be snug. A balaclava that bunches around the chin ruins the shape of the head, so pick one that fits closely and tuck the neck down inside the collar.
Gloves and cuffs are the small detail people notice. In the game art the shirt cuffs sit over the glove, giving each hand a white edge. Put the gloves on first, then pull the shirt sleeves down over them and out past the jacket.
For poses, hold one hand up with a finger raised, as in the Meet the Spy art, and keep the other hand near your belt with the watch. Walk quietly and lean slightly forward.
No knife or sapper is needed to make this readable. If you want a knife, use only an obviously fake foam or rubber one and check event rules; don't carry anything that looks real.
Alternate Looks and Budget Options
BLU Spy. Swap the colours and everything else stays the same. Use a grey pinstripe suit and a slate blue necktie with the same white shirt, gloves, shoes and mask. The BLU suit is a cool grey-blue, so grey is the easy match.
Budget. Thrift a pinstripe or brown suit, buy a cheap balaclava, and the costume comes together for the price of a shirt and a tie. The mask and gloves carry the look even if the suit is only roughly the right colour.
Group idea. The Spy works best next to the rest of the team, whether it is RED against BLU or a full class lineup. A Spy standing behind friends in the opposing colour is the classic joke, and it is easy to stage for photos.
About the Spy
The Spy is one of the nine classes in Valve's Team Fortress 2, a support class who disguises himself as enemies, turns invisible with a cloaking watch, and kills with a backstab from behind. The official Team Fortress wiki describes him as hailing from an indeterminate region of France, known for sharp suits and even sharper knives, and voiced by Dennis Bateman. His real name is never given; "Uncloak & Dagger" is his listed job. He appears in the "Meet the Spy" short, which is where most of the reference art for this costume comes from.
