All these cosplays seem like they need to start with a long explanation…ok, so in the last season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Phil Coulson (technically, an L.M.D of him, I guess) and the other members of his team do a lot of time traveling. In the episodes “A Trout in the Milk” and “Adapt or Die” they visit the year 1976. Coulson and Melinda May need to infiltrate the S.H.I.E.L.D. Lighthouse base of the era, so they knock out some agents and put on their uniforms.
These uniforms are based on the original comics design for S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and intentionally look cheap and hilarious in a presumed comment on the popular conception that comics costume designs don’t translate well to the screen.
However, I love the look.
I sewed the jumpsuit (using what I think is actually the same commercial pattern that the show’s costumers used) and created the holster, foam pistol, pouches, radio strap, and ID card. My wife embroidered the S.H.I.E.L.D. patch. The pouches would probably hold ammunition for the pistol but this was never shown so I engaged with a little creative license and instead put little chunks of craggy black material in each, which are supposed to be chunks of the Kree Monolith that could send people to another planet. The Coulson LMD of the ’70s didn’t actually have slivers of the Monolith, it’s just a fun Easter Egg/conversation piece if someone happens to ask me what’s in them; I like the idea that somehow Coulson would still be carrying some of it around for an emergency. The boots, central belt, and ’70s-era walkie-talkie were purchased.
Below you can see my costume and ID card design, plus examples of the comics uniform, the show’s throwback uniform, and some of the show’s current-era uniform for comparison.
Chris Wildrick 