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30 Costume Details From Famous TV Shows That Give More Depth To Certain Scenes And Characters

There's truly a surprising amount of thought and consideration that goes into details like costumes.

30 Costume Details From Famous TV Shows That Give More Depth To Certain Scenes And Characters

Costume designers can do a lot more than make characters look good on screen. In the right scene, a color choice, a repeated outfit, or a tiny accessory can quietly say something about a character’s arc, relationships, or future.

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That is exactly what makes these TV costume details so fun to spot. From The Good Place to Breaking Bad, fans have noticed small wardrobe choices that add extra meaning to key moments and sometimes even mirror the story itself.

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Once you see them, they are hard to unsee.

1. Janet's outfits on The Good Place were all actually inspired by 1970s flight attendant outfits.

1. Janet's outfits on The Good Place were all actually inspired by 1970s flight attendant outfits.NBC / Getty Images
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2. In Bridgerton, Eloise is often seen with the top of her dress resembling a man's suit, reflecting her desire and character arc to become as free as a man.

2. In Bridgerton, Eloise is often seen with the top of her dress resembling a man's suit, reflecting her desire and character arc to become as free as a man.Netflix
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3. Also in Bridgerton, at the beginning of the first season, Daphne consistently wore blue while the Duke wore red. After they got engaged, however, the pair began wearing more purple tones, a combination of their two colors.

3. Also in Bridgerton, at the beginning of the first season, Daphne consistently wore blue while the Duke wore red. After they got engaged, however, the pair began wearing more purple tones, a combination of their two colors.Netflix

4. In The Good Place finale, Tahani finally becomes an architect, and Michael passes down to her the same bowtie he wore in the pilot.

4. In The Good Place finale, Tahani finally becomes an architect, and Michael passes down to her the same bowtie he wore in the pilot.NBC

That is the kind of detail fans love to catch on a rewatch.

5. Penny from The Big Bang Theory isn't shy about repeating outfits. She actually wore the same shirt in the first episode, the 100th episode, and the series finale.

5. Penny from The Big Bang Theory isn't shy about repeating outfits. She actually wore the same shirt in the first episode, the 100th episode, and the series finale.CBS

6. In Season 6 of Desperate Housewives, where Susan and Mike get married, Katherine shows up wearing a tight red dress, intending to ruin the wedding. It's said that wearing red to a wedding is considered bad manners because it either implies you've slept with the groom or that you are his mistress.

6. In Season 6 of Desperate Housewives, where Susan and Mike get married, Katherine shows up wearing a tight red dress, intending to ruin the wedding. It's said that wearing red to a wedding is considered bad manners because it either implies you've slept with the groom or that you are his mistress.ABC

7. Unmatched socks may not feel good to most people, but Matthew Gray Gubler, who played Reid on Criminal Minds, believes that matching socks are actually bad luck, so his character never wears them throughout the show.

7. Unmatched socks may not feel good to most people, but Matthew Gray Gubler, who played Reid on Criminal Minds, believes that matching socks are actually bad luck, so his character never wears them throughout the show.CBS

8. In the "Goodbye Michael" episode of The Office, a red strand of yarn can be seen hanging from Michael's pocket while passing through airport security. It's actually from the unfinished mittens Phyllis was working on as his going-away present.

8. In the "Goodbye Michael" episode of The Office, a red strand of yarn can be seen hanging from Michael's pocket while passing through airport security. It's actually from the unfinished mittens Phyllis was working on as his going-away present.NBC

9. For the flashback episode of Riverdale, Archie wore an outfit identical to the one Luke Perry wore on Beverly Hills, 90210.

9. For the flashback episode of Riverdale, Archie wore an outfit identical to the one Luke Perry wore on Beverly Hills, 90210.The CW / Fox

10. After Beth Harmon claims the world champion title in the final episode of The Queen's Gambit, she steps out in an all-white outfit that makes her look like a white queen chess piece, complete with a hat.

10. After Beth Harmon claims the world champion title in the final episode of The Queen's Gambit, she steps out in an all-white outfit that makes her look like a white queen chess piece, complete with a hat.Netflix

Some of these choices are subtle, but they do a lot of storytelling work.

11. In almost every episode of Riverdale, Cheryl has a splash of red on her outfit, given that it's her signature color. Whenever she wears an all-white dress, it signifies that something significant is about to happen to her.

11. In almost every episode of Riverdale, Cheryl has a splash of red on her outfit, given that it's her signature color. Whenever she wears an all-white dress, it signifies that something significant is about to happen to her.The CW

12. In the show Shameless, Fiona wore the same shirt in the pilot and her last episode.

12. In the show Shameless, Fiona wore the same shirt in the pilot and her last episode.Showtime

13. In Season 3, Episode 8 of Stranger Things, Lucas and Max wore the same shirts as the characters Donna and Eric from That '70s Show.

13. In Season 3, Episode 8 of Stranger Things, Lucas and Max wore the same shirts as the characters Donna and Eric from That '70s Show.Netflix / Fox

14. In Supernatural, Sam and Dean wore the same outfits for the pilot and series finale.

14. In Supernatural, Sam and Dean wore the same outfits for the pilot and series finale.The WB / The CW

15. In the pilot episode of Glee, the New Directions all wore red t-shirts during their first group encore, and in the last episode of the show, everyone wore something red for the final performance of the series.

15. In the pilot episode of Glee, the New Directions all wore red t-shirts during their first group encore, and in the last episode of the show, everyone wore something red for the final performance of the series.Fox

It is a neat way to tie the beginning and end of a story together.

This is the same kind of head-scratcher as the visual anomalies that make everyday reality look impossible.

16. In the Chuck series finale, Sarah wore the same outfit she wore to the Buy More in the pilot when she returned.

16. In the Chuck series finale, Sarah wore the same outfit she wore to the Buy More in the pilot when she returned.NBC

17. On Breaking Bad, after the plane crash, ABQ residents briefly wore commemorative ribbons, but Saul wore his for longer, indicating that he was trying to convince victims to join a civil lawsuit.

17. On Breaking Bad, after the plane crash, ABQ residents briefly wore commemorative ribbons, but Saul wore his for longer, indicating that he was trying to convince victims to join a civil lawsuit.AMC

18. In That '70s Show finale, Kitty wears the same outfit she wore at her party in the first episode and at her New Year's Eve party.

18. In That '70s Show finale, Kitty wears the same outfit she wore at her party in the first episode and at her New Year's Eve party.Fox

19. On The Queen's Gambit, Beth Harmon often wore plaid or checkered outfits, indicating that chess was always on her mind.

19. On The Queen's Gambit, Beth Harmon often wore plaid or checkered outfits, indicating that chess was always on her mind.Netflix

20. On Jane the Virgin, audiences are clued in that Jane is going to be involved in a significant, life-changing romantic event whenever she wears a yellow dress.

20. On Jane the Virgin, audiences are clued in that Jane is going to be involved in a significant, life-changing romantic event whenever she wears a yellow dress.The CW

Fans definitely noticed the pattern.

21. On The Haunting of Hill House, Olivia's outfits change to reflect her growing madness. They also come from the wardrobe of Poppy Hill, the ghost that haunted her.

21. On The Haunting of Hill House, Olivia's outfits change to reflect her growing madness. They also come from the wardrobe of Poppy Hill, the ghost that haunted her.Netflx

22. The pink dress that Alexis almost gifts to Twyla in the penultimate episode of Schitt's Creek is the same dress Alexis wears the first time the audience sees her in the show.

22. The pink dress that Alexis almost gifts to Twyla in the penultimate episode of Schitt's Creek is the same dress Alexis wears the first time the audience sees her in the show.Pop / CBC

23. In Episode 5 of The Wilds, the other girls on the island seem to be wearing the same clothes as Fatin in flashbacks because Fatin's suitcase was the only one that washed up on shore.

23. In Episode 5 of The Wilds, the other girls on the island seem to be wearing the same clothes as Fatin in flashbacks because Fatin's suitcase was the only one that washed up on shore.Amazon Prime

24. In an episode of Gravity Falls, there's a scene where Tyler can't decide which shirt to wear; later, he's seen wearing a version of the two shirts sewn together.

24. In an episode of Gravity Falls, there's a scene where Tyler can't decide which shirt to wear; later, he's seen wearing a version of the two shirts sewn together.Cartoon Network

25. When Dwight becomes the temporary manager on The Office, Andy starts dressing like him in short-sleeved shirts, continuing his "personality mirroring" of his bosses.

25. When Dwight becomes the temporary manager on The Office, Andy starts dressing like him in short-sleeved shirts, continuing his "personality mirroring" of his bosses.NBC

That kind of visual callback is easy to miss the first time around.

26. In the first season of Euphoria, Jules' wardrobe transitions from bright and bubbly to dark, edgy, and less feminine clothing, reflecting her struggles and her choice to dress more for herself than for men.

26. In the first season of Euphoria, Jules' wardrobe transitions from bright and bubbly to dark, edgy, and less feminine clothing, reflecting her struggles and her choice to dress more for herself than for men.HBO

27. The Riverdale flashback episode paid homage to The Breakfast Club, and teenage Alice can be seen wearing fingerless gloves like the ones Bender wore.

27. The Riverdale flashback episode paid homage to The Breakfast Club, and teenage Alice can be seen wearing fingerless gloves like the ones Bender wore.The CW

28. In the first episode of Season 2 of Broad City, there are two ladies on the subway dressed exactly like Abbi and Ilana were in Season 1, Episode 4.

28. In the first episode of Season 2 of Broad City, there are two ladies on the subway dressed exactly like Abbi and Ilana were in Season 1, Episode 4.Comedy Central

29. In the second season of Derry Girls, after Clare comes out, the Derry girls all wear rainbow pins on their outfits, but it's never acknowledged by the characters.

29. In the second season of Derry Girls, after Clare comes out, the Derry girls all wear rainbow pins on their outfits, but it's never acknowledged by the characters.Netflix

30. On Breaking Bad, during the "I am the one who knocks" scene, Walter removes his shirt to reveal a darker red shirt underneath, reflecting the increase of darkness within him.

30. On Breaking Bad, during the "I am the one who knocks" scene, Walter removes his shirt to reveal a darker red shirt underneath, reflecting the increase of darkness within him.AMC

These details may have been subtle, but they make the shows feel even richer.

Now it is hard not to look for hidden meaning in every costume choice.

Did you catch all those costume details?

Want another behind-the-scenes wardrobe decision that hit Danielle Fishel, read why her costume designer “couldn’t show her arms” in the last season of Boy Meets World.

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