14 Movie Costumes That Are More Important To The Story Than You Thought
Costumes can communicate much more information about a character's personality than we realize.
More often than not, we tend to overlook the clothing and costumes in our favorite movies. However, it turns out we really shouldn't.
Costumes can convey much more information about a character's personality than we may even realize. They can also help an actor seamlessly transform into their character.
You may not consciously recognize it, but costume designers often include hidden messages in their designs. Subconsciously, the costumes in a film may influence your feelings toward a particular character or even help you understand the plot.
After all, one of the first ways we express ourselves and our individuality is through our clothing choices. Whether we're sassy, lazy, angry, or cheerful, our attitudes shine through our attire.
The same can be said for movie characters. Just think of James Bond and his immaculate tuxedo, or Indiana Jones and his fedora.
It's a fair assumption that many people associate those clothing items with those particular characters. That's precisely what the directors and costume designers hope for.
Costume design adds a subtle but important element of dimension to a film. After all, can you imagine watching your favorite movie or TV show with every character dressed the same way?
We have compiled a list of 14 films that hide messages in their costumes that you've probably never noticed before. Scroll down to take a look.
1. The Phantom of the Opera
At the beginning of The Phantom of the Opera, Christine is dressed the same as all the other dancers. However, as Christine transforms, her clothing begins to reflect her new status as a star.
© The Phantom of the Opera / Warner Bros. Pictures2. Twilight
The Cullen family crest is present throughout the Twilight saga, symbolizing the importance of family to the characters. Emmett, Jasper, and Edward all wear leather bracelets featuring the crest, while the girls wear necklaces, and Carlisle wears a silver ring.
© Twilight / Summit Entertainment3. (500) Days of Summer
At the film's start, we see clips of Tom and Summer's childhoods—Tom is dressed in brown, and Summer in blue. After Tom meets Summer, a lot of blue begins to appear around him.
© (500) Days of Summer / Dune Entertainment
4. Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
To demonstrate the special connection between Donna and Sophie, costume designer Michele Clapton used a butterfly motif. Donna wears a butterfly pendant, and later, we see Sophie wearing a butterfly dress to church.
© Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again / Legendary Pictures
The butterfly is a symbol of their bond.
© Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again / Legendary Pictures
5. Little Women
In Little Women, Jo and Laurie often wear the same vests. According to the costume designer, this symbolizes their close bond.
© Little Women / Columbia Pictures
Costume designer Jacqueline Durran also designed a specific outfit for Jo to wear while she writes. Her green jacket emphasizes her strength and determination.
© Little Women / Columbia Pictures
6. The Iron Lady
In The Iron Lady, Meryl Streep wears a lot of blue, which is Margaret Thatcher's favorite color. However, when she retires as Prime Minister, she wears a red suit for the first time, symbolizing her strength as well as her relinquishment of power.
© The Iron Lady / Pathé
7. Princess Jasmine is always dressed in bright colors and stands out from every other character.
Most of Princess Jasmine's clothing features very bright colors to symbolize her strong character. Her classic bright turquoise suit is adorned with beads, and her veil has a peacock design.
© Aladdin / Walt Disney Pictures
The peacock is a metaphor. A peacock trapped in the royal garden is searching for freedom, just like the princess.
© Aladdin / Walt Disney Pictures
8. Juno
Juno always wears stripes, which are often used to show how different a character is from all the others. Stripes also convey a playful, quirky, and childish vibe.
© Juno / Fox Searchlight Pictures
9. The Shape of Water
At the start of the film, Elisa wears plain, pale clothing. She has trouble communicating with others and is essentially an invisible woman.
However, towards the end of the movie, Elisa falls in love, and we begin to see a transformation. She starts wearing red clothes, revealing her previously hidden passion.
© The Shape of Water / TSG Entertainment
10. Knives Out
Ransom is a wealthy man, but you would never know it based on his clothing. He wears a sweater with holes in it and shabby cuffs. The costume designer aims to show how little respect Ransom has for money or what others think of him.
© Knives Out / MRC
11. Titanic
According to costume designer Deborah Lynn Scott, the colors in Rose's dresses were purposely chosen to convey her fierce character. At the start of the movie, she wears a red dress with black lace, symbolizing her strong personality being suppressed by society.
Rose is wearing the same dress at the end of the movie, only in white. The change in color signifies that there are no longer any obstacles surrounding Jack and Rose's love.
© Titanic / Paramount Pictures
12. The Grand Budapest Hotel
The wardrobe of Madame Céline Villeneuve Desgoffe und Taxis is an undeniable mix of different eras. The combination of styles indicates her eccentricity, featuring her red hat and coat from the '20s and her dress from the '30s.
© The Grand Budapest Hotel / Fox Searchlight Pictures
13. Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
Michelle Pfeiffer's character, Queen Ingrith, is pure evil, yet she is always seen in light clothing. Instead, the jewelry she wears depicts her intense personality.
© Maleficent: Mistress of Evil / Walt Disney Pictures
14. The Help
In The Help, the servants wear uniforms and are not allowed to wear makeup or jewelry. However, on their days off, we get to see their true personalities shine.
© The Help / DreamWorks Pictures
Have you noticed any interesting details about characters' costumes while watching your favorite films? Do you always catch the subtle hints the costume directors leave for you?
If you've noticed any that aren't already on our list, we would love to hear about them. Let us know in the comment section below.
