10+ Costume Clues In Movies That You Might Have Missed

You may or may not have noticed these details because sometimes the impact of subtle elements goes underappreciated.

Sophia

Published in Film & TV
11 Mar 2022

10+ Costume Clues In Movies That You Might Have Missed

A movie only becomes great when many different elements collaborate effectively to build a new and unique world that the audience can dive into without hesitation. Most people would say that the key to a movie being great is the writing, the cast, or the directing process—and while all of these are true, people tend to overlook the one thing that makes a movie look put together: costume design.

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A lot of people think that it's just a minor detail, but consider that most trends in every decade sprout from the fashion they see in movies. Think about Clueless, Mean Girls, and Bring It On, for example.

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Costume design is one of the hidden elements of storytelling. It can be used to define a character's personality, occupation, social status, or current standing in their life.

It can also be a make-or-break factor in terms of whether you like a character or not. There are many movies where people ended up loving a character simply because of what they were wearing.

That being said, you may have also noticed (or not) that some characters' clothes changed throughout the movie, symbolizing the internal or external changes they are experiencing. Take a look at some of the best examples below!

1. Pride & Prejudice

In this movie, you can see Mr. Darcy's layers of clothing decrease as the film progresses, and the materials become much softer—an allusion to the character's transformation. Since this is a historical drama based on Jane Austen's famous book, the crew had to stay true to the fact that people back then had class differences and social restrictions, so they weren't really able to do bold things in the name of love.

This is how costume designer Jacquelina Durran tried to show Mr. Darcy's transformation—he loses layers of clothing as the movie goes on! She explains that this reflects how the character is gradually shedding his inflexibility and rigid nature as he becomes more humble.

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2. The Matrix

The sunglasses in The Matrix were all unique and custom-made to reflect not only the characters' personalities but also those of the actors. This is why they discarded the idea of buying the sunglasses at a regular store.

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3. Legally Blonde

Bright, all-pink, and girly are usually what comes to mind when we think of Elle Woods, as opposed to the environment she's in when she gets into Harvard. However, you might notice that as the movie progresses, her color palette becomes much more subdued, and the textiles she wears gradually transform into warmer materials.

There are also subtle changes in her hair that reflect the depth of her character—from bouncy curls to a straight ponytail. The movie ends with an outfit that reflects her emotional state and symbolizes her changing mindset about herself.

The person behind the costume design in this movie is Sophie de Rakoff.

4. The Devil Wears Prada

The Devil Wears Prada's designer was Patricia Field, also the costume designer for Sex and the City. She excelled at highlighting the characters' personalities through unique styles—for example, each main character in the movie wore designer pieces that matched their personalities.

Andy wears Chanel, while Emily, Vivienne, and Miranda wear Prada.

But the symbolism doesn't stop there. Fans have also noticed that Andy and Miranda’s silhouettes become strikingly similar in certain scenes, showing their approach to the fashion world.

This transition highlights Andy's journey toward the kind of life she's headed for.

5. Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen

Lola's outfits gradually change throughout the movie, showing how her character copes after meeting Ella. She transitions from wearing childish clothes to outfits that better complement her age and figure.

You might have also noticed a small detail in the movie. In the scene where Lola rummages through her closet looking for an outfit to wear, you can catch a glimpse of the dress that Ella wore to the concert and Stu Wolf’s exclusive party.

6. Birds of Prey

In Birds of Prey, costume designer Erin Benach ensured that Harley Quinn's outfits represented her personality rather than the Joker's, which explains why she looks somewhat different in the movie. Her pigtails are tailored for comfort instead of being styled to look charming.

These subtle details indicate her freedom from the Joker as she focuses more on herself.

7. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

Wonka’s costumes in this 1971 classic were actually the result of Gene Wilder's intervention. He wanted to distance himself from the character in the book.

He requested changes to portray Wonka as an eccentric gentleman with so much style that his (vulgar) preferences would be appropriate.

8. Gone with the Wind

The colors in Gone With The Wind reflect the characters' current feelings and essence. The green dress references the phrase "green with envy," indicating that the character feels jealous.

She also wears a red dress when she desires affection. There is also a scene in which Scarlett wears an inappropriate dress as she declares her love to Ashley.

9. Mean Girls

Mean Girls is truly one of the most iconic movies that shaped a whole generation, and it still stands strong as one of the best movies today. You might have noticed all the handbags, shirts, and ruffles of the characters, which reflect the complex life of the "girl world."

Cady Heron, the iconic protagonist, starts with practical and bland outfits at first, but as she spends more time with The Plastics, she ends up becoming one of them. Her wardrobe morphs into a collection of accessories and garments inspired by the other three girls.

Cady adopts Karen's pink and blue palette, Gretchen's makeup and curls, and Regina's outfits and necklaces.

10. Star Wars

Luke Skywalker’s clothes here resemble a gi, a garment often used to practice martial arts. This symbolizes the fact that he is still in a formative period.

On the other hand, Obi-Wan Kenobi's costume resembles that of a monk, which shows his wisdom and position in Luke’s life as his mentor.

11. Black Panther

Black Panther underwent extensive research and hard work. The producers aimed to depict Wakandan culture in a way that parallels vibrant African tribes and civilizations.

They used fabrics, colors, and patterns that represent each of these groups. The team also incorporated African traditions in a futuristic setting to shed light on Africa, a continent rich in development and technology, ensuring that all costume elements had a reason for being included.

Costume designer Ruth Carter, in an interview with Vanity Fair, revealed certain references in the characters' costumes, such as:

All of the jewelry shown in the movie is made of vibranium, the same fictional material that Captain America's shield is made from.
Shuri’s costume is more Western and American-inspired, but it still embodies cultural elements, such as the symbol on her T-shirt that means “purpose.”
The queen’s clothing is made of traditional woven patterns; however, in the context of 21st-century Wakanda, they were produced using 3D printing.
Nakia’s necklace indicates that she is part of a river tribe.
T’Challa’s combat suit displays traditional geometric figures from his culture.

12. Marie Antoinette

Marie Antoinette is first shown as a young girl with a childish and innocent style. As she becomes a more active member of the French court, her transformation becomes evident through her change in style, featuring colorful and more fashionable costumes.

Later on, she wears more subdued outfits with muted silhouettes. This occurs when the French royals are slowly losing their popularity among the people.

13. Clueless

Mona May, the costume designer for Clueless, has also designed costumes for films like Enchanted, The Cheetah Girls, and Never Been Kissed. For this movie, May used costume design to showcase the world of California teens, fusing designer pieces with second-hand clothing to create a more authentic look, and she employed different colors to express Cher and Dionne’s personalities.

You can actually follow the months of the school year through the girls’ outfits, from start-of-the-year tones to darker, warmer winter attire.

14. Black Swan

Costume designer Amy Westcott stated that Nina’s transformation can be clearly seen solely by looking at her clothing's color palettes. For instance, at the beginning of the movie, Nina primarily wears pale and pink colors when she is still innocent and somewhat childish.

However, once she starts losing herself in her new role and her relationships with others become more turbulent, she begins to wear costumes with darker shades. In the end, her clothes reflect what she aspires to be: the black swan.

15. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Costume designer Colleen Atwood, who also collaborated with Burton on films like Edward Scissorhands and Alice in Wonderland, revealed certain details about the costume elements in this movie. Sweeney Todd had a holster rig for his razor, and his boots are adorned with silver details.

The judge’s assistant was given a hat with a particular top, and Mrs. Lovett was seen in more exuberant attire.

These details subtly reveal each character's personality, along with the dark undertones that are always present in a classic Burton film.

15. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

16. Enchanted

Costume designer Mona May also worked her magic in this movie. The film starts off looking as fantastic and animated as possible, but as it progresses, it becomes more practical and modern.

The great thing about it is that even though the setting slowly transforms into a more modern one, Giselle does not lose her touch of innocence and sweetness as the story develops.

It's definitely amazing to see all these characters go through certain changes in their stories and have those changes reflected in the clothes they wear! Costume designers are among the most underrated personnel in movie production, and it's high time they receive recognition for their amazing work!

Comment with your thoughts, or share this article with your family and friends to see!

10+ Costume Clues In Movies That You Might Have Missed

Sophia

1. Pride & Prejudice

2. The Matrix

3. Legally Blonde

4. The Devil Wears Prada

5. Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen

6. Birds of Prey

7. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

8. Gone with the Wind

9. Mean Girls

10. Star Wars

11. Black Panther

12. Marie Antoinette

13. Clueless

14. Black Swan

15. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

16. Enchanted

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