Most people can look at an actor or actress in a film and enjoy their costumes. They certainly look lovely, whether it’s a minimalistic costume or something extravagant. But there is so much more to a costume than looks. Although the appearance is essential, costumes have a far more massive impact on the film in its entirety.
Costumes are genuinely fascinating when you understand why they are essential. And if you’ve ever wondered why costumes are important, this blog will tell you why. Here, you will discover the seven imperative reasons why costumes are a part of a film.
Establishing a Character
Could you imagine Captain Sparrow of The Pirates of the Caribbean without his costume? What about Cher from Clueless? Although these movies and their respective costumes are phenomenally different, they have a specific role to play – establishing a character.
With a costume, you help the audience better understand the characters of the film. A viewer can tell the character’s age, sex, and economic/social stance from the costume.
Most of the time, you can understand their personality, too. For example, Willie on Bad Santa’s character is apparent through his attire. Cady Heron from Mean Girls starts like a shy girl. You can see her personality transformation through her clothing, going from a shy and quiet gal to a “cool” and popular chick.
Costumes Can Reveal the Culture of the Character
Sometimes, costumes are necessary to display cultural representation. In the movie Cleopatra, the costumes depict an Egyptian style. On the other hand, Kong: Skull Island needed outfits that showed an Asian culture.
They Can Reveal Religion Too
Sometimes, religion can have a significant impact on a movie. Take the film 300 into consideration. This movie takes place in 480 B.C. during a time of a war between Persia and Greece. There are elements in the film that suggest that the main character, King Xerxes, and Leonidas, are religious, as per the norm for this time. It shows in their appearance and actions.
Reveal the Time Period and Location
Establishing a character is a critical role of costume design. However, costumes go beyond showing a character by revealing the film’s time period and location, too. Think of movies such as The Magnificent Seven, and I Am Legend. It is clear to tell when these movies are supposed to take place. One is set in the old west, while the other is futuristic.
Sometimes, costumes can also develop an entirely new location. For example, Avatar and Lord of the Rings take you to an altogether different world, unlike anything we have seen before. The movie The Hunger Games combines both elements of time period and location. In this movie, it is set in a futuristic place. Costumes help to develop these two aspects of the film.
Support the Style of the Movie Entirely
A critical role of the costume is to support the rest of the movie. You can’t have an over-the-top theme for character appearance while the rest of the movie is hum and drum. The costumes must follow the style of the movie. Naturalistic backgrounds should match with minimalistic outfits. A more extravagant film should have grander costumes.
A great example of this is the movie Scream. It is a horror flick, but the costumes are fairly minimalistic. It goes hand-in-hand with the storyline of the film. Yet, the outfit is still ingenious for the movie. Everybody remembers precisely what the character looks like, yet there was nothing incredibly over the top about it.
Grease is another movie that doesn’t need to rely on extravagant costumes to convey characters while supporting the style. The film is set in the 1950s, and all the characters’ costumes represent this time.
On the other hand, Magnificent: Mistress of Evil needed lavish costumes to get the message across. The characters’ appearance matches the movie’s overall feeling and theme, making it an impressive and enticing pairing.
Tell the Story
It may come as a surprise, but costumes do more than visual favors for the viewer. An outfit can also help to tell the story altogether.
How a Costume Tells a Story
Think of a romantic film. In the beginning, the two characters are swoon. They seem to go together like peanut butter and jelly, and their appearance reflects this. Perhaps they both represent a “rocker” appearance.
Over time, one of the characters starts to change their look. At the same time, the two seem to be growing apart. Now, it’s clear to the viewer not just through the script, but the costumes, too.
By the end of the film, the two have broken up. At this point, only one character is sporting a rock-and-roll theme, while the other is in business attire. You witness the change of the character’s appearance to support the storyline.
The same is true for more extreme roles. For example, The Hunger Games starts with Katniss being poor in one of the districts. She wears muted colors with a bow and arrow, showing that she has to support her family with food. However, as the movie continues, she starts to wear more elaborate costumes to fit in with the more affluent individuals.
Sometimes, costume changes that support a storyline are more subtle. While not being too noticeable, though, they are still subconsciously seen by the viewer.
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Help the Actor/Actress Become the Character
Costumes aren’t just beneficial to the viewer. They can also be immensely helpful to the actor or actress too. Why? Because sometimes it can be challenging to become the character. While they might have a few ideas on portraying the film’s character, it just isn’t quite “there.”
This is where a costume comes into play. Wearing the character’s costume can allow the actor to become one with the character. By immersing themselves in the looks of the character they are portraying, they can have a far easier time bringing the character to life.
In turn, this does end up benefiting the viewer. Since the actress physically and mentally turns into the character, they can put on a better performance.
Distinguish Between Major and Minor Characters
Costumes are necessary for all actors and actresses in a film. This is true whether you’re a major or minor character or if you’re a background character altogether. Why is it important to have distinct differences in the costumes, although sometimes little?
A central character is going to have a distinct look. Whether it is something elaborate and eye-catching or minimal with a specific color, the primary character needs to stand apart from the rest. This makes it easier for the viewer to follow along with the storyline and know who’s important in the film.
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Change How an Actor or Actress Looks
The sole purpose of a costume is to change how a person looks to fit the character, not the person playing the character. But sometimes changing into an outfit doesn’t do enough. Sometimes, the actor or actress has to go beyond the clothes, shoes, makeup, and hair to fit the character’s description.
All this means is that sometimes characters require more of their costume. For example, a movie set in the 1800s will likely need a woman to wear a corset along with their long, elaborate dress. This allows the actress to become the character in its entirety.
Create a Character Beyond the Clothes
It is essential to understand that it’s not just about the clothing when it comes to a costume. A costume embodies the entire look and feel of the character. It is the one thing that is going to give the character a whole identity. A costume also includes:
- Hair
- Makeup
- Props
Yes, props are a part of a performer’s costume. How? Think of Lara Croft from Tomb Raider. She would be nothing without her weapons. The same is true for well-known characters like Han Solo, The Mad Hatter, and Indiana Jones. Without their props, their character wouldn’t be displayed efficiently.
What is the Role of the Costume Designer?
When someone thinks of a costume designer, they might feel that they are the same as fashion designers. But this could not be further from the truth. Costume designers must adhere to strict requirements and rules when creating costumes for a film. They must fit with the narrative while also being durable enough for repetitive scenes.
One of the significant differences is that fashion designers are likely creating something for a runway or shoot. A costume designer is creating pieces of clothing that must be used for extended periods. This is more difficult when creating extravagant pieces, such as an 1800s-sty;e dress with a period hoop skirt.
Another aspect of costume designing is working with the rest of the crew. You can’t have costumes that don’t match the rest of the production. Costume designers also need to consider mediums like lighting when making their costumes. Everything, in the end, needs to be cohesive.
The Process of Costume Creation
The process of creating a costume for a film is a lengthy one, which is why it’s not a job for everyone. There is a strict process that every costume designer needs to follow.
- Reading and understanding the script. This is the most critical part of creating a costume. The costume designer needs to sift through the writing and understand all of the elements, from the plot to the tone. They need to look out for the setting, such as the period, and any cultural or religious references.
- Conversing with the writer and the rest of the production team. Everyone needs to be on the same page, whether they are the writer, crafting a stage, or making the costumes. Costume development is discussed with everyone on set.
- Creating the sketch. From there, the costume designer can begin sketching their designs. They should be careful to ensure that they depict the age, sex, social status, and personality of each character. Of course, they must also pay attention to any changes that occur during the film and make adjustments accordingly.
- Sign off and get started. Every costume must be allowed by the writer, director, and production team. If everything is okay, then they can start making the costumes.
- Adjustments. Once the pieces are put together, there will be adjustments necessary to fit the cast and crew.
What Is The Purpose of a Costume Chart?
The costume designer’s vital role is to put together a costume chart, otherwise referred to as a costume plot. The costume plot can be created as a list or a chart. The chart will show which characters are in the scene as well as what costume they are wearing.
By making a chart, it is easy to keep track of the characters and any changes that need to be made. It can also identify any possible costume mishaps. For example, if there is a rapid costume change that can cause problems for the actors and production team, it can be remedied.
A costume plot can also relay whether or not a costume change is necessary at all. Some characters wear the same thing throughout the entirety of the film – and that’s okay. These characters are usually highlighted with a specific color to show that they do not need a costume change. Others are highlighted with a different color to show costume changes.
Examples of Incredible Costumes That Made the Film
At this point, you are well aware of how a costume can have an incredible impact on a film. Some movies have gone above-and-beyond with their intricate costume designs to really make the film. Here are the top 4 examples of superior costume work.
Star Wars Trilogy
Star Wars is immensely popular for a reason. Not only is the storyline attention-grabbing and unique, but the costumes are some of the best in cinema history. The costumes are intriguing, but they also do an excellent job of telling the story.
- New Hope. When Luke debuts in A New Hope, he is wearing white garb. The white costume suggests that he is a shy, innocent, and quiet boy who doesn’t know the turmoil around him. When he joins the rebellion, he ditches his white garb. This is a significant suggestion that he is no longer the sweet boy he used to be.
- The Empire Strikes Back. During this iconic movie, Luke is wearing gray. His gray outfit is a symbol of his inner struggle. He is unsure whether to stay in the light with Obiwan and Yoda or join the dark side with Darth Vader.
- Return of the Jedi. At the culmination of this trilogy, Luke is wearing black. He is alone in his fight against evil. He prevails, only to show that he has been wearing white the entire time. This is a big moment for costume development. At this point, viewers know precisely the significance of his white garb.
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Amadeus
Whether you are a Mozart lover or not, one thing is right – you loved the movie Amadeus, anyway. This incredible film won awards for the 18th-century costumes, all of which came with intricate and astounding small details. The costumes were unlike anything you could have imagined and brought the story to life.
Aside from depicting the 18th century beautifully, the costumes went a step further. They showed that Mozart wasn’t like the rest. You could tell by the differently colored wigs, which were different than the wigs of his peers. With a subtle detail like this, the audience could decipher that he was the main character and understood his personality and talents.
Les Miserables
If there is one thing you can say about Les Miserables, it’s that the costumes were incredible. But designing costumes for this iconic movie wasn’t easy. Since the film is set in a timeframe between 1814 and 1848, it was essential to change the outfits to fit the times. By making changes to fit in with the period, the movie was brought to life in an all-new way.
Carol
Carol was another fun movie that added small details to tell the story and bring the character to life. Carol, the main character, was a savvy businesswoman who never needed to work a day in her life. This is proven to be confirmed by how the character dressed.
Moreso, she always had a beautiful red manicure. The second main character never had her nails done. This was done to show the difference in their personalities.
Final Thoughts
Costumes play an essential role in films, not just for the audience but also for the actors and actresses. An outfit can tell the story with minor and significant details. They also help the audience connect and understand the character, from small aspects such as age and sex to more elaborate elements such as their personality.
Costumes are also able to depict the period and relationship between multiple characters. All in all, costumes are an essential part of every film, whether minimalistic or complex. Costume designers have a tricky role to play, but it’s made more comfortable using a costume chart to keep everyone on-track.