Wardrobe and costuming is typically one of the most often ignored aspect of filmmaking and media that exists. For some reason people tend to think that the costumes are clothes and nothing more. But the wardrobe department is filled with dedicated and skilled professionals who pour hours of work into each and every choice.
Every pattern, every colour, and every accessory is chosen for a reason. Whether they connect characters to one another or hint at their backstory, these choices are made deliberately. Today we will explore the Harry Potter films and several things that even the most dedicated fans may not have noticed about the costumes that are seen throughout the films.
The Golden Trio Had An Established Palette
Though this did not come into play until the third film in the series (as the trio was rarely seen outside of their uniforms before that,) a solid colour scheme was established for Ron, Harry, and Hermione. In the books, Ron was often seen wearing clothes that were red, orange, or maroon. So red based colours became the backbone of his palette. Earth tones were used as a base for the entire Weasley clan, so when Ron is not wearing his signature reds, he can often be seen in green or brown clothing.
Harry’s clothes (which were often far too big for him due to the fact that they used to belong to Dudley) were mostly blue or grey in colour. And Hermione’s wardrobe was filled with both denim and rose coloured accents and pieces. Though the characters can be seen in other colours at times during the rest of the series, their casual outfits tend to stick to this established palette.
Bellatrix Was Meant To Be Beautiful
Helena Bonham Carter is no stranger to a good corset, having spent the majority of her film acting in period pieces and dramas. The costume designers wanted to create a severe and old fashioned look for Bellatrix. She was often seen in an elaborate and gorgeous medieval-style gown, which was meant to be a nod to her family’s long lineage and pureblood status in the wizarding community.
Her dress was meant to be truly beautiful as it was theorized that Bella was a beautiful and glamorous woman before she turned dark. The dress is torn in several places, which many believe is an indication of the madness she has succumbed to overtime. She was described as a “beautiful woman who had gone to seed” and her costume was a combination of glamour and grime to express that duality.
Umbridge Mastered Fifty Shades Of Pink
Umbridge is known for her nauseatingly pink outfits but some fans may not be aware of the fact that the shades of pink which she is seen in throughout the film have a special and intentional meaning behind them. Though Umbridge is known for her prim, proper, and highly controlled (and evil) nature, as the film continues towards the climax and Umbridge begins to lose her grip on the school, its students, and herself, her wardrobe begins to change.
As she begins to lose control, the colours in her clothing become brighter. By the end of her storyline in the film, her outfit is a bright shade of hot pink. Which is quite the contrast to the more pastel shades of rose that she is seen in earlier in the film. This bright shade was meant to illustrate her full loss of control and descent into the worst version of herself.
Great Hall Scenes Required Nearly 600 Uniforms
In a film set in a school which requires uniforms to be worn at all meal times, one cannot simply expect extras to turn up in their everyday clothes or to have the appropriate clothing on hand.
The scenes which were set in the Great Hall during meal times (i.e. when the hall was full rather than between classes when the hall was used in a much more casual fashion) required close to 600 unique uniforms in order to dress all of the students at Hogwarts.
The Twins Complimented Each Other… But Rarely Matched
Though there are some times in the series where the twins are dressed in matching outfits, the wardrobe department did their best to ensure that the twins would compliment each other but not be dressed in identical garments.
When one twin wore stripes, the other twin would often be seen wearing an outfit of a similar colour but with a checkered pattern instead. If one twin was wearing a cool green vest (i.e. a green vest with a blue base,) the other twin would be in a much warmer green. Though it is important to note that the twins did tend to stay within the established Weasley Earth-toned palette when out of uniform.
Femininity Inspired The Beauxbatons Looks
Though we will never understand why the filmmakers made the decision to make Beauxbatons a girls academy and Durmstrang a school for boys (when they were both mixed in the books,) it is important to note that this decision affected the costumes which the students from each academy wore.
The goal for the Beauxbatons uniforms was to make them exude a traditional sort of femininity at all times. Therefore chiffon and silk were the preferred fabrics. These fabrics gave the costumes the delicate movement and textures that the wardrobe department was looking for.
Tonk’s Had To Abandon Her Signature Locks
Fans of the book will recall that Tonks often wore her hair in a rather shocking shade of bubble-gum pink rather than the darker shade of lilac that she sported in the films. Though some were not happy with the change, it was done in order to prevent viewers from associating her with Umbridge.
Often, in film, two characters are given complementary colours in order to get viewers to subconsciously connect the pair. Giving Tonks purple hair instead of her signature pink locks prevented such things from happening.
The Yule Ball Was Designed With Youth In Mind
One of the most important things that went into the design for Hermione’s dress was her age. The costume designers did not want her dress to age her or to look like something she would have borrowed from an older female family member.
Light fabrics, like chiffon, and certain feminine details (like the ribbon and the delicate sleeves) were chosen to keep the dress rather youthful and to make it feel like a dress Hermione would have worn to her prom or sixteenth birthday (had she been raised as a muggle.)
Each Death Eater Mask Is Unique
The masks which the Death Eaters can be seen wearing in several scenes throughout the later films are truly special. Each and every mask has a unique and incredibly detailed design carved into its surface.
It is also worth noting that each Death Eater has their own mask that they consistently wear whenever such things are necessary. Which makes us wonder whether or not the Death Eaters hosted an arts and crafts afternoon where they designed their masks as a group, if they did so on their own, or if they were given masks that came with said designs.
Evanna Influenced Luna’s Look
Evanna Lynch might be the biggest Harry Potter fan of all time. Not only was she lucky enough to be part of the films themselves but the way in which she portrayed the character actually affected how Rowling wrote Luna in the following books in which she appeared.
It is important to note that Evanna took a rather hands-on approach to her character and assisted the wardrobe department with making several of her costumes and beloved accessories. Evanna made Luna’s famous radish earrings herself (as she is rumoured to have even worn them to her audition) and also assisted the prop department with the construction of her iconic Lion hat.
Next: Harry Potter: 10 Times Luna Lovegood Was The Smartest Character
