Top 10 Epic Movie Costume Designs
#10: “The Great Gatsby” (2013)
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Highlighting the decadence of the roaring ‘20s in the biggest way possible, everything is over-the-top to mirror Gatsby's ambition in this Art Deco soaked adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel. And just like in a well-planned party, no detail is lost in the costuming – from the flamboyant to the subdued, every bit of design works in drawing viewers into Gatsby’s world. Although the film received mixed reviews overall, the look of the thing was overwhelmingly lauded by both critics and audiences, and it was nominated for Best Costume Design from many different award circles, including the Academy Awards – which it won.
#9: “Titanic” (1997)
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Recreating the famous passenger liner wasn’t the only colossal undertaking in James Cameron’s 1997 blockbuster. According to designer Deborah Lynn Scott, it took fifty people a FULL YEAR to costume the entire cast. Accurate costumes in this dramatic period piece helped to draw audiences into the story of the doomed ship and the star-crossed lovers aboard, but it also told a subtle story underneath. Scott was able to use style and texture to bring out Rose’s character, using fiery reds hidden under heavy, adorned blacks to depict the feisty spirit being buried under social traditions. With so much attention to detail, twenty years on the film has barely aged a day.
#8: “Cleopatra” (1963)
Taking a swing in the completely opposite direction on the historical accuracy scale is this Liz Taylor classic. But despite falling short in the realism department, the costume designers were able to achieve the fabled, outrageous splendor of the Egyptian queen and her court. Lavish, over-saturated, and unabashedly reveling in every hue Technicolor had to offer, it wasn’t just the Egyptian queen that made a big scene. With CGI slipping into almost every Hollywood film these days, we are likely never to see a costumed production of this scale on screen again. As the ever decked-out Cleopatra, Elizabeth Taylor broke a Guinness Record at the time for Most Costume Changes in a Film, changing 65 times into increasingly wild getups.
#7: “Amadeus” (1984)
Okay, we admit that one could make a solid argument that some of the costumes here haven’t aged well. Between the plastic wigs, polyester dresses, and really poor lace jobs, this one is starting to show its wear as an ‘80s job. That being said, it captured more than enough Mozartian atmosphere to convince the Oscar committee to hand over a gold statue to costume designer Theodor Pištěk. While the look isn’t perfect, viewers loved the cream-puff hairdos, velvet slippers, and tight bodices. On top of that, “Amadeus” set a high standard for costuming in period pieces and paved the way for future films. That really does rock, Mozart.
#6: “Star Wars” franchise (1977-)
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Drawing inspiration from old comics, westerns, classic cinema, and Japanese tales, the look of “Star Wars” has been frequently imitated, but never duplicated. At the time of “A New Hope”’s release in the late ‘70s, it went completely against the grain in almost every way: robes, full-helmets, and tunics taking the place of traditional shiny spacesuits and overtly “futuristic” fashions. In doing so, George Lucas and team created something that was at once familiar and totally exotic. From Han Solo’s space-cowboy trappings, to Darth Vader’s cape and Samurai inspired armor, to the sleek and menacing presence of the Empire, the echoes of “Star Wars” have rung through almost every sci-fi endeavor since.
#5: “West Side Story” (1961)
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In this 20th century take on “Romeo and Juliet,” a lot of the work to highlight the two contrasting worlds is done through color and costuming. On one hand, there are the Jets, the Caucasian gang of Lincoln Square on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. While they stand out against the backdrop of their own world, they are practically drab when pinned against the vibrant Puerto Rican gang, the Sharks. At the heart of the story are the innocent Maria and Tony, gamely in white and yellow upon first meeting, but in defeated gray and passionate red by the end. It’s a little heavy handed, but it did win designer Irene Sharaff an Oscar.
#4: “The Lord of the Rings” franchise (2001-14)
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Costume designer Ngila Dickson certainly had her work cut out for her when she signed up to help Peter Jackson bring his magnum opus to life. She had to costume not just a few beloved characters, but an entire WORLD. Along with fellow costume designer Richard Taylor, she did an absolutely standup job. Creating culture and themes between each remarkably distinct race in Middle Earth would have been no easy task, from the pastoral Hobbits, to the earthy but enthralling elves, to the brutally savage orcs. But somehow, it all came seamlessly together. Like all great epics, the look of this one is distinct enough to be immediately identifiable, but relatable enough to be timeless.
#3: “Memoirs of a Geisha” (2005)
Set in Japan before and after World War II, this movie presents a dreamlike western gaze on Kyoto at a time when western culture was just beginning to influence the Land of the Rising Sun. The hundreds of costumes required for this film, most of them hand-painted silk kimonos, were created by designer Colleen Atwood in just five months. Like in many films, color was used to bring out certain character traits, in what Atwood considered her “mood” palatte. This exceptionally careful attention to detail makes for some truly arresting scenes like Chiyo’s transformation, Sayuri’s snow dance, and the Chairman and Sayuri’s walk beneath the cherry blossoms.
#2: “Moulin Rouge!” (2001)
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Spectacular indeed. Has there ever been a musical as high octane as this one? To bring that energy to life, and in a way that might do justice to the stars’ incredible singing performances, costume designers Catherine Martin and Angus Strathie pulled no punches. Drawing inspiration from bawdy, late 19th Century Paris cabaret, as well as the allure of classic musicals, they created a vibrantly superficial look for all the characters involved. This works perfectly to propel the film’s restricted plot, creating a story in which the whole world truly is a stage and every interaction a show. By blurring the lines, this romantic musical becomes so much more than a wacky cabaret. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: “Gone with the Wind” (1939) “Mad Max: Fury Road” (2015) “The Fifth Element” (1997)
#1: “The Wizard of Oz” (1939)
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Groundbreaking in scope, nothing quite like this film had ever been attempted before. In fact, the costumes and make-up were considered so good at the time that some of the younger viewers were frightened by the characters. Between the hundreds of extras, and precise costuming for the leads, achieving the storybook look took hundreds of hours. Today, it stands as one of the most iconic movies in cinema history. Every costume and character from this fairy-tale brought to life is instantly recognizable: from the flying monkeys, to the cowardly lion’s saggy-baggy fur, to Dorothy’s ruby slippers – which are now on display at the Smithsonian’s Naitonal Museum of American History. Do you agree with our list? Which movie do you think had the best costume design? For more glamorous top tens published every day, be sure to subscribe to MsMojo.
