COSTUMES IN F I LM

In films, costumes are influenced by different factors such as time period, and age and mental state of the character. I will explore these in order to create a costume for our own character Dan.

TIME PERIOD

Tron Legacy

The Duchess

The time period of the film can effect the costumes that the characters wear. For example, stereotypically futuristic costumes are worn in the 2010 remake of Tron Legacy, featuring skin-tight black and white bodysuits, decorated by panels of light. Yet, in period dramas such as The Duchess, historically accurate costumes are designed using evidence such as literature and illustrations from the time. Hair and make up also plays an important part in the costume, such as the very fashionable wig worn by women in the Georgian period in the Duchess, and an unusual diagonal cut bob with heavy black eyeliner as worn in Tron.

PRESENT DAY

However, costumes are more diverse in present day films as it is what we recognise and are used to and so need extra information to distinguish character types and personalities. Costumers even sometimes source their costumes from popular highstreet stores such as Topshop, for example, the Australian soap Neighbours credit the shops where their costumes are sourced, mentioning such shops. This is to create a sense of normal life people and distinguish their ages, personality and in some cases, social group.

AGECostumes can reflect different ages. For example, an elderly character may wear old-fashioned clothes, with grey hair and glasses and use these stereotypes to create understanding for the audience.

The Notebook

SOCIAL GROUPIn present day, there is more of a divide in social groups, rather than economic classes as seen throughout history, presented in period films. Therefore, costumes can be used to represent this, and these stereotypes can create preconceptions about characters before we even get to know them. For example, in Mean Girls, the different social groups at the high school are distinguished by costume, such as the “Varsity Jocks” wear matching blue jackets and the “Plastics” wear designer clothes, which are often pink.

MENTAL STATEA character’s personality or mental state can be projected by their costume. For example, in Secret Window, Mort Rainey becomes a recluse after finding that his wife has had an affair. His state of mind can be inferred through his costume where he gives up on his appearance, with messy, long hair and an old, decrepit dressing gown, therefore also on his life.