14 Movies Where the Costumes Got as Much Attention as the Plot

It is said that clothing is a great way to express yourself. The costume communicates who we are to the world, whether you’re modest or flamboyant. It sometimes reveals your personality, religion, and much more. This is the same in cinema.
Every outfit worn in a movie is considered a costume. They help communicate the details of a character’s personality to the viewers and assist actors to transform into new and believable people on screen.
It’s worth mentioning Eniola Salami’s headgear in “King of Boys” or Black Panther’s iconic black suit. These costumes establish the kind of characters actors portray even before they even utter a word or the narrative gradually unfurls them.
Below are 14 movies where costumes really shine. See more interesting articles there: 15+ Costumes That Designers Borrowed from Other Movies, These 16 Actors Couldn’t Stand Their Movie Costumes We All Loved, and 15 Times Movie Costumes Dropped Subtle Hints in Popular Films.

#1 Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (2016)

Source: © Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children / Twentieth Century Fox

Eva Green transforms into a bird in the debut trailer for Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. The filmmaker left us a hint: the character’s sleeves, which were covered with silk and featured a metallic shine. We can notice that when she movies, there are small fluctuations in the pattern on her sleeves.

#2 Cruella (2021)

Source: © Cruella / Walt Disney Pictures

The moment when Cruella appeared from a garbage in her unique dress amazed all viewers. The costume was so heavy that the actress couldn’t move. The designer added the train onto the dress at the last minute when she got onto the garbage truck to shoot that part.

#3 The Witches (2020)

Source: © The Witches / Warner Bros.

In the movie, the witches have to wear gloves to hide their 3 fingers. Take a closer look, you’ll see that some fingers never bend because they aren’t there. The costume designers did a great job.

#4 Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)

Source: © Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald / Warner Bros.

Viewers were impressed by the transformation of a cursed girl into a snake. It took a long time for the costume designer to create a good effect for the transformation. The costume was created with lace and foil. Its sleeves and the bottom were added frills.

#5 House of Gucci (2021)

Source: © House of Gucci / BRON Studios

In the movie, Lady Gaga wore 54 different outfits and it is surprising that no details are repeated. The costume that got the attention most is her gorgeous white dress with handmade lace and a heart-shaped bodice.
The costume designers explained it this way, “The dress captures the authentically happy period in Patrizia and Maurizio’s relationship.”

#6 The Tourist (2010)

Source: © The Tourist / GK Films

The costume designer spent 7 weeks making Angelina Jolie’s glorious black dress. The dress consisted of layers of black silk and satin with a pleated, layered edge. The designer shared, “We wanted a dress that was really feminine, that harked maybe to another time and elegance, but that didn’t take away from the necklace. It framed her face and body beautifully.”

Source: © The Tourist / GK Films

#7 Dune (2021)

Source: © Dune / Warner Bros.

The protection suit Zendaya’s character wore in “Dune” caught much attention. The creators said, “The still suits had to fit a lot of different people and look as good on Jason Momoa, who is 6’4”, as it does on Rebecca Ferguson, who is petite and 5’5″.”

#8 Midsommar (2019)

Source: © Midsommar / A24

5 dedicated costume designers had to work hard for 1 month to create the character Dani Ardor’s dress. They sewed 10,000 silk flowers to the dress look natural. Not only the costume but the flower crown was so heavy that the actress just could sit down in between takes.

#9 Doctor Sleep (2019)

Source: © Doctor Sleep / Warner Bros.

The designers used costumes to reveal what Rebecca Ferguson’s character really is. The top hat became the center of attention. Even though she put on modern clothes, the hat is a sign that she has been in previous eras. It makes her look like a creepy magician.

#10 Cinderella (2015)

Source: © Cinderella / Walt Disney Pictures

The costume designers had a hard time creating Cinderella’s wedding dress. To make it not look boring, they even embroidered the dress with flowers by hand.

#11 It (2017)

Source: © It / New Line Cinema

The designers tried to convey that Pennywise has been living for more than 100 years. The images of clowns and acrobats from different eras: Victorian, Elizabethan, and Renaissance inspired them to create clothes with folds, looking like an organic substance.

#12 Last Night in Soho (2021)

Source: © Last Night in Soho / Complete Fiction

To make Anya’s appearance impressive but not break her character, the costume designers decided to make a peach-colored dress. They said, “I wondered where she’d have gotten a dress that’s so glamorous. She’s not a woman of means. Most people [at that time] made their own clothes with paper patterns, so I used those as references.”.

#13 Spencer (2021)

Source: © East News, © Spencer / Shoebox Films

The costume designers wanted to create dresses that everyone would believe they belong to the real Diana. However, they didn’t copy exactly the clothes. Moreover, to save the film’s budget, they bought a 1980s wedding dress and changed it a bit.

#14 Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)

Source: © Avatar: The Way of Water / 20th Century Studios and co-producers

Many outfits in the movies resulted from over 200 hours of intense crafting and designing. It is shocking that the number doesn’t include the process of the research. The designers created a breastplate, which is either ornamental or a sign of rank.