Similarly to filmmakers, costume designers also like to play mind games with audiences. They tell the character’s story through outfits. The costume's colors, shapes, materials, and other aspects are filled with secrets and foreshadowing details. Sadly, these hints tend to be ignored.
So let’s give these costume designers more exposure and highlight their hard work. Here are 10 movie outfits secrets that you might have missed while watching your favorite flicks.
In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Dolores Umbridge’s costumes changed their shades as she gained more power. The stronger she was, the darker the shade of pink would be. And because pink was her trademark color, the movie producers changed Nymphadora Tonks’ hair color to purple instead of pink like in the books.
Chris Evans’ clothes in Knives Out are a little bit sloppy. This is to create a sort of nonchalant but debonair look for his character. You can see that there were holes in his sweater. The soles of his shoes were also worn out. These details made him stand out from the rest of the family and showed how much of a black sheep costume he was.
Wade’s T-shirt during the X-men’s mansion scene has a picture of 2 cats on it. The cats are Olivia and Meredith and they are Taylor Swift’s pets. The singer is a close friend of Ryan Reynolds and his wife in real life.
The iconic red dress that Sabrina wears at the Academy of Unseen Arts is a copy of Mia Farrow’s dress in the classic horror movie Rosemary’s Baby. The series also has a lot of other references to horror classics, such as The Exorcist and Nightmare on Elm Street.
For years viewers have been wondering if the ending scene in Inception was real or if it was all a dream. The true answer hides in the clothes of Cobb’s kids. In the ending scene, their clothes were changed and looked a little different from the dream scenes. Audiences could also see their faces, which indicated that Cobb had indeed woken up.
Jo and Laurie constantly wear each other’s clothes throughout the movie. They share articles of clothing such as vests all the time. This is to show that they are each other’s other half. The pair belong together.
When Donna was a young woman, she wears a large butterfly pendant. The butterflies in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again symbolizes her free spirit. She can fly to wherever she wants and do whatever she wishes. Sophie also wears a butterfly dress, which shows the connection between mother and daughter.
The outfits of the 3 protagonists during the casino scene show the traditional colors of African culture. Nakia’s attire is green, T’Challa’s suit is black, and Okoye’s dress is red. These colors would repeatedly appear throughout the whole movie. The foreigners, such as the blonde woman in the background, are marked with blue outfits. Blue only appears when foreigners and external elements not belonging to Wakanda show up.
Will’s costume is less put together than other boys’ costumes. It’s oversize, and you can tell it’s made at home and with fewer resources. This shows that Will’s mother had less time and money than other families in town.
After Boromir passed away, Aragorn would continue to honor him by wearing his bracers throughout the entire The Lord of the Rings trilogy. This was to keep his memories about Boromir alive in his battles.
So let’s give these costume designers more exposure and highlight their hard work. Here are 10 movie outfits secrets that you might have missed while watching your favorite flicks.
1. The color pink and Dolores Umbridge in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Source: Warner Bros. Pictures/ Courtesy of Everett Collection
In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Dolores Umbridge’s costumes changed their shades as she gained more power. The stronger she was, the darker the shade of pink would be. And because pink was her trademark color, the movie producers changed Nymphadora Tonks’ hair color to purple instead of pink like in the books.
2. Chris Evans’ clothes in Knives Out
Source: Lionsgate/ Courtesy of Everett Collection
Chris Evans’ clothes in Knives Out are a little bit sloppy. This is to create a sort of nonchalant but debonair look for his character. You can see that there were holes in his sweater. The soles of his shoes were also worn out. These details made him stand out from the rest of the family and showed how much of a black sheep costume he was.
3. Ryan Reynolds’ shirt in Deadpool 2
Source: 20th Century Fox/ Courtesy of Everett Collection
Wade’s T-shirt during the X-men’s mansion scene has a picture of 2 cats on it. The cats are Olivia and Meredith and they are Taylor Swift’s pets. The singer is a close friend of Ryan Reynolds and his wife in real life.
4. Sabrina’s dress in The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Source: Netflix/ Courtesy of Everett Collection
The iconic red dress that Sabrina wears at the Academy of Unseen Arts is a copy of Mia Farrow’s dress in the classic horror movie Rosemary’s Baby. The series also has a lot of other references to horror classics, such as The Exorcist and Nightmare on Elm Street.
5. The Clothes Of Cobb’s kids in Inception
Source: Warner Bros. Pictures/ Courtesy of Everett Collection
For years viewers have been wondering if the ending scene in Inception was real or if it was all a dream. The true answer hides in the clothes of Cobb’s kids. In the ending scene, their clothes were changed and looked a little different from the dream scenes. Audiences could also see their faces, which indicated that Cobb had indeed woken up.
6. Jo and Laurie’s vests in Little Women
Source: Sony Pictures Releasing/ Courtesy of Everett Collection
Jo and Laurie constantly wear each other’s clothes throughout the movie. They share articles of clothing such as vests all the time. This is to show that they are each other’s other half. The pair belong together.
7. The butterflies in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
Source: Universal Pictures/ Courtesy of Everett Collection
When Donna was a young woman, she wears a large butterfly pendant. The butterflies in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again symbolizes her free spirit. She can fly to wherever she wants and do whatever she wishes. Sophie also wears a butterfly dress, which shows the connection between mother and daughter.
8. The colors in Black Panther
Source: Marvel/ Courtesy of Everett Collection
The outfits of the 3 protagonists during the casino scene show the traditional colors of African culture. Nakia’s attire is green, T’Challa’s suit is black, and Okoye’s dress is red. These colors would repeatedly appear throughout the whole movie. The foreigners, such as the blonde woman in the background, are marked with blue outfits. Blue only appears when foreigners and external elements not belonging to Wakanda show up.
9. Will’s Halloween costume in Stranger Things
Source: Netflix/ Courtesy of Everett Collection
Will’s costume is less put together than other boys’ costumes. It’s oversize, and you can tell it’s made at home and with fewer resources. This shows that Will’s mother had less time and money than other families in town.
10. Boromir and Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Source: New Line Cinema/ Courtesy of Everett Collection
After Boromir passed away, Aragorn would continue to honor him by wearing his bracers throughout the entire The Lord of the Rings trilogy. This was to keep his memories about Boromir alive in his battles.