The Biggest Costume Mistakes That Made It Into The Movies
Each department in a movie is in charge of making sure that every frame is as flawless as it possibly can be. The wardrobe department undoubtedly has one of the biggest jobs because it is said that costumes play a significant role in developing a movie's world and characters. Each character's outfit is chosen by a different group of professionals, including costume designers, artisans, and on-set dressers. Their clothes not only immerse us in the setting and historical period of the narrative, but they also perfectly capture the personalities of each character.
A hefty workload makes mistakes occasionally inevitable. Take "Django Unchained" as an illustration. Django wore sunglasses 70 years before they were created. How could that possibly make any sense at all? We find it hard to believe that no one seemed to have noticed these mistakes before they made it to the final cut.
These are some costume mistakes that movies committed that observant viewers just cannot overlook.
Knightley’s character, Lizzie, wears rubber Wellington boots at one point in the film. As Pride & Prejudice takes place around 1835, this presents a challenge. Wellington boots really previously existed, but they were constructed completely of leather. Until 1853, the rubber variant was not commercially available.
Glory takes place during the 1860s, yet one contemporary gadget got into the movie undetected. An extra is briefly spotted sporting a digital watch in one scene. This device didn’t show up in the United States until 1920. They obviously forgot to take it off before the cameras started rolling in this instance.
In one scene, soldier Jim Morita is shown conversing via an earphone. With the film taking place during World War Two, this specific technology wouldn’t have existed during that time. There were other mistakes in the movie as well. For women serving in the Army, wearing one's hair down is still prohibited, as is the case with Peggy Carter.
Morrison's admirers praised Kilmer for his rendition of the singer. However, his preferred sunglasses made the costume a little distracting. The aviator sunglasses he wore didn’t come into favor until the ’80s. The publication of the movie helped the Doors connect with a new generation of fans, so the surviving band members didn't appear to mind.
There are issues with Baby's choice of clothing because the movie is set in the summer of 1963. In the film, she is shown wearing denim shorts, which were trendy in the ’80s. Given that the movie was released in 1987, it's plausible that the creators just missed this mistake.
Gibson erred by having the Scots wear kilts in the movie, despite the fact that Braveheart is set in the 13th century. The kilt wasn’t truly worn until the 16th century, and the garment didn’t become identified with Scotland until the 19th century. Fortunately for Gibson, the audience didn't appear to worry about the other historical inaccuracies that were included in Braveheart.
Redcoat soldiers appear in the picture, but their look is a huge concern because they were wearing uniforms that weren’t utilized until 1747. Pirates of the Caribbean takes place in the early 1700s. This can be attributed to a costume department error because the movie didn't include a time travel subplot.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade takes place in 1938, and various historical mistakes were visible based on that time period. For example, the Nazi soldiers are portrayed sporting World War II medals in their outfits. Medals for either army wouldn't have existed until later because the actual conflict didn't start until the next year.
Firth's kilt has an Irish pattern on it in one moment. In actuality, the British family wears kilts with the Scottish Balmoral pattern, and many Scottish locals were offended by this misunderstanding. According to historian Peter MacDonald, "the expertise would have been available to the filmmakers if they had bothered to ask."
In the movie, Helen Mirren frequently dons a neck ruff, which was a fashionable garment in England. She, unfortunately, wore it incorrectly. Shirts that reach the neck should always be worn with neck ruffs. Mirren and Hooper apparently didn't get the warning because the actress is shown with her shoulders bare.
For one thing, several of the ladies in the movie are depicted with bare legs. This choice of clothing was inappropriate during the 1940s, the decade of the Pearl Harbor attacks. Before starting their daily activities, women took care to put on their stockings. The beach was the one place where they could avoid wearing stockings.
Anne Baxter, an Oscar-winning actress, was praised for her depiction of the Egyptian queen Nefertari. Her performance was excellent, but something about her aqua-blue clothing raised some questions. At that time, aqua-blue was an unattainable color. The clothing was dyed to seem teal, but because of the cameras, the color decision backfired.
Django Freeman, played by actor Jamie Foxx, consents to find the Brittle brothers. While this movie is set in the nineteenth century, Foxx's sunglasses in it aren't even real. In 1929, the general public first gained access to his cool sunglasses. In addition to the eyeglasses, the movie included other historical errors concerning slavery.
Senator Quintas Attius Corvus is portrayed in the movie by Kiefer Sutherland. In the movie, he wears purple, which is a significant historical error. The emperor at the time, Nero, is said to have executed everyone who wore purple, according to history. In ancient Rome, he was the only one permitted to dress in the "royal" hue.
Lilah Black, who is represented by Megan Fox in the film, looks different than she does in the comics. She has no scars on her body, and unlike the original material, her left eye is unharmed. She is dressed improperly for the occasion as well. Such exposing clothing was not worn by women during the Civil War.
Soldiers are seen in the movie with black boots. This is false as military boots of that shade weren't produced until the 1950s. Soldiers at the time really wore brown boots while on operations. Many viewers, including some military veterans, failed to notice this unimportant fact.
Amy Adams, a Golden Globe winner, played Brenda Strong in the movie, which was her breakthrough performance. Her wired braces were something others noted about her personality. This was a minor issue because the movie was set in the early 1960s. It took another ten years for braces to be included in dental care.
Although the movie is set in the 1960s, director Franc Roddam unintentionally overlooked something. Despite the fact that the band didn't actually start until June 1975, a Motorhead shirt is seen in the film. Of course, the band had garnered attention with two studio albums by the time the movie was released in 1979.
Police officers are seen in the movie wearing name tags as they move around. This was a small concern because the movie was set in the 1950s. Before 1967, name tags for police personnel were not permitted to be worn in public. However, audiences didn't seem to notice this mistake because of the excellent acting.
Stoddard Thorsen, Richie DiMaso's employer, was played in the movie by Louis C.K. He can be seen on camera sporting a contemporary Rolex watch. Regrettably, the film's setting in 1978 didn't involve the model he was wearing. One of the premium watch company's older models, which was introduced as early as 1953, may have been on his person.
Although Scorsese had the proper idea for old New York, the finished product nevertheless lacked something. Modern-day firemen may be seen in the backdrop of the film wearing their gear. In the nineteenth century, firemen battled blazing fires all around the city while dressed very differently.
A baby is depicted in the movie using a contemporary diaper. As Sense and Sensibility is set in the 19th century, there were no diapers of this kind. Cotton diapers were still widely used at the time, but disposable diapers weren't available for several more years.
FBI agents can be seen playing golf in one clip. Although not odd, they are sporting Nike golf spikes. The general public was not able to purchase these Nike sneakers until 1996, thanks to golfer Tiger Woods' endorsement of them. In the movie, events happen between 1992 and 1995.
A hefty workload makes mistakes occasionally inevitable. Take "Django Unchained" as an illustration. Django wore sunglasses 70 years before they were created. How could that possibly make any sense at all? We find it hard to believe that no one seemed to have noticed these mistakes before they made it to the final cut.
These are some costume mistakes that movies committed that observant viewers just cannot overlook.
#1 Pride & Prejudice
Source: Focus Features/YouTube
Knightley’s character, Lizzie, wears rubber Wellington boots at one point in the film. As Pride & Prejudice takes place around 1835, this presents a challenge. Wellington boots really previously existed, but they were constructed completely of leather. Until 1853, the rubber variant was not commercially available.
#2 Glory
Source: TriStar Pictures/YouTube
Glory takes place during the 1860s, yet one contemporary gadget got into the movie undetected. An extra is briefly spotted sporting a digital watch in one scene. This device didn’t show up in the United States until 1920. They obviously forgot to take it off before the cameras started rolling in this instance.
#3 Captain America: The First Avenger
Source: Marvel Studios/Fandom
In one scene, soldier Jim Morita is shown conversing via an earphone. With the film taking place during World War Two, this specific technology wouldn’t have existed during that time. There were other mistakes in the movie as well. For women serving in the Army, wearing one's hair down is still prohibited, as is the case with Peggy Carter.
#4 The Doors
Source: Tri-Star Pictures/Radiator Heaven
Morrison's admirers praised Kilmer for his rendition of the singer. However, his preferred sunglasses made the costume a little distracting. The aviator sunglasses he wore didn’t come into favor until the ’80s. The publication of the movie helped the Doors connect with a new generation of fans, so the surviving band members didn't appear to mind.
#5 Dirty Dancing
Source: Vestron Pictures/YouTube
There are issues with Baby's choice of clothing because the movie is set in the summer of 1963. In the film, she is shown wearing denim shorts, which were trendy in the ’80s. Given that the movie was released in 1987, it's plausible that the creators just missed this mistake.
#6 Braveheart
Source: Paramount Pictures/YouTube
Gibson erred by having the Scots wear kilts in the movie, despite the fact that Braveheart is set in the 13th century. The kilt wasn’t truly worn until the 16th century, and the garment didn’t become identified with Scotland until the 19th century. Fortunately for Gibson, the audience didn't appear to worry about the other historical inaccuracies that were included in Braveheart.
#7 Pirates of the Caribbean
Source: Disney/YouTube
Redcoat soldiers appear in the picture, but their look is a huge concern because they were wearing uniforms that weren’t utilized until 1747. Pirates of the Caribbean takes place in the early 1700s. This can be attributed to a costume department error because the movie didn't include a time travel subplot.
#8 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Source: Lucasfilm/Kiss Them Goodbye
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade takes place in 1938, and various historical mistakes were visible based on that time period. For example, the Nazi soldiers are portrayed sporting World War II medals in their outfits. Medals for either army wouldn't have existed until later because the actual conflict didn't start until the next year.
#9 The King’s Speech
Source: Momentum Pictures/Kiss Them Goodbye
Firth's kilt has an Irish pattern on it in one moment. In actuality, the British family wears kilts with the Scottish Balmoral pattern, and many Scottish locals were offended by this misunderstanding. According to historian Peter MacDonald, "the expertise would have been available to the filmmakers if they had bothered to ask."
#10 Elizabeth I
Source: HBO/YouTube
In the movie, Helen Mirren frequently dons a neck ruff, which was a fashionable garment in England. She, unfortunately, wore it incorrectly. Shirts that reach the neck should always be worn with neck ruffs. Mirren and Hooper apparently didn't get the warning because the actress is shown with her shoulders bare.
#11 Pearl Harbor
Source: Buena Vista Pictures/Wikimedia
For one thing, several of the ladies in the movie are depicted with bare legs. This choice of clothing was inappropriate during the 1940s, the decade of the Pearl Harbor attacks. Before starting their daily activities, women took care to put on their stockings. The beach was the one place where they could avoid wearing stockings.
#12 The Ten Commandments
Source: Paramount Pictures/YouTube
Anne Baxter, an Oscar-winning actress, was praised for her depiction of the Egyptian queen Nefertari. Her performance was excellent, but something about her aqua-blue clothing raised some questions. At that time, aqua-blue was an unattainable color. The clothing was dyed to seem teal, but because of the cameras, the color decision backfired.
#13 Django Unchained
Source: Columbia Pictures/Movie Screencaps
Django Freeman, played by actor Jamie Foxx, consents to find the Brittle brothers. While this movie is set in the nineteenth century, Foxx's sunglasses in it aren't even real. In 1929, the general public first gained access to his cool sunglasses. In addition to the eyeglasses, the movie included other historical errors concerning slavery.
#14 Pompeii
Source: FilmDistrict/Kiss Them Goodbye
Senator Quintas Attius Corvus is portrayed in the movie by Kiefer Sutherland. In the movie, he wears purple, which is a significant historical error. The emperor at the time, Nero, is said to have executed everyone who wore purple, according to history. In ancient Rome, he was the only one permitted to dress in the "royal" hue.
#15 Jonah Hex
Source: Warner Bros. Pictures/YouTube
Lilah Black, who is represented by Megan Fox in the film, looks different than she does in the comics. She has no scars on her body, and unlike the original material, her left eye is unharmed. She is dressed improperly for the occasion as well. Such exposing clothing was not worn by women during the Civil War.
#16 Saving Private Ryan
Source: DreamWorks Pictures/YouTube
Soldiers are seen in the movie with black boots. This is false as military boots of that shade weren't produced until the 1950s. Soldiers at the time really wore brown boots while on operations. Many viewers, including some military veterans, failed to notice this unimportant fact.
#17 Catch Me If You Can
Source: DreamWorks Pictures/IMDb
Amy Adams, a Golden Globe winner, played Brenda Strong in the movie, which was her breakthrough performance. Her wired braces were something others noted about her personality. This was a minor issue because the movie was set in the early 1960s. It took another ten years for braces to be included in dental care.
#18 Quadrophenia
Source: Universal Pictures/YouTube
Although the movie is set in the 1960s, director Franc Roddam unintentionally overlooked something. Despite the fact that the band didn't actually start until June 1975, a Motorhead shirt is seen in the film. Of course, the band had garnered attention with two studio albums by the time the movie was released in 1979.
#19 Good Night, and Good Luck
Source: Warner Independent Pictures/Leave Me The White
Police officers are seen in the movie wearing name tags as they move around. This was a small concern because the movie was set in the 1950s. Before 1967, name tags for police personnel were not permitted to be worn in public. However, audiences didn't seem to notice this mistake because of the excellent acting.
#20 American Hustle
Source: Columbia Pictures/YouTube
Stoddard Thorsen, Richie DiMaso's employer, was played in the movie by Louis C.K. He can be seen on camera sporting a contemporary Rolex watch. Regrettably, the film's setting in 1978 didn't involve the model he was wearing. One of the premium watch company's older models, which was introduced as early as 1953, may have been on his person.
#21 Gangs of New York
Source: Miramax Films/YouTube
Although Scorsese had the proper idea for old New York, the finished product nevertheless lacked something. Modern-day firemen may be seen in the backdrop of the film wearing their gear. In the nineteenth century, firemen battled blazing fires all around the city while dressed very differently.
#22 Sense and Sensibility
Source: Sony Pictures Releasing/Miss-Dashwood
A baby is depicted in the movie using a contemporary diaper. As Sense and Sensibility is set in the 19th century, there were no diapers of this kind. Cotton diapers were still widely used at the time, but disposable diapers weren't available for several more years.
#23 The Informant!
Source: Warner Bros. Pictures/YouTube
FBI agents can be seen playing golf in one clip. Although not odd, they are sporting Nike golf spikes. The general public was not able to purchase these Nike sneakers until 1996, thanks to golfer Tiger Woods' endorsement of them. In the movie, events happen between 1992 and 1995.
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