Why Are Game Of Thrones Costumes Inconsistent

Why Are Game of Thrones Costumes Inconsistent?

Ever watched an episode of Game of Thrones and thought, “Wait, did that character change outfits again?” You’re not alone! The world of Westeros is filled with amazing costumes, from shimmering gowns to sturdy leather armor. But sometimes, these outfits seem to shift and change a lot, leaving fans wondering, “Why are they so inconsistent?” It’s not because the costume designers weren’t good at their jobs. In fact, they were incredibly talented! But there are many reasons behind these shifts and changes we see throughout the seasons.

The Passage of Time and Character Development

One of the biggest reasons for costume changes is simply that time passes in the show. Characters grow and change, and their clothing reflects these changes. Just like in real life, a young character might start with simple clothes and then move to more elaborate or practical attire as they mature and gain more power. Think about Sansa Stark. In the beginning, she wears pretty dresses that show her girlish nature and love for fairy tales. As she goes through terrible experiences, her clothes become darker, more structured, and almost armor-like, showcasing her growing strength and her role as a political figure. This type of transformation is a conscious choice of the costume designers to tell the story through visuals.

Adapting to New Environments

The environment a character is in also plays a huge role in their clothing choices. Imagine someone trying to wear heavy furs in a hot desert or light, flowing dresses in the cold North. It simply would not work! So, the costume designers often had to change up what a character wore when they moved to a new location in Westeros.

• Characters in King’s Landing, a warmer city, tend to wear bright colors and silks.
• Those in the North, like Winterfell, wear practical, layered clothing made of wools and furs.
• When characters travel across Westeros, you often see a change to their wardrobe to accommodate the change in climate. For example, when Daenerys travels through the Dothraki Sea, she adapts to wearing lighter clothing.

These changes aren’t just random; they are all very much intentional to make the story as believable as possible.

The Needs of the Story

Beyond time and location, sometimes costumes change because the story calls for it. Certain plot points or character arcs need to be visually emphasized with what a character wears. For example, when a character is trying to blend in or disguise themselves, they will often wear clothing that is different from their usual look.

Symbolism in Costumes

The costumes in Game of Thrones were very symbolic. Certain colors, fabrics, and styles were chosen very deliberately to represent different things. For example:

• Red: Often used for the Lannisters, signifying wealth, power, and sometimes even danger.
• White: Seen on characters like the Night King or those in the far north, symbolizing coldness and purity.
• Black: Associated with the Night’s Watch and characters who have gone through tragedy or loss.
• Leather: Often worn by warriors and people who need to move freely.
• Silks and Brocades: More for the wealthy and powerful.

These symbolic choices help to tell the story without words and provide a deeper meaning to each character’s journey. The changes in these symbolic elements also show changes in character’s status.

Practicality and Production Challenges

Creating costumes for a show the size of Game of Thrones is a huge challenge! The production team had to deal with many practical challenges that affected the design and consistency of the costumes.

Budget Constraints and Availability

A show like Game of Thrones had a very large budget, but there were still limits. Some costumes needed to be made in large numbers, like the armor for soldiers, while others, like those for main characters, could have more detail. This impacted the materials, level of detail, and availability of certain types of costumes.

Changes in Costume Designers and Teams

Over the many years that Game of Thrones was in production, there were many changes in the costume department. Different designers and teams can bring different ideas and styles to the table, and this sometimes resulted in slight variations in the costumes. It’s natural for different creative individuals to see things in their own unique way, and this can lead to variations in style. However, the overall goal always remained to serve the story. The show runners tried to keep the styles consistent, but changes did happen as the production evolved.

Wear and Tear

Costumes were often damaged during filming, especially during action scenes. They needed to be repaired or replaced, and sometimes there were slight variations in the replacements. Think about the many battles throughout the series; those costumes took a beating! In those scenes, it’s natural to have slight differences in the replaced ones.

Evolution of Character Styles

As mentioned before, the evolution of character styles played a huge role in how the costumes changed throughout the series.

From Simple Beginnings to Elaborate Designs

Many characters started out with very basic or simple costumes. As their importance in the story grew, their costumes also became more complex. This isn’t inconsistency, but a reflection of their growth and change in status. The costume design is a key ingredient to show how characters evolve throughout the series.

Reflecting Inner Turmoil

Sometimes characters costumes would change dramatically to reflect their inner turmoil, a change in alliance, or some major event. For example, someone who is experiencing great loss or change in beliefs may change their overall style of dress. This was seen in many of the characters throughout the series, and is meant to help tell their individual story. In this instance, changes in costume were designed very deliberately to tell more about the character.

The Impact of Fan Perception and Expectations

Let’s be honest, the fans of Game of Thrones are very dedicated and have a very high attention to detail. Sometimes the inconsistencies that fans point out are not really inconsistencies but instead subtle variations that many may have overlooked. Also, what one fan sees as inconsistent, another may see as a logical and natural change in costume.

The Power of Close-Ups and Attention to Detail

With so many high-quality close-ups and shots, fans get to see a lot of detail in the costumes. This is both a good and a bad thing. On the one hand, viewers get to appreciate all the work that went into the costume designs. But on the other hand, they often notice small inconsistencies that otherwise might be overlooked.

Differing Interpretations

Fans have different ways of understanding and interpreting the characters and their costumes. What looks like an inconsistency to one fan may be perfectly reasonable to another. This is part of what makes the show so enjoyable; that is, viewers can engage in thoughtful conversations and have different interpretations and opinions.

Examples of Notable Costume Shifts and Inconsistencies

Let’s take a look at some specific examples where you may have noticed these shifts:

Daenerys Targaryen

Daenerys’s wardrobe evolved dramatically throughout the series. Her clothing style went from simple fabrics in the beginning to elaborate gowns, often in shades of blue and white, that reflected her Targaryen lineage as her power grew. During her time in Meereen, she started wearing more tailored and practical clothing. When she went north, she wore darker furs, while still having touches of Targaryen style. Each change in her costume reflects her changing circumstances and role in the story.

Sansa Stark

Sansa went through perhaps the most dramatic transformation of all, from a young girl in pretty dresses to the powerful Lady of Winterfell in dark, structured gowns. Her clothes reflected her experiences, from her innocence at King’s Landing to her time under the control of the Lannisters and finally to her rise as a leader. You can clearly see in her costumes the changes in her experience, character, and her position in the North.

Cersei Lannister

Cersei’s costumes were a great example of how power and status affected clothing choices. In the early seasons, her gowns were ornate, and in the later seasons, she was often in more powerful designs, particularly after her time in imprisonment. Even her hairstyles changed to show her new position in power and her state of mind.

Jamie Lannister

Jamie’s look was very much reflective of his changes in character. In the beginning, his armor was very much reflective of the King’s Guard but as he developed, his clothing was more individualized. After losing his hand, Jamie’s costumes also changed to a more practical style to accommodate his disability.

The Night’s Watch

The Night’s Watch’s uniforms were pretty consistent, mostly black or grey clothing, along with simple leather or metal armor. This consistent look reinforced their role as a single unit and their commitment to their purpose. However, as time passed, you can see minor variations due to wear and tear, but they were generally one of the most consistent groups.

The Takeaway

In conclusion, the perceived inconsistencies in Game of Thrones costumes aren’t due to a lack of care or attention. The costumes were meticulously designed to reflect the characters, the environment, and the story. They change as the characters change, and are used to show the passage of time, environmental changes, character development, and the symbolism required to tell the story. So, next time you notice a change in your favorite character’s outfit, remember that it’s often a deliberate storytelling choice.