#costume symbolism

[joyful-enchantress]

Loki’s costume at the end of S2E6 was perfect.

Yes, every part of it, down to those slippers.

And here’s my unsolicited (and delayed) thoughts on the matter.

First, let’s talk about his robe. Not only was it utterly beautiful, down to the draping and the deep, rich shade of green (and I mean come on, would we expect anything less?), its style was incredibly symbolic.

If you look at previous Loki ensembles, especially the ones that include a horned helmet, there is an air of grandeur and finery about them. The exquisitely stitched, buttery leather; the shiny gold trimmings and metal armor accents; the dramatic, billowing capes and overcoats. Even the silhouette of these looks is broad and structured — one might even say severe. Everything about these past looks screams “Look at me; I’m important” and reinforces Tony’s own observation in The Avengers that Loki is a “full-tilt diva” — he longs for the respect and attention that he deserves (and has been denied almost all of his life) and that longing is reflected in his clothing. They are reminiscent of the royal palace in which he was raised. They allow him to be battle-ready, because he’s had to fight and claw for every scrap of love and attention he’s managed to get. They represent a broken prince. A warrior cloaked in royalty. A would-be-king.

Now, compare that to his robe in Loki S2E6. It isn’t flashy. It has a soft silhouette. The shade of green is deeper and richer than we’ve seen; more earthy. An earthy shade of green which, in my opinion, is a nod to Yggdrasil, the cosmic tree that he will weave the branches of the multiverse into. The gold trimming across the front is subtle and understated - I even missed it at first and didn’t realize there was any gold trimming on the robe at all until I got a closer look later. It is simple. The draping is reminiscent of the robes worn by Buddhist monks. His robe reflects a Loki that has more wisdom and humility, and who has realized that being a good king — a proper god — means he will spend his life in service to others. It is the robe of a man who is confident and self-assured and knows exactly what kind of god he needs to be.

Now let’s talk about the slippers. I noticed that they got quite a bit of flack immediately after the finale aired. And I get it — they’re an odd choice, especially when we are so accustomed to the dramatic boots and finely-crafted and statement-making dress shoes he typically dons. For similar reasons as the robe, they are symbolic and fitting for Loki’s development into a wiser, more humble character. Don’t get me wrong, these loafers are still impeccably stylish, and no doubt they are of the finest craftsmanship, because this is still Loki we are talking about here. But they have a purpose, and that purpose is to get him to his final destination. These simple slippers barely even protect Loki’s feet, showing us a kind of vulnerability that we’re unaccustomed to seeing from Loki. He isn’t guarded in this moment; he’s open, connected to his purpose, and sure of himself. The shoes aren’t for battle; they aren’t meant to impress. They are meant to serve.

Now, about what is, quite possibly, my favorite feature of the costume. The horns. These iconic horns which we’ve associated with Loki from the very beginning take on an entirely reimagined look in the finale. First of all, they are bigger than any set we’ve seen resting upon Loki’s brow. So big, in fact, that they weren’t actually a physical part of the costume Tom Hiddleston wore. So big that they would likely hinder his performance if he actually had to bear their weight on his head.

In addition to their size, the horns are made of the same temporal-infused material from which both HWR’s talisman and the citadel at the end of time are constructed. Gone are the opulent golden horns that glisten and shine with the grandeur of royal finery. These horns are dark and heavy. They symbolize the unfathomable weight of the burden that Loki bears in his godly endeavor to save the multiverse. The golden temporal material that runs throughout the horns like veins is reminiscent, to me, of Kintsugi, the Japanese art of mending broken things with gold. And in a way, Loki is a broken thing that has been healed and mended throughout his personal journey of self-acceptance and friendship, and is now more beautiful than he ever has been. More humble. More selfless. More godly.

In addition to the horns, the cape, too, is the largest we’ve seen Loki wear. And while at first, this dramatically oversized cape may seem to stand in opposition to the humility that the rest of the outfit encapsulates, it works. It works because, like the horns, it is symbolic of the burden Loki has chosen to bear. This cape would be unbearably heavy; it would make even the most basic movement difficult. And on top of its sheer size, his cape even becomes torn into strips that are woven into the timelines themselves, literally securing his burden — his service to the multiverse — around his neck.

Lastly, I want to talk about the way this outfit manifested. There’s been a common thread throughout this discussion about the humility and selflessness that this ensemble puts on display. And while that’s true, we’re talking about a relative level of humility and selflessness, when compared to Loki’s previous tendencies. This is still Loki we’re talking about here. He’s got a flair for the dramatic. He’s nothing if not intentional about the way he presents himself. And the way he marched down that gangway like it was his own personal runway, while his clothing fell away in shreds and tatters to reveal this completely fresh but familiar look, was completely on-brand for him. It was theatrical. It was glorious.

His outfit at the end featured accessories that were heavy and larger than life. Those parts were a burden.

It wasn’t short on the style and drama that we’re so accustomed to seeing from Loki. It was glorious.

And every part of it, down to his humble shoes, was fit for purpose.

One look at this finale costume and you know, without doubt, that Loki is burdened with glorious purpose.

A/N: If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading my unsolicited thoughts on this beautiful piece of costume design! Also, apologies for the delay in posting. I know some of you have been told this post was coming since the night the finale aired, weeks ago. Thank you for your patience with me as I gathered my thoughts and found the time to organize them and type them out.

🏷️ @peachyjinx @acidcasualties @muddyorbsblr @lokischambermaid @lokisgoodgirl @mochie85 @tallseaweed @give-me-a-moose @fictive-sl0th @coldnique @maple-seed @loopsisloops @gigglingtiggerv2 @simplyholl @superficialdomina @mischief2sarawr @ijuststareatstuffhereok89 @wheredafandomat @liminalpebble @ladyofthestayingpower ++

#loki #loki season 2 #loki series #loki show #loki finale #glorious purpose #burdened with glorious purpose #costume design #loki costume #joyful enchantress writes #costume analysis #costume symbolism

[sellingdreams]

Saw someone on twitter posting a collection of details from Alicent's dresses and almost all of them have some kind of chain adornment and it got me thinking about how it could represent her status, seeing as she's been practically enchained all her life by doing Otto's bidding, and even as queen she's still strongly under his influence, and coupled with the scene when Aemond loses his eye when the chain on her dress breaks and it's the only time she ever revolts about her injustices...

Yeah, I'm unwell. And then people have the audacity to say HOTD costume department is lacking like,,

Anyway, I'll add some screencaps and stills for reference

#alicent hightower #alicent #hotd #hotd alicent #hotd costumes #hotd costume department #costume symbolism #house hightower #house of the dragon #house of the dragon alicent #hotd meta #personal

[garnetbutterflysblog]

Is it just me or does the characters have a very symbolic color palette (in particular Mahi and Hürrem)?

Mahi wears a mix of colors that symbolize calmness, stability, approachability and comfort. Even though a few of her gowns so far have not been salmon, beige or brown- the kaftans she wears with them are.

The colors of Hürrem's clothing tend to symbolize youth, passion, desire, confidence, renewal/restoration, and healing.

As for Hafsa, it appears to me that all of her dresses are somewhat symbolic but usually only of her royal status. There are a few worth looking at more in-depth.

The color palettes for Mahi and Hürrem fit their characters, or what I know of them so far. I am really thinking about doing a costume symbolism post per episode, but I'd have to go back and watch the episodes 1 & 3. Maybe in the (hopefully near) future when I have more time on my hands.

#magnificent century #muhteşem yüzyıl #mahidevran sultan #hurrem sultan #hurrem hatun #alexandra hatun #color symbolism #outfit symbolism #hafsa sultan #ayse hafsa sultan #costume symbolism

[royaltea000]

Saw his stage actor and now I can’t act right

#wanna be one of the dogs #tag yourself I’m the one desperately trying to get away from him but failing :/ #this is his musical costume #I saw like two of them but I can’t find the one with Gil in it subbed #if anyone sends me a working link for the musicals with him in it I’ll draw you a free request lol #please I wanna watch em all so bad 😭 #it’s hard being a simp #need him in a way that would get me banned from the church #woof woof woof #hetalia fanart #historical hetalia #hetalia #hws prussia #aph prussia #gilbert beilschmidt #digital art #my art #commissions open #artists on tumblr #digital illustration #fanart #procreate #did you notice how all their collars are red #hashtag symbolism lol

[stagefoureddiediaz]

The Eddie having an orgasm at his naïveté being stripped away (the pink) is truly a thing of beauty - costume and writers I salute you 🫡🫡🫡

#costume symbolism makes me so happy #and being left in only a collar - only the catholic guilt to deal with - chefs kiss no notes #911 spoilers #eddie diaz #911 abc

[saltpepperbeard]

y’all i’m in both david and mark motherbaugh’s walls for this one.

i was going through bits of footage for gifs as i do, and realized that the little note progression in the alma+stede scene sounded very familiar. sure enough...

it’s the same little progression as the pre-kiss confession, just in another key. it’s the lead-in to the love theme.

something something the handling of stede’s heart in both scenes. something something love but in different ways, hence the same song but in different keys. something something love towards stede finally progressing to the intended point.

...tldr, this show is insane for its symbolism and motifs and it’s wild that we keep discovering things over a year after the first season dropped.

#OFMD #Our Flag Means Death #OFMD Vid #Revenge Rambles #Gentlebeard #Blackbonnet #Stede Bonnet #Alma Bonnet #Edward Teach #I'm just #The amount of DETAIL paid to things like this #Be it costuming or music or other symbolic elements #It drives me BANANAS (affectionate) #I love it #Because it's like a TREASURE HUNT #I love finding all the little things they put in here for us #Or even better: I love finding small details that they put in for THEM and thought we wouldn't notice #But we did because we analyze every microsecond of this show HSLKDJS

[mocha-mochii-blog]

guys I just noticed this on the left is Dr. Frank-N-Furter from Rocky Horror and on the right is Mike Wheeler’s main s4 outfit the triangle over the heart on the left was historically used to indicate people as gay and has now become frequent lgbt imagery (e.g. in Robin’s shirt) this is making me crack upppp

#byler #mike wheeler #mike wheeler is gay #stranger things #stranger things costume #byler is real #bi mike truther #bi mike wheeler #closeted mike wheeler #bylerendgame #mike gay symbolism #mike is gay #slay mike #stranger things costumes #byler analysis #mike wheeler analysis

[gibsonsgirl]

it’s something that can be so personal

#succession #succession hbo #suck session #hbo series #waystar royco #logan roy #kendall roy #roman roy #shiv roy #roy siblings #roy family #family dynamics #character analysis #parallels #film parallels #tv shows #costume design #color theory #symbolism

[kingsofgaytham]

i sometimes think about how one of the first things stede did upon waking up and meeting the charming stranger was inviting him into his secret closet and then in the same episode they not only swap clothes but exchange rings too

#please the symbolism is so cute #edpecially seeing that ed doesn't have his rings on after they surrender (are they in a bag? lost forever?) #stede's blue ring is tied to his sea-persona he only wears it as captain bonnet and takes it off when he goes back to mary #ed always wears his red ring (which i think ties with his red silk) except for when he gives it to stede #the red ring is almost a metaphor - for the Edward that struggles inside Blackbeard #it represents his humanity his need for a change and freedom #since he never puts in on bc he's sure stede left him i'm gonna need a scene with them putting on a fine outfit together #that probably wont happen but a girl can dream #and Stede notices the ring and puts it on Ed's finger #anyways the whole rings/sharing a cravat symbolism is fantastic and the costume design team did a phenomenal job #stede bonnet #the gentleman pirate #edward teach #blackbeard #gentlebeard #our flag means death #ofmd #my post

[mejcinta]

It's interesting how we all started by thinking Helaena's dressing in Alicent's colours only to later realise she wears Dreamfyre (Blue) and Sunfyre's (Gold) colours. Also, blue and gold of yellow variety incidentally blends up a greenish shade. 😌 Something you can notice on Jaehaera's dress.

#house of the dragon #costumes and symbolism #helaena targaryen #aegon ii targaryen #jaehaera targaryen #aegon × helaena #helaegon

[jtl-fics]

I am utterly and completely convinced that Kevin, fresh out of the Nest, was given his 02 Palmetto State Fox uniform. He can't wear it yet officially but he has it and he uses it as inspiration. Works out in it for his PT to hype himself up about being able to wear it to official games.

He is then met with the reality that there is no one coming to do his laundry like there was in the nest. He thinks 'Well... hot sanitizes right?" and proceeds to use both warm water and high heat to the point that even the Cotton Synthetic Fiber jersey shrinks to unwearable levels.

Kevin is now faced with the option of going up to Coach Wymack (his secret dad) and admitting his mistake or this is what he has to work with. He tries it on and the crop-top booty shorts combo has Nicky hollering, Andrew staring and Kevin deciding to just admit his mistake and then talk to Abby about how to wash them properly.

#Years later #Nicky re-discovers this combo #because Kevin did not throw it out #It was still like the first silver lining afte rhis hand got crushed #he's attached #But Nicky sees it and is immediately like #COSTUME IDEA: SLUTTY KEVIN DAY. #Kevin is outraged. #Kevin Day #AFTG #AFTG Headcanon #Kevin learned ALL of the symbols on labels after that #Made flashcards #He is the LAUNDRY KING

[dirtytransmasc]

^^ screenshot, not actually my post, I could never say such a thing ^^

I don't really get this take, it's not the first time I've seen it, and it's just... I don't even know.

green is the color of war for her house, but it's also just her house's color, and for a girl ripped up from her life as a hightower and made a Targaryen Queen of all things, she started wearing her house colors compared to her color (blue) or the Targaryen colors (red) probably to cling to some sense of normalcy and identity.

not only that, but from a costuming perspective the symbolism is right there, you're just missing it. it's not about war, that one dress had been war, that's why the comment is made. the color is Alicent no longer trying to be a Targaryen, no longer changing herself and ignoring the pain she's in, and instead being her own person despite her position. she starts wearing green instead of red, the two colors being opposites, when she stops trying to pander to her lost friend, stops trying to fit in and be this new person. she took a stand with that dress, she declared 'war' on this false identity and the fruitless effort she had put in to try and smooth the tensions in the family.

after that, the green is showing she remains herself, a Hightower. not a Targaryen.

I love her green, I love how she holds onto that piece of her, she doesn't let anyone take it or change it. she holds true to herself in this one simple way as to wear her house colors.

also how can you deem a character boring just based on the colors they wear... it's just such a boring and outlandish take.

#she wears different shades snd styles with different accents snd accessories #esch one has its own story own meaning #the symbolism in her costuming fsr outweighs that of Rhaenyra's #even if she wears less colors #plus #greens her color. nothing ever looked better on her #just say you don't like to see my girl slay the green better then Rhaenyra did any of her own colors and get on with it #alicent hightower #anti team black #anti team black fans #pro team green #pro Alicent in green and green only #(though I would have killed to see her blue again. don't get me wrong) #its so integral to her character #even if you go with the “signaling war” idea for every dress #her and her kids were a beacon of war because of the Targaryen's sround her donned in red #she was signalling war #the war Rhaenyra brought by abandoning her causing her to give up her red garb and take on her how color #causing her to need to protect her own #causing the divide that festered into war #I may not love the concept as much as the the one I mentioned earlier in the post but it has good standing

[sunforgrace]

i do think it’s fun and neat how in 5x04 they had endverse dean in green and cas in blue

#im not positing this had some greater meaning btw but costume design is neat! i love character color palettes i love leitmotifs i love #associated symbols and traits

[bunnyshideawayy]

she knows how Joan of Arc felt 🫀

#dune #dune 2 #dune 2024 #dune part two #dune part 2 #dune: part two #dune: part 2 #princess irulan corrino #princess irulan #irulan corrino #joan of arc #joan of ark #costuming #symbolism #historically inspired #the smiths

[kdbleu]

Costuming and The Bear...

So, costuming on TV, in a movie always means something even if it’s only a representation of the character. The Bear seems to use that on the next level, too, on the more thematic/symbolic level.

Richie wearing only Beef merchandise is the most obvious use of both these ideas, because it’s not subtle, like Richie is not subtle. His adherence to the Beef dress code shows that his character is tied more to the past than the present/future, and that he’s outside the rest of the group as the kitchen staff dons the new blue aprons. The only exception Richie makes in the present is when he’s on a date. Which says something too. That Richie knows how to fit social expectations. Even how to impress if he keeps his mouth shut.

Clear, color separation is used with Sugar. She wears civvies because she doesn’t work in the kitchen, but she’s in orange, the opposite of blue on the color wheel in the pilot, and pink, a social opposite of blue later when she comes to clean up the shot-out glass and search the office for the tax paperwork. This makes it obvious that she doesn’t work in the restaurant, and she doesn’t like it. In the season 2 trailer, talking to Cicero, she coordinates with Carmy and Sydney, showing that she’s coming around.

There’s a distinct present quality in the blue apron uniform as Mikey’s kitchen staff only adds Carmy’s apron to their usual personalized work wear while Carmy and Sydney wear more personally standardized white tops and black/dark pants that not only are consistent but coordinate with each other, already making them a unit within the unit.

This apron/group dynamic is heightened by it not only being pointed out by Tina, but by Tina going from not wearing the blue apron to Carmy remarking that she looks like Sydney when Tina finally does and Tina in return saying to him she’s “profesh” now. It's interesting that Tina wears a white blouse, like Sydney, before the blue apron. It’s the apron and Carmy she resists not the kitchen uniform, but it hints at the future before she joins the present. And before she sheds her individualism.

This desire for individualism leads to Sydney’s scarves, her show of individualism and how she works the fact that she has to hold her braids back into something distinct and bold within her personal uniform that she likely spent a lot of time working towards as she figured out how stand out as herself in a professional kitchen in a way that could not be argued with. Although she also probably played closer to the rules in an attempt to almost hide, wearing something very discreet until she found a place and acceptance at the Beef with Carmy. She wears a more subtle version of her scarf in episode 1 with it rolled then she does in later episodes with the triangle point showing off more color. I envision her wearing the rolled version while catering and interviews because it’s a little sleeker while still hinting and her boldness.

Carmy keeping to his own version of a very classic chef look shows his insecurity even as he comes into his own. He wants to wear something he’s comfortable in that hints at the denim collection and keeps him close to Mikey, but white tee and black work pants with a blue apron is still very professional kitchen. Carmy shows off on the plate, not in his uniform, which he keeps no matter how he’s working in the restaurant or where he’s cooking. Except at home, which is notable. This is echoed in his off-duty clothes, muted colors, and denim, as opposed Sydney’s prints, stripes and screen tees.

All of this is a very winding way to say that all the costume choices mean something. It’s something that the new girl will have a uniform that matches Sugar’s life outside the Beef/Bear. That Richie has Berf merch hidden in someone’s basement, a further tie to the messed up past. That Tina seems to be doing better in culinary school than Ebra. That Marcus and Fak have their own flair.

(There’s not enough of Marcus in the trailers to really guess at his path forward, just rumors, so I’m going to hold off on him in season 2, but in season 1 he falls between present and past but definitely in action looks to his future. I mean, he’s obsessed with possibility and donuts.)

But it also signifies a lot that Carmy and Sydney match in one chaos menu scene but not in the other. Just like it’s important they’re in his home. So, yeah, Carmy and Sydney standing outside their evolving restaurant with Carmy in his personal uniform and Sydney in a personalized inverse of that uniform is a moment that ties them as equals who fit together and complement each other. The fact that they’re together day and, if BTS shot are to be believed, night looking up to the future means they’re a pair. No matter what that future might hold. (the picture is from @devisrina's blog. Thank for posting it.)

#the bear fx #the bear hulu #carmy berzatto #sydney adamu #richie jerimovich #sugar berzatto #tina the bear #marcus the bear #ebra the bear #color and symbolism #costuming #chaos menu #whatever that means

[cethlyarlo]

Shin's Belt

I really rather like that the symbol on Shin's belt is that of the alchemical symbol for chaos. Let me tell you why:

Chaos represents the concept of everything doing everything all at once; existing together, in tangent, or not at all. It represents all paths and what lies beyond what was made to believe is set in stone. The definition of chaos is not particularly the opposite of order in this circumstance, but it can be used that way.

More clearly, chaos provides an opening for new beginnings; to disrupt what is stagnant or what doesn't feel right to present alternative pathways. Chaos is needed to undo pressures, expectations, norms, etc. so that an individual can learn to be themselves; to grow and change as needed.

It's very much not the evil or negative symbol pop culture and Hollywood would have you believe. I've even seen it used to refer to Satanists, which is very much not true. Dark practitioners can and do use this symbol, but this symbol does not represent them. They don't own it nor can they control it/assume authority over it. It's not exclusive to one group either: anyone can utilize it however they see fit and like with most things, that could go in any direction. We will be focusing on the balance between the negative and positive aspects of chaos here in this write up.

That being said, on to why this symbol is important for Shin's character arc:

Firstly, Shin is devout and loyal to Baylan; her Master and depending on how you look at it, potential father figure. He's everything she's ever known and his own views, teachings, and opinions have been pressed on her since she was young. There's nothing particularly wrong with that, seeing as that's usually how parenting/teaching goes, but it isn't allowing her to see beyond that. The box is small and she finds herself unable to think outside of it due to her loyalty to him.

When Baylan begins to refuse to tell her crucial details about his plans and goals, she begins to question him and her idea of him. This is the beginning of chaos' disruption over her life and as the show progresses, this disruption continues to grow. It's a butterfly effect, if you will; the seeds of disarray have been planted and they have the potential to grow into something exponential.

She comes into contact with Sabine Wren, who has lived a very different form of life compared to her own and I believe the simple interactions between them helps to spur the questions she suddenly has about her life in general. There are things and people that can and do live outside of the box in her mind and while she's probably aware of this, she hadn't truly understood what that meant until this point. With her master's increased elusiveness and the lack of answers, plus the eye-opening revelations that witnessing bits and pieces of Sabine and Ahsoka's relationship (I.e Seatos), the seeds of distrust and further questions begin to take root and sprout. Her mind is opening to other things; the walls of the box are beginning to crumble.

By the time they're on Peridea, Baylan's motives are entirely unclear and somewhat unpredictable to her. She's confused by him and what he wants. Chaos is taking greater hold of her now; her life is changing so quickly and in directions she can't forsee like the arrows of the symbol that gesture to all directions simultaneously. The seeds begin to uncontrollably grow into trees regardless of her attempts to reconnect with him.

Then he abandons her.

Without a word on where he went, Shin's found herself alone. The walls of her box have been destroyed, the wound made worse by Ahsoka's offer to help. Chaos has upended her normalcy, her comforts, her mental and emotional stabilizers, her trust, her view of self; her life. What began as seeds have rapidly grown into a sprawling forest and now she has to deal with the wreckage.

The change is for good though. With Sabine and Ahsoka stranded with her, she has the opportunity to step into her own person. She now has the opportunity to find herself; to make her own decisions, to spend some time with other people like her. She has the ability to learn and grow free of her box and the restrictions that had been pressed on her since joining Baylan, however long ago that happened to be.

Shin gets to be her own person now, and she can do whatever she wants with that :)

Edit: I realized I forgot to mention the little dots within the wheel!

Symmetrical to the Norse story of Hati and Skoll [who were sons of Fenrir (and Fenrir is the son of trickster God Loki and Jötunn giantess Angrboða)], the wheel of chaos on Shin's belt sports two little dots which I believe represent the sun and moon [and thus the wolves that chase them; Skoll (the one who mocks) and Hati (the one who hates) respectively]. As it goes, the celestial bodies rise in the East (right quadrant on the belt) and set in the West (left quadrant on the belt). The little dots are doing just that. The dot on right I believe represents the moon, or Shin, and that the dot on the left represents Baylan. The moon is rising and the sun is setting, showing that Baylan's time in her life is ending and her own time is just beginning.

Either way, it's a very hopeful symbol in my opinion :)

#shin hati #ahsoka #sabine wren #star wars #ahsoka series #baylan skoll #meta #headcanon? #i wanted to share this because I'm thinking of getting the symbol on her belt tattooed on my wrist #i just wanted to share my thoughts on it #i hope you like it #wolfwren #sabine x shin #shin x sabine #art #shinbine #costume details #costume design #star wars thoughts #hidden meanings #subtle designs #check this shit out