Incredibly constructed clothes. A wicked sense for details. Uncommon textile combinations and embroidery. Just a few things you saw on the series Game of Thrones. Some people are saying “Game of Thrones” is the costume Star Wars for the fantasy genre. That is a compliment you will not earn easily . Alas, there is sad news for all the costume-fans, for Michele Clapton, Emmy-winning costume designer of “Game of Thrones” is not returning for Season 6.
Michele played one of the biggest roles in the production and in the development of this series. Nevertheless, after this news was released, she spoke to the Team of FASHIONISTA (fashionista.com) about her work and her thoughts behind the characters and their style.
“I feel like we’ve covered all bases now. It was really important to me, knowing that I was going to leave, to actually design the costumes for each [geographic] area so it’s complete,” says Clapton “In my head anyway it’s a complete look that I left.”
Daenerys Targaryen in one of the late blue costume More white and lighter colors.
Daenerys develops from the almost holy virgin to this fancy slave-freeing mother of Dragons kind of Queen. From blue to white and light grey, from the inexperienced girl to the impressive young woman who knows what she wants.
“Now she’s got this sense of power and also a sense of immortality,” Clapton says. “I wanted to give this rather untouchable [quality] to her. The idea behind the white and pale grey is the sense of removal, a removal from reality.”
But some things didn’t changed at all…
“I still always put trousers underneath because in her psyche anything might go wrong and [she’s always thinking], ‘I might need to run away,’” Clapton says. “Even with the longest, most beautiful gowns, she always wears a pair of boots and trousers. I like that sense of, ‘I can play this [queen] but underneath, I can run.’”
Arya Stark in her dirty boy costume we all know so well. Arya Starks new look. Or one of them.
Maisie Williams, Arya, was not one of the lucky actors. She had to wear the same dirty boy outfit for the last few seasons. But as the character was making its way to the House of Black and White, she finally got to change her clothes. It is no surprise that Maisie was excited about that.
“Unlike Sansa, who chooses to change and express herself, Arya just adopts costumes to the situation or place that she’s in,” Clapton explains. “It’s not about Arya, it’s about the person she’s playing.”
“Maisie was very, very keen to get rid of that last costume. She said, ‘Please can I burn it?’”
In the show you can see Arya throwing her clothes into the river. A small nod which in my opinion was implemented successfully.
The bastard daughters of Oberyn Martel, the Sand Snakes
When the Sand Snakes, the bastard daughters of Oberyn Martel, appeared in the series, not everyone was pleased with them and their costumes. The mixture of hard an soft material gathered some harsh critiques. Clapton declares:
“They’re sexy, it’s hot weather, it’s a very liberal society. [People have said] it looks too B-movie, but it’s supposed to be this rather free place,” she says. “It’s hot and it’s practical to wear light clothing. I just like the movement. Again, they wear suede trousers underneath and boots and I just liked that contrast of very light flowy dresses with really tough bits. When you need to fight you put the tough armor over.”
And about that armour…
“When I first saw it I said, ‘I hate the nipples. Get rid of those fucking nipples!’ My armorer went, ‘Yeah, yeah, I’ll get rid of it.’ And he did,” she says. “I have this absolute phobia about that armor. It’s the worst thing on earth. It’s sort of funny, because I was cross about it because it’s such a faux pas, but I don’t think it registers on film as much as it does in those pictures.”
But no worries, she still gives major props to her armorer.
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