THE MOST BEAUTIFUL COSTUME GAME

MICHELE CLAPTON -- GAME OF THRONES

Every costume tells a story. The best ones act as pictures worth thousands of words, letting us in on the plotlines and the characters. They effectively change the story of the wearers -- diverting our attention from real stories and focusing us on composed fantasies.

The costumes presented in “Game of Thrones,” the mega-hit HBO TV series, speak volumes. Since its debut in 2011, the outfits have captured our rapt attention almost as much as the dramatic narrative and stellar acting have.

It’s easy to see why costume designer Michele Clapton has won so many prestigious awards for her work in the show. Not only is each costume visually beautiful, but each appears to have a soul of its own. Each piece conveys the mindset and the personal journey of the character wearing it.

From the main characters, such as Daenerys Targaryen, Jon Snow, Cersei Lannister, and Sansa Stark, to the supporting figures, to the extras in the background, their clothing transmits each spirit and purpose.

The main story plot, of course, is all about the thirst and competition -- the struggle for the Iron Throne -- in a fantasy medieval kingdom, based on the bestselling book series by George R.R. Martin and created by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.

The throne-vying rivals exude their strength in the structure, color, texture, and richness of their outfits.

Set on the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos, the series is filmed in Belfast and elsewhere in the United Kingdom, Canada, Croatia, Iceland, Malta, Morocco, Spain, and the United States. The costumes must fit not only the characters, but also the landscapes.

The costumes evolve as the characters evolve. As characters gain power, their outfits become bolder. Daenerys and Cersei started out a bit unsure, tentative, vulnerable -- now they wear their power on their sleeves, literally.

In the most recent season, we see Daenerys rise up, coming close to nailing the crown.  Clapton designed her dresses and coats with wide shoulders, and graced her with an elaborate, heavy silver chain to connote strength. She is becoming a warrior queen.

As Daenerys copes with the loss of her child, as she softens into a new intimate relationship, her costumes soften as well, helping to convey the emotion of the story. And, even GOT wedding attire is graced with touches of romance.

Costume designs also have to take storyline practicalities into account. For example, when the story shifts locale to more northern territories, outfits need to offer greater protection from the elements.

Daenerys’s  latest white fur coat is a show stopper! Strips of white fur, architecturally ribbed with strips of leather, form a corseted coat of armor that not only fends of the cold but keeps the less well-dressed at bay.

Many of the costumes are ornately embroidered, embellished with fur, accented with metal, and rich in detail.

Daenerys Targaryen, the Mother of Dragons, sports dragon motifs, both in her jewelry and dress designs.

Cersei’s dress has grown more ornate as she’s gained clout, yet her outfits have become more practical, allowing her more freedom of movement, so she can wield her power without encumbrance.

Black and silver are the latest thematic colors for both Cersei and Daenerys. They tend towards monochrome, with small accent colors. For Daenerys, touches of her family color red crop up in strategic eye-catchers, like the scaled pleated sash that hangs from her regal silver chain.

Clapton has been inspired by contemporary and period costumes, but as the show developed, it’s the characters themselves that most inspire her. Everything they do and say symbolically means something.

The series has received numerous nominations and awards for Primetime Emmy Awards, Hugo Awards, Peabody Awards, Golden Globe Awards. The ensemble cast, including Peter Dinklage Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, Maisie Williams, Diana Rigg, and Max von Sydow have all received prestigious awards and nominations for their performances in the series.

Check out HBO’s Making "Game of Thrones" for more insight. The series will conclude with its eighth season premiering either in 2018 or 2019.

And there’s still time to get your Game of Thrones game on for Halloween! We hope we’ve helped to inspire you. Need more costume inspiration? Check out the most Beautiful Masks here and here.

And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Mind/Body, Soul/Impact, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Arts/Design, and Place/Time, Daily Fix posts.

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IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) in scene from “Game of Thrones.” Costume designed by Michele Clapton. Courtesy of HBO.
2. Image: Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) on the Iron Throne with Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) in scene from “Game of Thrones.” Costumes designed by Michele Clapton. Courtesy of HBO.
3. Image: Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) in scene from “Game of Thrones.” Costume designed by Michele Clapton. Courtesy of HBO.
4. Image: Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) in scene from “Game of Thrones.” Costume designed by Michele Clapton. Courtesy of HBO.
5. Image: Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) and Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) stand together in scene from “Game of Thrones.” Costumes designed by Michele Clapton. Courtesy of HBO.
6. Image: Margaery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer) poses in her wedding dress in scene from “Game of Thrones.” Costume designed by Michele Clapton. Courtesy of HBO.
7. Image: Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) in scene from “Game of Thrones.” Costume designed by Michele Clapton. Courtesy of HBO.
8. Image: Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) with Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) in scene from “Game of Thrones.” Costumes designed by Michele Clapton. Courtesy of HBO.
9. Image: Margaery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer) and Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) in scene from “Game of Thrones.” Costumes designed by Michele Clapton. Courtesy of HBO.
10. Image: Joffrey Lannister (Jack Gleeson), Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey), and Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance) in scene from “Game of Thrones.” Costumes designed by Michele Clapton. Courtesy of HBO.
11. Image: Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) in scene from “Game of Thrones.” Costume designed by Michele Clapton. Courtesy of HBO.
12. Image: Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) with Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) at court in a scene from “Game of Thrones.” Costumes designed by Michele Clapton. Courtesy of HBO.
13. Image: Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) on his horse in a scene from “Game of Thrones.” Costumes designed by Michele Clapton. Courtesy of HBO.
14. Image: by Macall Polay. Scene from Joffrey and Margaery's wedding, in “Game of Thrones.” Costumes designed by Michele Clapton. Jack Gleeson & Natalie Dormer, actors. Courtesy of HBO.
15. Image: Scene from Joffrey and Margaery's wedding, in “Game of Thrones.” Costumes designed by Michele Clapton. Jack Gleeson & Natalie Dormer, actors. Courtesy of HBO.
16. Image: Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) with Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen) in scene from “Game of Thrones.” Costumes designed by Michele Clapton. Courtesy of HBO.
17. Image: by BN App - Download now!
18. Image: Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) in scene from “Game of Thrones.” Costumes designed by Michele Clapton. Courtesy of HBO.