While the Game of Thrones and its new spin-off, House of the Dragon, may be best known for their evocative landscape and heart-pounding drama and intrigue, there’s no denying that the rich background landscape and high production values of both series are another key thing that keeps us white-knuckled and immersed in the story. Brought to life lovingly by lead costume designer Jany Temime, the House of the Dragon’s exceptional wardrobe is well worth some consideration of its own. Here’s just some of the very best of their work we’ve seen so far- and there’s doubtless more to come.
Daemon’s Iconic Dragons
The tangled Targaryen family tree may be nearly impossible to keep in mind, but there’s one thing we all know when it comes to this family- the dragons! With such a flashy legacy to share in the wider Westeros landscape, there’s no surprise that dragon motifs, alongside the red and black colors of the house, appear in many of the costumes we see on screen. From subtle to in-your-face, once you start noticing, we guarantee you won’t be able to stop.
Let’s be brutal. Prince Daemon’s peacocking is becoming an iconic part of the series in itself, and it shows spectacularly at the Heir’s Tournament. While we’re not too sure that a helmet with wings would get you taken seriously in battle, this fantastic ensemble is used as a great way to flex his status and style, and it is an iconic part of this critical series moment.
A Classy Funeral
Skip the somber black suit in favor of something altogether more stylish. While even in death-heavy Westeros, a funeral is a tragic affair, we see the atmosphere of mourning while rich and powerful beautifully brought to life at the funeral of Viserys’ son and wife. With touches of gold to remind the audience that the grieving king is still a powerful ruler, we also see a brief flash of crimson to highlight Rhaenyra and her critical role in the series. It’s the perfect blend of style, power, and grief and is brought to life beautifully on screen.
Robes for a Queen
Talking about Rhaenyra, not only is she one of the key series characters, but she’s also something of a freak in the Westeros world- the first woman to be given the honor of being named heir to the Iron Throne. An iconic moment in ‘history’ needs an iconic wardrobe to go with it, and the costume designers delivered beautifully. Clad in a show-stopping dress that we all know Cersei Lannister herself would covet, we see the gold of royalty and the red of House Targaryen, with elegant black and a wealth of jewels to seal the deal.
Sinister Seduction
While most of us have stolen clothing from a parent’s wardrobe before, it probably wasn’t to seduce a crush. Let alone a royal one! However, we see the costume team artfully evoke not only Otto Hightower’s machinations in trying to throw his daughter Alicent at the grieving monarch and position her as grown-up and attractive but also how lost and childlike she really is in her mother’s gowns. This sleek blue piece is provocative without being trashy, but even adorned in glittering gold, you can see how overwhelmed and out of place she is. There’s a bonus to this costume, too! As Alicent matures, she reuses this dress, and this time she no longer fills it like a lost child trying to play adult. It’s an artful piece of background trivia that works wonders for the storytelling in the series.
A Golden Wedding
When it comes to Westeros weddings, they are known more for violence and mayhem than artful style. However, the bridal couture in House of the Dragon is still top-end, even if we wouldn’t blame you for missing it among the mayhem and bloodshed. Laenor Velaryon, even doomed as he is to end the day grieving the brutal end of his real beau (clad in matching and equally gorgeous fabric), dazzles in a landscape of brocade and gold. Rhaenyra gives him a run for his money in magnificently textured white and gold, with a fire of red jewels in her hair to remind you she is a Targaryen.
THAT Green Dress
While it’s still part of the messy wedding scene, it is worth pulling this one out for its own entry. Alicent manages to say almost everything she needs to simply in her wardrobe choice at this doomed feast, too. Your fashionable colors show allegiance in Westeros- and hers is not where it should be. Instead of supporting her family by marriage as she should, she makes a statement sweeping in the green of her family of origin, saying everything she needs without saying a word at all.
The Decadent Prince
This subtle scene takes the term ‘golden child’ to a whole new height. With the much-anticipated time jump mid-series aging up Rhaenerys, we see her old friend-turned-rival Alicent demand to see the newborn at the worst possible moment. Unwilling to let the little one out of her sight, Rhaenyra grabs the nearest dress to hand- a stunning silver-gray and gold dress- but it’s the staggering decadence of the gold and black in which hours-old baby Joffery is swaddled that steal the show here.
Pink and Pretty
Pastels aren’t the first color you associate with the blood-soaked Game of Thrones landscape, but it’s a great choice for an innocent child. All the same, we’ve seen it end in tragedy before for Cersei’s daughter Myrcella, so this may be a bit of foreshadowing, too. However, in the last episode, we see defiantly green Alicent, now in a more mature and darker tone perfect to evoke the hold she has on the kingdom in her maturity, comforting her daughter, Helena. Helena herself seems designed to echo her half-niece, Rhaenyra, and the soft pink brings to life the poignant emotion in this touching scene.
The costume choices made on a set can say everything they need to say without a single word, and the gorgeous gowns and wardrobe of House of the Dragon showcase that spectacularly. Which was your favorite Westeros fashion moment so far?
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