12 Times Movie Costumes Revealed Hidden Meanings Only Sharp-Eyed Viewers Caught

The first time we watch a movie or series, we’re usually caught up in the story, focused on the big twists and emotional moments. But on a second viewing, sharp-eyed fans begin to notice the subtle visual clues woven into each scene. Small details in the characters’ outfits can reveal hidden layers about their personalities and even hint at plot developments. We revisited several popular films and shows to uncover the meaningful costume details the creators cleverly tucked away.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Smart internet users noticed that the pink wardrobe of Dolores Umbridge was pretty similar to the style of Queen Elizabeth. We don’t know whether costume designers did this intentionally, but this detail perfectly unfolds the character of the woman. Despotic Umbridge feels like a true queen at Hogwarts because she can do whatever she wants.

Suspiria

The costume designer for Suspiria aimed to weave feminine symbolism into nearly every character’s wardrobe. For instance, one of Dakota Johnson’s dresses features a pattern that looks like delicate cherry blossoms at first glance but is actually made up of hip bones. Other characters wear outfits with even more striking prints inspired by different parts of the female body.

This creative choice was meant to reflect the characters’ subtle exploration of womanhood and feminine power.

Bridgerton

It was the famous Ellen Mirojnick, who dressed the characters of Basic Instinct, Maleficent, and many other movies, who was responsible for the costumes in this series. She and her team created all the outfits from scratch and hid many symbolic aspects in them.

For example, before marriage, Daphne mostly wore powdery blue dresses that spoke of her innocence. But when she becomes the duchess, her color palette becomes richer and duskier.

It was Marc Pilcher who was responsible for the hairstyles and makeup in Bridgeton. To create Daphne’s image, he got inspired by the cult Hollywood actress Audrey Hepburn and her role in War and Peace, in particular. Elegance, simplicity, and cute curls on the forehead are the things that these 2 heroines have in common.

Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones is a perfect example of how costumes can tell the stories of the characters. Cersei is not single in the first season, she is fully dependent on her husband and feels like a bird locked in a cage.

According to the costume designer, the embroidery reflected her true situation, “She is a beautiful woman with a hidden desire for power and a wish to be regarded as an equal in the male-dominated world she inhabits. At that stage, she lives in the shadow of her husband, King Robert Baratheon, who holds power over her and the kingdom.” Also, according to the designer’s idea, this bird is a reference to the twittering and scheming she is involved in behind the scenes.

Also, the costumes showed the connection between the characters. Let’s look closer at the women of the Tyrell house. Margaery’s outfits have a lot in common with her grandmother Olenna’s dresses. Even their belts are almost identical. It’s just that Olenna has more spikes and stems because she is the head of the family.

Hocus Pocus

Recently, the costume designer shared in an interview that they intentionally dyed Max’s sweatshirt in the colors of the Sanderson sisters — red, green, and lilac.

Dune

The costume designer Jacqueline West got inspired by the Romanovs’ epoch and wanted to show the nobility of the Atreides House through the costumes. Perhaps this is also a subtle hint that a lot of grief and trouble is awaiting the family in the future.

Jurassic World

The movie creators left a funny reference to the first movie, Jurassic Park. When Bryce Dallas Howard rolls up her sleeves and ties her shirt at the bottom to say “I’m ready,” she’s wearing it the same way Laura Dern did.

Marry Me

The stunning wedding dress plays an important role in the story, both literally and symbolically. Made of nine layers and weighing an incredible 95 pounds, it required five people just to move it — and that’s no accident.

The plot follows a famous singer who learns about her fiancé’s infidelity just minutes before the ceremony. The massive gown becomes a metaphor for a shattered fairy tale. It’s so large that the heroine can barely fit into a car, just as the wedding itself has grown so overwhelming that it blinds Kat to who she’s really about to marry.

Pulp Fiction

Quentin Tarantino’s character is wearing a T-shirt with a smiling globe. This is the logo of the Detroit magazine Orbit. Orbit was the first to interview Tarantino about his directorial career and put him on the cover. Perhaps this is how Quentin decided to show his gratitude to the publisher who did him great honor in the past.

Back to the Future II

Attentive fans of the trilogy noticed that in Back to the Future 2, Doc’s shirt design foreshadows the events in the next film. It depicts 2 horses chasing a steam train, while in Back to the Future III, we are shown the times of the Wild West where Dr. Emmett and Marty are trying to hijack a train.

Promising Young Woman

Cassie is a girl who is in a deep depression because of the trauma she had to face. But she hides her emotions from others behind her clothing. Delicate girly outfits act as a façade that hides bitterness and a thirst for revenge.

According to the costume designer, Cassie is sending important signals to others through her outfits, saying: “I’m fine, I am careless and completely harmless.” In one of the episodes, the filmmakers even provided her with an impromptu halo to emphasize her innocence.

However, it’s the pendant of friendship, which she practically never removes, that indicates her real state of mind. She has a broken heart over what happened to her friend, but no one around her notices it.

Cruel Intentions

The film draws loosely from Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’s classic novel Les Liaisons dangereuses (Dangerous Liaisons). At the same time, the creators slipped in a visual tribute to the 1988 screen adaptation starring John Malkovich and Glenn Close. One of the main characters’ costumes reflects this homage — Sarah Michelle Gellar’s corset echoes Glenn Close’s iconic look from the earlier film.

Don’t miss our other article about iconic movie outfits and the curious secrets behind them.