almost alice

Costumes in Alice in Wonderland (2010)

(This was a fashion class assignment a little while ago and um i just thought I'd throw it in here since I can't think of anything else to write about yet.)

   Costume designer Colleen Atwood wins her third Academy Award for her work in Alice In Wonderland, Tim Burton's dark, twisted interpretation of the beloved Lewis Carroll book. (In fact, a lot of her inspiration came from the illustrations in early publications of the classic.)  Her costumes are absolutely riveting; they define a character before they've said even a word and contain intricate detail.

 Alice's costumes in the movie are unique in that they change throughout the movie. Given that she is the lead female protagonist, it comes as no surprise that her character should prove dynamic. Her growing knowledge, liberty and responsibility in Wonderland are reflected in each of her costumes. Before Alice even tumbles down the rabbit hole, she is a prisoner of a pretentious and mundane society which she rebels against in her own small ways. On the way to her surprise engagement party her mother inspects and scolds her for having forgotten her stockings and her corset. Otherwise, Alice looks youthful and demure in a pale  blue dress, small black buttons going down the front and a black ribbon slipping through the white eyelet at its collar. After her downward spiral comes to a rest she struggles to remain in her slip as her body rapidly changes sizes. Emerging about two feet tall, her dress hangs in large folds and is secured by ribbons about her neck, representing perhaps the newfound freedom of  Wonderland. After meeting the Mad Hatter and being rudely stuffed into a teacup she again finds herself too small for her clothes. Luckily the nifty Hatter designs her a brand new dress from her slip with a few flicks of his scissors. It's a shimmering strapless number, with a large flower on the right side of the bust, ribbons hanging down from it . Alice, however, outgrows this dress as well when she elevates into a gargantuan being, temporarily known as Um from Umbridge. Out of respect and admiration for all things large, the Queen of Hearts takes her in as her 'new favorite' and outfits her in drapes from her castle (a la Scarlett O'Hara). The resulting dress is a turning point in the story. It's similar to other Alice dresses in shape and movement but also shows signs of confidence and power. Instead of the pale and gray colors of her previous dresses, this one is bright red tulle spilling out from the shreds of gray drapes with little hearts. It is asymmetrical, unconventional and rebellious. It is the beginning of a new Alice. Escaping on the Bandersnatch to the White Queen, Alice rests in a comfortable and loose fitting pants and top outfit, similar to a pajama. Simple and understated, it also helps make the transition to her last costume. Accepting the role of champion, Alice rides out to battle in a full suit of armor, radiating courage, control, and a victory for the White Queen. 

Striding into her cavernous throne room, the Red Queen cuts a mean figure from the start. A nod to the Elizabethean gowns of the 17th century, the Red Queen's dress features a waspish waist, puff sleeves, velvet bodice and stripes and hearts to go with it. She is a regal sight in royal reds and golds but also a sinister black. The fabric of the dress is stiffer and less fluid than those of the White Queen and Alice. Although less credit goes to Atwood, the head and makeup of Helena Bonham Carter makes the character. Her head is disproportionately large, suggesting an inflated ego, a trait at least the Hatter is aware of, complimenting her on her most hat-worthy head. Her eyebrows thin and her lips void of color save for a small dab of lipstick in the shape of a heart portray strict characteristics and a constantly pursed mouth.

Her sister, the ever gentle and frustratingly graceful White Queen, shows her beauty in thick, full eyebrows and dark lipstick (because Tim Burton has to keep some things dark). In stark contrast to her dark facial features, she dons a Victorian-inspired, shimmering white ball gown that brings to mind Cinderella on her big night. Innocence and elegance glow from every thread and pearl of the dress. Her bodice froths with cream ruffles and embroidery her collar and sleeves are unexpectedly sheer and little sparkles lay like morning dew across it. At her long pale throat is wrapped a lace and pearl choker.

   All characters in Wonderland have one costume which remains mostly the same throughout the entire movie, perhaps emphasizing the fact that it is all in fact a dream. Alice may grow and change but the characters of Wonderland will play out their stories in the same way forever.

-Lola Olvera