This past weekend I watched Catching Fire, the second movie
of the Hunger Game Series. The wardrobe choices in this production were
incredible. The magic and talent behind the seams was Trish Summerville. This
costume designer is best known for her work on another production based off a
book, the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Summerville has worked alongside many
celebrities like Gwen Stefani and Christina Aguilera. She is also the
first-ever costume designer to collaborate designs with the clothing store
H&M.
Fantasy is one word which can describe the wardrobe of the
characters on Catching Fire. Katniss Everdeen, the main character, played by
Jennifer Lawrence had a variety of situations and scenarios which required
different types of wardrobes. One of the main costumes she had to wear was
during The Games. Summerville said that The Games costume was one of the most
difficult to create. She said, “…it had to be functional, fashionable and look
good. It had to fit 24 different body types, from young bodies like Josh
[Hutcherson], who's a completely fit, in-shape, and athletic 19-year-old to a
78-year-old woman. It also had to be something they could swim in, run in, and
it had to be cool enough when the temperatures were hot. It had to be suitable
for stunts, so I had to incorporate pads that were decorative and fashionable
on the exterior of the costume, as opposed to trying to shove them underneath
where they'd be seen.” I thought the outfit she wore while fighting and participating
in the games was very realistic and was something I wanted to add to my own wardrobe.
Katniss’s outfit which I wish belonged in my closet was her beautiful,
intricate wedding dress. The wedding dress was something that was created and
designed specifically for the film. Summerville said it was also difficult
designing a dress which catered to the fans desires and the character of
Katniss. Summerville said, “That wedding dress already has garnered plenty of
attention. The gown, the work of Indonesian designer Tex Saverio, featured a
metal bodice layered with silks and decorated with Swarovski crystals and
weighed close to 25 pounds.” They needed a dress which was wonderful and unique
in every single way but was still light and flexible, that would be able to
twirl as Katniss moved.
My second favorite costumes of the production were worn by Elizabeth
Banks, who played the character Effie Trinket. Her character was very flamboyant,
and magical. Her entire look, from her hair to her shoes, was unique to each
outfit she wore. My favorite costume Effie wore was entirely covered in butterflies! An interview done with Summerville, she said, “a lot of [Effie’s]
dresses she can’t really sit in, and the waist we had cinched in quite tight.
Some of them have these metal belts that kind of cut into your ribs. That
really helped with her posture and the whole concept… She looks quite
incredible, but she’s never really relaxed and comfortable.” Although I could
never wear any of her costumes in real life, they are all incredibly detailed
and beautiful. Her costumes definitely suit her character and fit her eclectic
personality.
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