The latest instalment of the hugely successful Hunger Games trilogy; Mockingjay Part 1 hit our screens last week and since then has been breaking box office records all over the country. Based on the novels by Suzanne Collins the hugely successful dystopian drama has become a massive hit with an almost cult like following with legions of fans worldwide recreating the famous costumes for Cosplay events and fancy dress. There are a number of glaringly obvious differences in the latest instalment when compared with the previous two releases, not least the absence of the famous arena and the games themselves. Set in the underground world of the elusive District 13, Mockingjay is a little less colourful than the previous films and somewhat unfortunately for fashion fans there is a little more grey and a little less McQueen. The franchise has become as well known for its elaborate costumes and brightly coloured Dressmaking Fabrics as it has for anything else with wild wigs, garish gowns and jumpsuits with flames this franchise is a masterclass in film costume design.
Set in a dystopian future, The Hunger Games tackles a number of important societal issues such as consumerism and the divide between rich and poor. The young inhabitants of the districts are forced to fight to the death in the name of reality television in order to entertain the citizens of the controlling Capitol. The film's team of award winning costume designers have worked hard to source Dressmaking Fabrics and design some breathtaking costumes which perfectly represent the division between the rich inhabitants of The Capitol and the servants populating the surrounding districts. In the first instalment of the trilogy, we see lead character Katniss and her family dressed in costumes made from dark coloured Dressmaking Fabrics which are designed to reflect the drudgery and struggle of daily life in District 12. The dank and depressing outfits of the District 12 inhabitants are in stark contrast to the colourful and intricate costumes worn by the wealthy Capitol characters. The inequality between rich and poor is one of the central themes running through the story so when designing the outfits and selecting the Dressmaking Fabrics, costume designers had to consider how best to represent the struggle of the District residents in comparison to the wealth and privilege of the Capitol and their insatiable hunger for couture fashion in their bold, futuristic world of freedom and excess. The costume designers expertly use their skills in design to convey the greed of the Capitol residents and their obsession with consumerism.
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Elizabeth Banks wore a selection of stunning McQueen couture designs as Effie Trinkett.[/caption]
Whilst lead character Katniss is most recognisable in her hunters uniform of leather jacket and a bow and arrow slung across her back, actress Jennifer Lawrence has had the opportunity to wear some stunning gowns during filming of her Capitol based scenes as victor of The Hunger Games. Attending a party at President Snow's mansion, Katniss wears as stunning evening gown created by costume designer Trish Summerville and crafted from a gorgeous black Dressmaking Fabric with sheer skirt and intricately embellished shoulders, but when it comes to Capitol Couture, Effie Trinkett is the character who has garnered the most attention from fashion fans. Trish Summerville and her team perfectly captured the character's outlandish and extreme taste for fashion with a variety of stunning, brightly coloured Dressmaking Fabrics and a selection of outrageous headpieces. Effie's victory tour wardrobe contains no less than four exquisitely and expertly crafted outfits by Alexander McQueen. Effie is the perfect character to pull off the unique and instantly recognisable McQueen designs as costume designers strive to convey the emotional evolution we see from Effie as the story progresses. Early on in Mockingjay, we see Effie in the incredible Monarch Butterfly McQueen dress from the spring 2012 collection. This outstanding piece is almost a work of art which features an astonishing 10,00 hand painted feathers. This incredible piece took hours upon hours of work and is just one of the almost museum quality, couture pieces that form the breathtaking wardrobe of Effie Trinkett.
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Katniss in her transforming wedding dress worn at the opening of the 75th Hunger Games.[/caption]
Possibly the most anticipated costume of the second instalment, Catching Fire is Katniss' wedding dress. Featuring a metal bodice, layered with silk Dressmaking Fabrics and embellished with Swarovski crystals, the breathtaking gown weighed in at a massive 25 pounds and has become known simply as "The Mockingjay Dress'. When Katniss takes to the stage for the 75th Hunger Games, she is dressed in a long white gown and pearl necklace, the outfit in which she was supposed to marry Peeta before being summoned back to the arena. Unbeknownst to Katniss, when she is instructed by her stylist, Cinna to twirl and lift her arms, her wedding dress rises up in flames and smoke and she becomes The Mockingjay. The dress is a message to the uprising districts that the rebellion is still alive and Katniss is their symbol of hope. When designing the costumes for Catching Fire, Trish Summerville and her team used silk, organza and chiffon Dressmaking Fabrics and an intricate laser cutting technique to achieve the key elements in making these costumes some of the most lauded in recent Hollywood history.
Elizabeth Banks wore a selection of stunning McQueen couture designs as Effie Trinkett.[/caption]
Whilst lead character Katniss is most recognisable in her hunters uniform of leather jacket and a bow and arrow slung across her back, actress Jennifer Lawrence has had the opportunity to wear some stunning gowns during filming of her Capitol based scenes as victor of The Hunger Games. Attending a party at President Snow's mansion, Katniss wears as stunning evening gown created by costume designer Trish Summerville and crafted from a gorgeous black Dressmaking Fabric with sheer skirt and intricately embellished shoulders, but when it comes to Capitol Couture, Effie Trinkett is the character who has garnered the most attention from fashion fans. Trish Summerville and her team perfectly captured the character's outlandish and extreme taste for fashion with a variety of stunning, brightly coloured Dressmaking Fabrics and a selection of outrageous headpieces. Effie's victory tour wardrobe contains no less than four exquisitely and expertly crafted outfits by Alexander McQueen. Effie is the perfect character to pull off the unique and instantly recognisable McQueen designs as costume designers strive to convey the emotional evolution we see from Effie as the story progresses. Early on in Mockingjay, we see Effie in the incredible Monarch Butterfly McQueen dress from the spring 2012 collection. This outstanding piece is almost a work of art which features an astonishing 10,00 hand painted feathers. This incredible piece took hours upon hours of work and is just one of the almost museum quality, couture pieces that form the breathtaking wardrobe of Effie Trinkett.
[caption id="attachment_8181" align="alignright" width="300"] Katniss in her transforming wedding dress worn at the opening of the 75th Hunger Games.[/caption]
Possibly the most anticipated costume of the second instalment, Catching Fire is Katniss' wedding dress. Featuring a metal bodice, layered with silk Dressmaking Fabrics and embellished with Swarovski crystals, the breathtaking gown weighed in at a massive 25 pounds and has become known simply as "The Mockingjay Dress'. When Katniss takes to the stage for the 75th Hunger Games, she is dressed in a long white gown and pearl necklace, the outfit in which she was supposed to marry Peeta before being summoned back to the arena. Unbeknownst to Katniss, when she is instructed by her stylist, Cinna to twirl and lift her arms, her wedding dress rises up in flames and smoke and she becomes The Mockingjay. The dress is a message to the uprising districts that the rebellion is still alive and Katniss is their symbol of hope. When designing the costumes for Catching Fire, Trish Summerville and her team used silk, organza and chiffon Dressmaking Fabrics and an intricate laser cutting technique to achieve the key elements in making these costumes some of the most lauded in recent Hollywood history.