Michele Clapton reveals the messages behind the season 7 costumes

Three-time Emmy winner Michele Clapton was again in charge of costume design for Game of Thrones in season 7, so it was expected that the outfits would again be top-notch. Aside from being meticulously crafted, Clapton puts a lot of thought into her costumes, and every one offers clues about the various characters’ journeys.

In an interview with HuffPost, Clapton explored some of the messages the looks in season 7 were intended to send. Here are some highlights:

Daenerys Targaryen

Daenerys returned to her birthplace in season 7, getting closer to the Iron Throne than ever before. To represent that in her clothes, Clapton chose to give Daenerys a more Targaryen look, one that resembled what her brother Viserys wore in season 1. “This season seemed to be the right time for Daenerys to start to embrace the shape and colors of her house,” she said.

This year, Dany’s looks incorporated wide shoulders and scaly fabric as a way to show strength in a military way — after all, she’s at war. Another novelty was the dragon chain, designed to provide the character a sense of nobleness befitting an aspiring queen. “She is in touching distance of her desired place… so I liked this flowering, this visual expression of her growing confidence that she could maybe take the throne.” (You can get a closer look at the sigil here).

Dany and Jon’s relationship

After Episode 5 (“Eastwatch”), Daenerys’ affection for Jon Snow starts to grow, especially after she sees how he is with her dragons. From that moment on, her looks incorporate more fur, a nod to the fashions worn in the North. “There is obviously some chemistry at work!” said Clapton. “I wanted to reflect this with a dramatic yet extremely practical costume.”

One of the conflicts facing Jon Snow in season 7 was whether to bend the knee to Daenerys. This echoed the dilemma faced by wildling leader Mance Rayder, who died after refusing to bend the knee to Stannis Baratheon in season 5.

That parallel was underlined in the looks for both Jon and Dany in “Beyond the Wall.” “I took reference from the wildlings’ attire,” Clapton explained, “particularly the coat that is worn by Jon Snow which was in turn influenced by Mance Rayder. I wanted to define Dany’s shape by cutting into and shaping the fur. Also, I was keen to create a warrior look, a thing of beauty.” (You can get more info on the resulting marvelous winter coat here).

Sansa Stark

This year was a landmark for Sansa Stark, as she emancipated herself from Littlefinger and stayed in charge of Winterfell, cementing her role as the lady of the house. If saying it out loud wasn’t enough, the idea that no longer needed protecting was expressed through her clothes. As Clapton explained, her rigid black dress and cloak reflected “an idea of being wrapped, a sense of security, laced in, protected.”

"The cut of the costume was very fitted and severe but the fabrics were soft, textured and quilted. I was trying to grasp all that has happened to Sansa, all the hurt and abuse and frustration, and trying to understand how she would express this yet appear strong. She adapts all she has learnt to her look."

The designer also said that Sansa’s looks were influenced by her enemies. Cersei’s influence is felt in the use of family symbols, while Littlefinger is represented “in the precise way that she wears her jewelry pieces.” The designer reiterated that these choices weren’t mere decoration. “They are messages.”

Next: Writer Jane Goldman promises humor and gore in her Game of Thrones prequel project

Now that the Long Wait for season 8 has begun, we have plenty of time to rewatch the show and have a closer look at the outfits Michele Clapton and her crew so carefully designed and created. What other messages were included?

To stay up to date on everything Game of Thrones, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and sign up for our exclusive newsletter.

Watch Game of Thrones for FREE with a no-risk, 7-day free trial of Amazon Channels.