The 50 most iconic looks from Game of Thrones

Mourning Mistress (season 5)

Much like Cersei’s attire shifts after Joffrey’s murder, Ellaria also changes her style significantly following Oberyn’s death at the hands of the Mountain. This can be seen clearly during the fifth season, when viewers get some insight into the ongoings of Dorne and the Martell court.

To start, Ellaria begins wearing much darker colors — and dark colors are incredibly out of place among the Dornish backdrop. In the picture above, Ellaria dons a black dress. Given that this is the first time we see her following Oberyn’s demise, it seems obvious that the lack of color is meant to honor him and show that she’s in mourning. And her anger and sorrow seems amplified when you see her costume against what the other Dornish characters are wearing; their clothes are full of color, as Oberyn’s were.

On top of being darker in shade, Ellaria’s costume here is also significantly less revealing than her styles from the previous season. While the gown still dips in the front, her chest is covered by two leather straps that cross one another. She also wears a cape over her shoulders, something that probably isn’t needed in the Dornish climate.

Ellaria’s costume is likely meant to show a combination of her being off limits and protecting herself. This is a trend that the women of Game of Thrones all come to adapt with their wardrobes — many of their costumes shifting from feminine and revealing to closed off and protective. That makes sense given their storylines, most of which show involve them transitioning from depending on men for power to depending on themselves.