Glimpses Into the Costuming of The Lord of the Rings, the Rings of Power

1 – Get ready, I'm ringing in a last-minute #threadtalk all about #TheRingsOfPower pictures that just dropped today.

Oh my precious, precious nerd heart.

This Galadriel fangirl is having a moment, so now that I'm fortified with lembas, let us peer into the future. 💍🧙‍♂️🧝‍♀️🌿

2 – Galadriel is front and center, and the @VanityFair article heralding her tale puts the elf in full armor with Victorian lines & High Gothic design.
The tiered chain mail, that snatched waist & that gorgeous sword! The look is familiar to fans of the films, but w/a new twist.

3 – An elf upstaged by a dwarf?

You bet your pointy wizard hat.

This Klimt-like stunner has won me over forever and ever until the Balrog rises.

Dwarven PRINCESS. Her hair, those golden triangles and bangles. I have a lot to say about this outfit.

4 – First, the Klimt. I immediately thought of Judith I (bonus Holofernes head). The power pose, the gold, the dark, full hair. Dwarves have always been about angles, too.

Also, look at the texture on this gown in comparison.

Do I see muslin? Certainly something very like it.

5 – I also see echoes of Egypt & Rome in this costume, a language of "don't mess with me" power. The cloth texture reminds me of this painting from A.D. 170–200 and that necklace? You see similar designs on military examples, too.

Either way, Princess Disa is coming in strong.

6 – Not to be outdone, silvan elf Arondir (played by Ismael Cruz Córdova) is a series-specific character. Cannot overstate how excited I am to see this go beyond the pale, Eurocentric casting of the past.

That's no Ent on his breastplate, though.

7 – The device on his breastplate is a Green Man, common in Celtic world motifs. You often find Green Men carved into churches, or, like in this case, on stained glass (dating from the 16th C). Often considered remnants of a pagan past.

Ideal for a silvan elf, my mellon.

8 – ZOMG IT'S DURIN.

Sorry. Like. It's a lot to hold in my head right now.

Sticking with the character design we're familiar with, Durin is a ginger, it appears. The reinforced geometric design on his armor looks both kingly & sturdy. Maybe some velvet damask there, too?

9 – Elrond still lingers. (#sorrynotsorry).

Refreshed, yet very much in his classic greyscale, the Half-Elven has a bit of a wily look in his eyes, free the "DOOM" of #TheLordOfTheRings films.

I love this look, personally. Smooth leather, buttery wool & a prominent ring.

10 – In comparison to the original films, you can see that they pulled from Elrond's most fancy getup. Sure, he's not the only elf to wear grey, but I think the callback is deliberate. And old fans like me love a good callback.

I am so excited for his story to play out.

11 – Bronwyn & Arondir, apparently, have a forbidden love & I am very here for it. (Plus it's common theme in Tolkien's writing.) I love the contrast of her dark blue & his silver. Not close enough for me to really dig too deep into materials, but I will wait patiently for more.

12 – Speaking of our human Bronwyn. More of that blue, her tousled hair, and the arm band jewelry. Understated in comparison to others, I'm still getting some mad, mad Pre-Raphaelite vibes here in this scene. Humble healer, or powerful sorceress?

13 – I immediately thought of John Everett Millay's "Mariana" when I saw this picture. The window! The dress is even the same color! Sure, there's less fatigue on film, but both look as if they've had a hard day. I feel like this had to be an inspiration.

14 – Honey yellows & emerald green in the golden wood of Lindon frame Elrond & Galadriel here. I have a feeling we're going to see a lot of velvet textures, but again I'm also getting major Pre-Raphaelite vibes. So much is happening in and around the figures. And the LIGHT.

15 – I immediately thought of Edmund Blair Leighton's paintings when I saw Galadriel's outfit. Even the posture and lighting are similar. Of course, Elrond is far from kneeling… "The Accolade" (L), "God Speed" (R).

16 – I LITERALLY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE BUT THESE MOOSE ANGELS HAVE MY HEART. They have raw fleece vests! Big spears! Leather caps! MOOSE WINGS!

17 – Is this a t-shirt? IDK. Is this a surly man with a dark past & long, tolerably greasy & somehow still sexy hair? Absolutely it is. Will he be forging? I see hammers. It's hot, ok? He can invent short sleeves.

If there's one energy we can all agree on bringing back it's…

18 – It's this one.

19 – There is a lot more (and really NOT ENOUGH) in today's article from Vanity Fair.

My only complaint: NO HOBBITS. You tease me with acorns, and then you give me nothing. I am going to cry into my seedcakes, whilst I await patiently for more.

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/02/amazon-the-rings-of-power-series-first-look

20 – As a lifelong fan of Tolkien's work, I am so stoked for this series.

I can't wait to see what happens when Arda comes alive in September in #TheLordOfTheRingsTheRingsOfPower.

Meanwhile, I'll be on the lookout for more costume pictures & keep you all posted.

Originally tweeted by Natania Barron (@NataniaBarron) on February 11, 2022.