Game of Thrones: The Costumes, the official book from Season 1 to Season 8

by Michele Clapton, Gina McIntyre, David Benioff (Foreword)

2020 IBPA Awards Winner!

Discover the secrets behind creating the costumes for HBO’s Game of Thrones in this definitive guide.

The official guide to the complete costumes of HBO’s landmark television series Game of Thrones . Discover how BAFTA and Emmy Award-winning costume designer Michele Clapton dressed the heroes and villains of Westeros and beyond, including Daenerys Targaryen, Cersei Lannister, Jon Snow, and Arya Stark.

One of 4 comprehensive and officially licensed Game of Thrones retrospective books from Insight Editions.

• CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED - “...peruse the best of the robes, gowns, coats, and suits of armor that made up the rich fabric of Westeros in Game of The Costumes .”—Vanity Fair
• LEARN HOW COSTUMES DEFINED CHARACTERS - 440 pages of in-depth interviews and commentary on how costume design helped convey the evolution of George RR Martin’s beloved characters such as Tyrion Lannister, Sansa Stark, and Brienne of Tarth.
• SEE EXCLUSIVE IMAGES AND DESIGNS - Over 1,000 exclusive and rarely seen images including Michelle Clapton’s designs and original concept sketches.
• HEAR FROM THE SHOW’S CREATORS - Features an exclusive foreword from Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D. B. Weiss.
• AN EYECATCHING COFFEE TABLE BOOK - Deluxe 9.75 × 13 inch format.
• A PERFECT GIFT FOR GAME OF THRONES FANS - Perfectly timed for the holiday season, this gift will be cherished for a lifetime.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Fashion, Reference, Sewing

440 pages, Hardcover

Published November 5, 2019

Reviews

[chucklesthescot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this might be the book out of the three that I least liked because it was all about the costumes but I loved this book! It is a huge heavy slab of an encyclopedia, and it covers the book characters and the individual looks created for them. I had no idea that the costumes told such a story. After a colour scheme and selection of material were chosen for ie the people in the North, the designer then looked at each character. It was explained how for example Sansa began as the girl who wanted to be a princess and queen, dressing better than her sister then copying Cersei at King's Landing, wearing her hair in the southern style as she tried to be a lady. It then explains her changing costumes as her life goes through changes-the death of her family, learning from Littlefinger, marrying Ramsay, becoming Lady of Winterfell and Queen in the North. A story appears giving a reason for the dragonflies on her dress, every bead and piece of jewellery-every single stitch and clasp has a meaning and it was fascinating to read this for each character. I'll never look at the costumes the same way and I'm amazed at the amount of thought that went into each outfit.

[Stephen Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic fabric-porn.

The production quality is amazing, and this book is HEAVY. If you try to brace it on your lap, you will be in pain at some point. lol

The quality of the contents is great as well. I love how the costumer explained the thought process behind the costumes and their evolution, as well as fabric/material choices. Not all of the costumes are in here, of course, there will be plenty of "hey, why didn't you include ...", but the book probably would have had to be twice as long to address all of that.

[Costume CO · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can see my first impressions and analysis on my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRR0l...

A very beautiful 450 page, hard cover coffee table book featuring gorgeous pictures, costume renderings and studio shots.

Here are some of my thoughts:

Pros:

• A very high-quality coffee table book with a hard bound cover and dust cover
• Beautiful studio shots with lots of closeup details and many of Helen Sloan's on set stills to use in comparison
• A large array of Michele Clapton's costume designs and renderings including some early concepts. Many of these have never been seen before
• A great selection of many stand-out minor costumes, many pictures never seen before
• A nice introduction by Clapton herself
• Some mention of techniques and fabrics
• Two double fold out sections

Cons:

• A very heavy weight put on later seasons costumes (especially S7 and S8) - even on the cover - to the exclusion of costumes from seasons 1, 2 and 3.
• Many costumes from key characters excluded
• Varys and Mel in particular have only a few costumes featured
• Little mention of the sources and craftspeople except for a thank you at the back of the book.
• Largely weighted with images probably about 2/3 pictures to 1/3 copy
• None of the costumes from Season 6 – the ones designed by April Ferry - are included in the book. Sansa’s BOTB’s costume for instance.
• Both House Frey and House Tarley are both omitted. Edmure Tully and Brynden Tully are also missing. Very little on Essos including Daario Naharis and the second sons, the Slave Masters, The Qarth 13, Quaithe, Jaqen H'ghar

Costume CO

[elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most vindicating book ever. Stuff I've BEEN SAYING about these costumes and I wasn't crazy!! Anyways I love Michele Clapton I think she's a genius and this book fills me with endless serotonin

[Stacie (MagicOfBooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will also do a video review here at my channel: http://www.youtube.com/magicofbooks

If you are a fan of the costumes of "Game of Thrones" this book is a must to add to your collection. There's many fantastic things about "Game of Thrones," but one of the most striking features is perhaps the clothing. Michele Clapton was in charge of the costuming and you can see the passion and dedication she took towards each and every costume. She even incorporated details that might not even be noticed by the viewer but those details are there nonetheless. "Game of Thrones" has some of the most iconic characters ever seen on television, and the good majority of them have very iconic costumes.

The book is hefty. Be prepared to have a nice surface to lay the book down on while you read. Every page is glossy and well put together. It's also divided up into four sections: Starks, Lannisters, Targaryens, and Beyond the Wall. That way if you are looking for someone specific, you know exactly where to head. Be warned that not every character is in this book, and not only that, but some costumes are left out. Sansa and Daenerys have the biggest sections, and even then, some of their costumes are left out.

Of course I feel the need to do a top 13 list of the best costumes (in my opinion), so here it goes in no particular order:

Sansa's Mockingbird dress (page 27)
Sansa's armored dress (page 40)
Sansa's Queen of Winterfell dress (page 44)
Littlefinger with black cloak (page 121)
Cersei's armored dress (page 135)
Jaime in red armor (page 187)
Margaery in blue (page 245)
Margaery in first wedding dress (page 248)
Oberyn in yellow outfit (page 270)
Daenerys' blue Qarth dress (page 333)
Daenerys' white winter dress (page 353)
Jon in battle armor (page 402)
The Night King (page 422)

I could go on and on with the list but 13 felt like a good spot. Let me know some of your favorite costumes!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this on a whim after reading the Game of Thrones photography book and am really glad I did because I actually enjoyed reading this one more.

I’m not hugely interested in costume design but I still found this book really fascinating – you won’t believe how much detail has gone into each costume.

I really loved how the book explained the meanings behind each costume and how they subtly link to the characters’ situation, personality and/or mental state.

I’d highly recommend this book if you’re a fan of the show, regardless of whether you’re interested in costume design.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was extremely fortunate to be given this book for my birthday by a generous friend. It's a gigantic, gorgeous book! The amount of detail on the costumes is amazing. There were some things I noticed watching the show, but being focused on what the characters were saying or doing and wondering what they'd do next meant there was a lot I didn't notice, plus there's only so much you can see on a TV screen. Some of the reasoning behind the costume detail choices is also fascinating.

[Tessa]

I'm not interested in reading or watching Game of Thrones but wow, these clothes sure are pretty. I enjoyed skimming through this and admiring them. Definitely makes me want to sew more outlandish costumes.

[Allison Thurman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, beautiful book, full of detailed photos. True costume nerds/cosplayers will appreciate that they *show the backs* of most of the costumes!

A treat for the eyes whether you watched the show or not.

[Ashley Pryde · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last season of game of thrones left a bad taste in a lot of peoples mouths. I still get angry and upset when I remember it but the thing that never failed in that show was the stunning costumes! I’ve wanted to own this book since it came out and I finally purchased it. It’s exquisite! It is absolutely massive and weighs far too much but it’s glorious!

It’s filled with stunning photos of the cast in their costumes and Michelle’s own concept drawings. The details in each and every outfit is absolutely insane, I’ve always admired the story the clothes told on the show but I had missed 80% of the details until now. Every last bead and stitch has a purpose. Even the scent and feel of fabrics means something. I adored poring over each design and picking each story out. It must have been a tremendous undertaking to do all this, I can’t imagine the work and commitment that would go into executing each detail so perfectly and making it believable in the world. Without this costume designer I highly doubt thrones would have lasted. She was born for this role, as were the team that helped of course!

The foreword from the “writing” duo Dan and David was my only gripe, I’d rather not have to see a photo of those two twats for the rest of my days on this Earth. I want them erased from my memory! I’m being petty and childish but that’s the language they understand so I’ll continue to hate what they did. I’m fine with my spite.

I bought this for one reason really. I wanted to see every detail of that White fur coat Daenerys wears in season 7 and 8. That glorious white coat has been living rent free in my head since I first saw it on screen. I’ve hunted high and low to find something similar to it with no luck except to pay £2000 on Etsy for a custom piece. Which of course would be worth it but I can’t afford it so I plan to eventually make my own version. So I wanted this book to be able to do that. But by the old gods and the new I got so much more than that! There are so many little design elements I want to emulate in my own style and the accessories that I’ve coveted for ages. I want to feel like a dragon queen every single day you see because whilst I live in the North, the land of ice and snow, I have a heart of fire and smoke and embers and ash.

Zaldrizes buzdari iksos daor!

[Shira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me: *let me just read this bit by bit*
Me: *doesnt finish it*
Closed libraries got me like...
OKAY BUT WHY DIDNT THEY HAVE DANYS LOOK FROM SEASON THREE LIKE MY FAVORITE BLUE ONE!!!*sob*
SO CLEAR AND CRISP PICTURES I am in AWE of the work and talent that went into creating these masterpieces... the thought and meaning in every detail... the fact that the colors and silhouettes have research and thought into the locations lifestyles and personalities of the characters. BESIDES for just being obsessed with the costumes, I also wanna cosplay soooooo.... this is absolute HEAVEN!!!
Of course all of Dany’s looks are my favorite, I mean seasons 7 and 8 the silhouettes 😍
Also Ellaria that yellow dress the SHOULDERS
Me: ce
Me: ciri
Me to me: no Shira
Me: ciri
Me: ciri
Me to me: NO THATS NOT HER NAME
me:
Me: circe
Me: CERSEI

OKAY the dress she wore to Joffrey’s wedding (I think) inspired by Margaery’s funnel dress THE SHOULDERS


okay
But shoulders though


No but like Myrcella, her dresses 🤤🤤🤤

That’s it

That’s just me reading this book

🤤🤤🤤

[Monteiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

A massive, heavy, book, fascinating to look at more than to read, to see and study all the details that make the costumes work so well on camera, so much work and thought were put into them the results are great, for season 8 everything is a little too dark and grey, but every costumes are rich. Not all characters costumes are studied, would have loved more maesters or Maester Aemond robes, some characters are barely mentioned, it's okay. I'm impressed at all the details you barely notice while watching an episode but wouldn't they be there you would feel their misses, as a an irking something is off.
My favorites were Cersei's evolution loved the reinvented "dead" Lannister Lion.
A great book to look at to browse and study. Respect for their creators and their massive work.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting look at the costume design decisions that went into making all the wonderful costumes on Game of Thrones.

While the show was hit and miss in terms of writing quality (in my opinion, anyway), the aesthetics were always on point.

My favourite part of this book was the small details that were explained - how colours and materials were used to link characters together in subtle ways.

Worth a look if you like costumes, or behind the scenes stuff, although at £60 the book is a bit on the pricey side.

[Lunhara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only a couple pages in but it's fascinating to read Michelle's reasoning and level of research behind each of the costume designs. I can't even get my head around some of it. Which is the reason why she's the professional and I'm reading about her work 😉
There needs to be more books like this in the world and they need to be on my bookshelf. The photography of each piece is just phenomenal. The pictures are so sharp the level of detail showing is mind blowing. I just love this book. I highly recommend it for anyone. From GOT fans to designers to photography this is just an epic book.

[Jeffrey (Akiva) Savett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing.

I feel about costume design the way I feel about architecture—both are functional art we often don’t notice. But in the right hands, both, obviously, become opportunities for storytelling, symbolism, and tremendous creativity.

I’m a huge fan of GOT. I’d like to believe that even if I wasn’t, this book would be fascinating. Certainly, this is for anyone interested in costume design, graphic design, storytelling, and the HBO series and Martin’s novels.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely stunning book of costumes. Love that it contains the actual reasoning and inspirations behind design elements and is not just a book of pretty pictures.
Contains many closeups and angles of costumes that are sometimes hard to see on screen, and sometimes even harder to see the intricate details of while moving.

It's huge though ;) might want to invest in a special shelf and bookstand.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is *heavy* but it is also heavy on detailed photos and Michelle Clapton’s vision for key outfits along each characters’ journey. This encyclopedia is a must for those who love the series and want to take a deep dive into the costumes and why they become part of the fabric that makes Westeros Westeros. Easy to read and heavy on the photographs, you’ll understand when D.B Weiss and David Benioff say Westeros would not be Westeros without Michelle Clapton.

[Ita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning. Absorbing. Although by page 400, I was beginning to go into overload mode.

I scrutinized every pic, evaluating the costumes for aesthetic appeal and figuring out how it was created. I pretty quickly realized they were way beyond my neophyte skills to recreate, requiring insane amounts of embroidery. Also, they would all take more time than I'm willing to give to one costume.

[B.P. Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am still getting over my opinion of the finale for this show, but this book has helped me appreciate the book in a MUCH deeper way. The amount of thought that was put into these costumes makes every single one of its Emmys worth it, and I found myself nearly drooling at many of the pictures.
Truly worth five stars, showcasing the work of someone I truly consider a creative genius.

[Audioiter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I coudn't resist buying this celebration of costume couture craftsmanship. Browsing through this abundance of colors, textures, intricate fabrics arranged in something wearable gives almost physical pleasure and certainly is an orgy for eyes. It makes me think about army of those talented craftsman who brought this concentration of beauty to existance. Big, fat slab of inspiration.

[Jonii · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though I'm not a huge GoT fan, I am a huge costume fan and this book was fantastic. I think that this should be in any costume, cosplay, or G0T enthusiast's book collection without a doubt. It was full of detailed photos and plenty of text on how they arrived at designs, fabrics, and other cool details. Highly recommend this one!

[Elise Valentine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously though. The costumes are incredible in the show. I don't care what people think about the ending or how it all tied together. The. Costumes. Were. Exquisite. And I love that it came in an encyclopedia-type book. 10/10.

[Hilary Scroggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

1. This book is extremely beautiful.
2. The level of thoughtfulness and characterization lavished on every detail is a throughline from beginning to end that just makes me so happy to read about. People who make things are the best.

[Mackenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning book with so much detail. She describes the purpose for every small thing included in the costumes. It is clear she put in a lot of time researching these costumes and making them each unique. Seeing all the detail up close is a treat.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

So useful for cosplay references

[Norah Leighton · Rating 3 out of 5]

amazing attention to detail. loved all the secrets about the fabrics, the jewelry, all of it. was very interesting.

[Jorge Vega Fabela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabric porn 👌🏻.
It gives you all the small details in the costumes.
The reason why the character dressed like that and an connection to them.

[Riegs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous, and a reminder that I'm still mad at this show.

[Cory B · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. I wanted to read details of the intricate embroidery and textures chosen for the costumes.

[Sav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good resource. Crisp, clear, and impeccable images.