It’s time for a best of 2008 list from That Costume Girl. I’ve decided to rundown some of the best costumes from the movies of 2008. It’s a short list, just a highlight really, of the great work being done in film. I’ve tried to include a little something from all genres. This is a best costume list; not to be confused with a best picture list. Let’s have a look:

The Dark Knight: This movie was all about Joker. The costume was updated yet still iconic. Joker kept his distinctive purple suit and brought it up to date with a printed dress shirt and dark green vest. His dress shoes were topped with brightly colored argyle socks to round out his kooky yet stylish look. Each time Joker was in a new outfit, they found a way to make it fit his personality.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army: Guillermo del Toro doesn’t know how to make a film that isn’t visually rich. There are layers of color and texture throughout the movie. Sammy Sheldon and the entire make up effects team out did themselves. The team did a great job translating comic book creations into real costumes. Of note were Johann Krauss and the royal family.

The Forbidden Kingdom: When we combine the Wizard of Oz and Karate Kid we get a Monkey King and family friendly fun. The characters wear costumes symbolic of who they are. The traveling companions are dressed in specific colors. The Wicked Wit—er, Warlord wears a gorgeous black ensemble lined in gold. Every so often you can catch the glint of silver thread in the embroidery of hems.

The Fall: This movie took a few years to bring to the big screen; it was worth the wait for the beautiful creations. A little girl befriends a hospital patient that ends up telling her about a fantastic world of heroes and adventures. Soon reality bleeds into fantasy. The colors are supersaturated. The costumes are extreme.

Mongol: A 2007 film that wasn’t released in the U.S. until June 2008. Biopics may not be the best way to learn about history but they usually have a creative team intent on capturing the past. The authentic clothing in Mongol hits the spot. The cast spend a good deal of time dusted in dirt. The proper mess is just as important as the perfect stitch.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day: A dowdy governess loses her job and ends up in a whirlwind of fun with perky actress. Amy Adams sparkles in the old Hollywood fashions. Frances McDormand’s transformation from shabby to snazzy will make you smile. You can tell Michael O’Connor enjoyed recreating the feel of nightclubs and fashion shows.

Flash of Genius: Based on true events in a man’s life, the movie begins in the 60s and spans decades. We see Greg Kinnear move through skinny ties, blue suits, cardigan sweaters, and horn rimmed glasses. It can be a lot of fun to watch the decades pass through the changes of fashion.

Son of Rambow: Set in the early 1980s, two schoolboys find themselves forging a friendship while making a movie. Their movie of course requires jungle ready costumes and lots of youthful creativity. I suspect the crew had a lot of fun making the outfits and props for this one. Keep an eye out for the too-cool-for-words popular boy looking like he just stepped out of a 80s music video.

Repo! The Genetic Opera: A dark movie musical and the closest to a horror film on this list. Murder is legal and your liver could end up in the hands of the Repo Man if you’re not quick with your payments. Butcher aprons, leather overcoats, and masks haunt dreams in this macabre world.

Be Kind Rewind: Here’s the goofy entry to the list. Be Kind Rewind is all about people making their own movies. A local would be designer helps out the ragtag filmmakers. Pretty soon you’ll see cardboard cyborgs, aluminum Ghostbusters, and men in dresses. What could be better than a bunch of Average Joes making movie costumes?

I left out a lot of beautifully costumed movies. Notably absent are the period dramas like The Duchess, the early twentieth century settings in The Changeling, the harsh crispness of Doubt, or the perfectly drab Miracle at St. Anna. The costumes I’ve left out are masterfully done, but there’s too many great costume designers to make note of all of them.

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Tags: best costumes 2008, costume design, film, joker, movie, repo, son of rambow

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