Notes

The Officially Licensed Costume for The Handmaid’s Tale
The costumes in The Handmaid's Tale have been an act of resistance against patriarchy from the moment of its premiere. Women have worn the crimson robes of the Handmaids at marches and protests outside the screen as a reminder for us that we have the ability to take on dictatorships that limit women's rights. This official costume is the ideal opportunity to join in with the spirit of the season, and to resist oppression.


The task of creating a dystopian society in which women are merely incubators of an oppressive patriarchy, the Hulu series with Emmy-nominated costume designer Ane Crabtree is up against an arduous task. Ane Crabtree credits a mash-up of the song "Heart of Glass" by Blondieas well as Philip Glass’ Violin Concerto as a major source of inspiration. The song was playing on repeat during Crabtree's first appearance with Elisabeth Moss, who plays Offred in the show. It eventually became her unofficial anthem for designing the iconic red cloak, which is the centerpiece to the Handmaids' uniform.



The costumes were influenced by historical and cultural references as well as the music. The red color, for example, was intended to symbolize blood. Crabtree explained that she had drawn inspiration from many sources, such as a Danish religion, known as Tvind and also the Amish in the design of the dresses, cloaks as well as other clothing. Margaret Atwood, the show's creator, has also made reference to Renaissance and medieval paintings, as well as the clothes that were worn by Mary Magdalene who is referred to in Christianity as "the Other Woman".


Alongside the costume, Crabtree designed the white headdresses that covered the Handmaids head. The writers of the show chose to go with a literal interpretation of the costumes. However, Handmaid's Tale Costume DIY has a deeper meaning. "The white bonnets are meant to serve as a blinder kind," she tells NewsHour. "White is a very religious color that is used by widows in India for instance, and in some ways is a symbol of death or something that's forbidden."


Although the costumes were designed to reflect a sense of oppression and repression, they don't necessarily reflect this way. The robes were reused to challenge the patriarchy of activists who have used the hashtag #resistsister, which is popular on social media. The robes were even worn in protest of the recent cuts made to women's health insurance, and the current anti-immigrant sentiment.


As we approach the end of season three, the regimented world of Gilead continues to grow as viewers are immersed in Margaret Atwood's bleak vision for the future. With a cast of over 500 background actors as well as 100 hand-made cloaks no surprise that costumes stand out. This costume, which is licensed by the government, is the ideal way for fans to get involved in the fight against tyranny and keep the revolution alive. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum!

Here's my website: https://www.handmaidstalecostume.com/