Hawley received the award from former Fashion editor Anna Wintour and actress Anne Hathaway, thanking the Academy and its creative team and describing the costume designers as “craftsmen, alchemists and weavers of dreams.”
The film, directed by Guillermo del Toro and inspired by the classic novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley; or The Modern Prometheus (published in 1818), features richly layered costumes that combine Victorian aesthetics with Gothic fantasy. Hawley's designs employ color symbolism and intricate textures to reinforce narrative themes of life, death, and obsession.
New Zealand costume designer Kate Hawley won Best Costume Design at the Academy Awards (Oscar) for the film Frankenstein. Her elaborate, colorful costumes combine Gothic aesthetics with Victorian influences, using symbolism and layered textures to enhance the film's narrative and character development inspired by Mary Shelley's classic novel.
Throughout the film, color motifs, particularly shades of red, play a central role in the narrative, symbolizing the memory of Victor Frankenstein's mother and recurring emotional themes. Victor's wardrobe combines silhouettes from the romantic era with extravagant touches inspired by figures such as David Bowie and Mick Jagger, reflecting the character's rebellious personality.
Hawley also created intricate costumes for Elizabeth, played by Mia Goth, incorporating botanical and insect-inspired patterns and jewelry elements that highlight the character's connection to nature. The garments were constructed with multiple layers and textures to create an atmospheric and painterly visual style aligned with the gothic tone of the film.
The Oscar marks Hawley's first Academy Award and follows previous recognition for frankenstein at the Costume Designers Guild Awards, where the film also won in the period film category.
With its dramatic silhouettes, symbolic color palette and meticulous craftsmanship, the film's costume design has been widely praised for helping shape the visual identity of the ambitious adaptation of del Toro's classic tale.
Fiber2Fashion (CG) News Desk
