Rough Costume Idea - Kathy

The choice of costume is an important factor of mise-en-scene and representing the character of Kathy to the audience. It also represents and supports the genre of the piece. The colour blue is representational of being trust worthy and dependable but the fact that the tone is darker it conveys a contrast of these traits. Navy/dark blue is symbolic of being uncaring and showing a lack of emotion, this trait is an important part of Kathy’s character and the use of the dress helps to support it. By using a dress it is a visual representation of her femininity. The length as well as the cut and style of this piece convey her natural personality as it flows fluently and allows her shape to be seen. The use of a dress allows a variety of audiences and social classes to interact with her.  A masculine stereotype may perceive her in a typical feminine character and women can be inspired by her. The fact that the dresses is produced of high value material, conveys to the audience the wealth and background that Kathy comes from, linking together the expensive and often labelled clothing that her brother Rhys wears. The style of the dress also conveys to the audience that though appearance is important to Kathy, it is not the most important aspect of her personality. It also helps to detail her individuality. The two layers of fabric used upon the dress are there and can convey the different traits that make up Kathy. The emotions she doesn’t allow herself to show, and therefore are buried inside and the cold exterior she possess. The dark tone and the fact it is a dress can link to the danger and convention of fear that the horror genre produces.

The shoes are the last piece of the costume and as Kathy is standing for the majority of the film are crucial. The most important aspect that they represent is her individuality and the difference between her and Rhys. The colours of these boots are brown in order to continue the contrast between the colours that her clothes symbolise and her personality. The colour brown represents stability and nature and both of these factors don’t concern Kathy. Brown is also used to represent wholesomeness, which is a trait that Kathy doesn’t have; she is upfront and bold with everything. By continuing the theme of contrast it allows for Kathy’s rebellion against society to be confirmed within the audiences mind. By wearing boots instead of simple high heels it conveys her individuality but also her femininity as traditionally high heels would be worn by young women. The heel and style of the shoe shows that comfort is more important to Kathy than being aesthetically pleasing and that unlike Rhys and Lucy appearance is not as important to her. It also represents that Kathy’s role and job within society doesn’t require large amounts of desk work. The buckles and the combination of two materials again represent her personality of being bold and confident but that she challenges normality and is a blend of cultures and stereotypes.  By wearing boots is also portrays Kathy’s youth and exuberance.

The necklace though a small item is crucial in conveying the personality of Kathy to the audience. The first most crucial factor is the colour. Red conveys a variety of emotions and personality traits and this constructs Kathy’s background and personality. One of the most important representations of the colour red is that it symbolises danger, foreshadowing the risk of the location she is in but also enforcing that this is a common problem for her.  Red is also symbolic of passion, and this can connote the eccentricities that Kathy has as a character but also shows that she feels emotions strongly and is effected deeply by them. This helps to give Kathy more layers and interest and helps the audience to contact with her on a variety of levels.  The shape of the design is also vital. A red heart symbolises one with love and emotion something that Kathy doesn’t outwardly display, it also representative of her femininity. The red heart can also be a representation of death, and the blood that will be metaphorically by hers. The style and value of the necklace is different compared to the status and money that the rest of her outfit suggests. The necklace is common, flawed and on a simple chain. This change of theme can convey to the audience that this necklace was a gift or a token given to her by someone else. This apparent love or connection between another human suggests that Kathy isn’t always as reckless and cold and is capable of forming relationships and that she may have one to lose. The relationship theme is reinforced by other aspects of her personality and her costume.

The costume is an important part of representing Kathy as a character. Each item of clothing reinforces her charateristics, the moral as well as the genre of the film. By reinforcing traits and iconic themes of the film in the costumes, it allows for less important dialogue to be removed. Even though these are not the actual costumes pieces for Kathy's characte,r the themes and conventions used will be used in the actual pieces in order to create a vibrant and interesting character for the audience.