COSTUME DESIGNER MICHELE CLAPTON
The Crown, Game of Thrones, The Nevers+
If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, then you’re also probably (and perhaps unknowingly) a fan of British costume designer Michele Clapton.
The uber-talented Clapton began her professional journey into costume design in 1989 when she worked on the British short film Visions of Ecstasy, which gained notoriety as the only film to be refused certification from the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) on grounds of blasphemy. Even though the UK eventually repealed its blasphemy laws in 2008, paving the way for the film’s official release in 2012, we’d say that’s a pretty provocative way to make one’s debut.
Clapton went on to design costumes for films such as Love and Other Disasters, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, and most recently, 2020’s The Secret Garden. What Clapton is perhaps best known for, however, is her work in television period dramas. Her standout designs in shows like The Nevers, Sense & Sensibility, The Crown, and of course Game of Thrones prove that Clapton is one of the best at truly capturing the looks of any bygone era thrown at her.
For The Crown’s inaugural season, Clapton used what seemed like the show’s entire budget on fabulously luxurious fabrics for Queen Elizabeth II and her family. She modeled her creations after a combination of researched photos and her own unique spin on what she thought royals would wear. After all, The Crown is a drama at heart, so Clapton’s playful and nuanced addition to the already over-the-top period costumes was a welcome one.
Clapton’s greatest achievements, both creatively and professionally, can be seen in her jaw-dropping costumes in the universally beloved Game of Thrones. It was here that Clapton truly started getting the acclaim she deserved, having scored Emmy nominations for every single season. She brought home the trophy for Season Two (specifically the episode “The Prince of Winterfell”), Season Four (“The Lion and the Rose”), and for Season Six’s final two episodes (which, by the way, were the only two episodes she designed for that season). Her work in Season Seven, the series’ last, not only won her the Emmy, but she also took home the BAFTA Award and Costume Designer’s Guild Award as well.
Be sure to check out Michele Clapton’s inimitable designs throughout her colorful career. She helped bring to life some of the most iconic characters we all grew to love over the years, and some we loved to hate. Either way, what made these characters so memorable wasn’t just the acting talent.
It was also by design.
