The movie Wonder Woman 1984 showcases a memorable scene where Gal Gadot enters a party wearing a stunning white ensemble that accentuates her long legs. The costume designer, Lindy Hemming, refers to it as the “goddess garment” due to its beautiful pleats, tailored fit, and subtle shoulder pads. Hemming is a talented RADA graduate who has worked on iconic films such as Casino Royale, The Dark Knight, and Four Weddings and a Funeral, where she magnifies character and physicality through costumes. She recalls her fascination for character and shoes since childhood, which is evident in the specifically crafted shoes by Gina that detail the aspirations and character of the characters in the film. Hemming’s clever costumes capture the excess of the 80s while creating a woman that everyone can wonder at. In Wonder Woman 1984, Diana Prince uses her skills and a new Wonder Woman armor to fight Maxwell Lord and Cheetah while dealing with her love interest, played by Chris Pine. Hemming explains her approach to balancing innovation and appeasing the comic book fans to create the iconic DC image.
Wonder Woman’s appearance in the white gown during a particular scene in the movie is a sight to behold. The dress is an instant classic that exudes elegance, capability, and sensuality. When crafting this iconic look, costume designer Linda Hemming knew that it needed to be special and make the character stand out like a beam of light. Linda explored many evening dresses, but metallic ones from the period didn’t seem to be the right fit for the character as they were too obvious. To create the classic American look, Linda took inspiration from fashion houses like Chanel, Calvin Klein, and Claude Montana. Collaborating with a talented cutter named Ian Frazer Wallace, the costume was made from heavy double silk crepe designed as a shirt and wrap-around skirt that allowed Wonder Woman’s impressive legs to come through. The color white was chosen as it would make the character stand out from the crowd and look like a goddess – hence the name given to the look, “the 1980s goddess look.” Completing the outfit is a cuff from Tiffany.
The outfit worn by Gal Gadot in the movie Wonder Woman 1984 speaks volumes about her character. Linda Hemming, the costume designer, loves how the shoes add an unexpected twist to the ensemble, reflecting Kristen Wiig’s transformation into the character Cheetah. The shoes were made by Gina, a company with bases in France, New York, and Los Angeles. Hemming and her team made the outfit themselves, using expensive silk crepe fabric for the trousers and an ’80s pattern for the shirt to create a classic and elegant look. Hemming’s personal favorite is a simple blouse and pleated trousers with turn-ups at the ankle, which drape beautifully and resemble Armani’s style from that era.
In this conversation, Gal Gadot explains that the costume she’s wearing is a tribute to Ralph Lauren and American designers. They designed everything except for the waistcoat which was found by someone on their team. Chris Pine credits director Patty Jenkins for wanting his character’s look to be more timeless yet still have an ’80s feel, similar to Nick Hayward. Linda Hemming shares that the jacket was a ‘Members Only’ jacket while they made the pants and added an expensive white T-shirt from Japan by Pharon. They also introduced the idea of a fanny pack during the dressing up sequence, as it was a popular look for ordinary guys in the ’80s.
This particular moment marks a transition that requires confidence and style. Linda Hemming, the designer behind the iconic look, aimed to emphasize the character’s physique with a black outfit that reflected her edgier side. Drawing inspiration from the sleek body-contouring designs of Azzedine Alaia and the rebellious style of punk rock and Madonna, Hemming incorporated an affordable lace fabric that offered elasticity to perfectly mold to the wearer’s shape. Although not a high-end material, it achieved the desired effect with precision and style. This bold and distinctive ensemble continues to be an emblematic representation of the character’s persona.
According to Linda Hemming, Kristen Wiig’s outfit in the film reflects her character’s psychological state. The jacket’s animalistic feel and torn tights suggest that she has gone mad. The fake fur jacket was chosen for its fabric, which is appropriate for the later ’80s. The thigh-high boots are from Gina Shoes, known for making fantastic footwear for movies. The long boots allowed for almost no skirt at all, with a crepe animal print, silk-chiffon skirt that was torn and ragged. The visible torn stockings add to the wild, untamed look of the character. The Cheetah mirrors the shoes worn by Gal at the beginning of the film. Hemming believes that each character’s costume should reflect their development throughout the story. For Wiig’s character, the costume starts with a dowdy, intelligent woman and evolves into a stronger, aggressive, and animalistic character that culminates at the end of the film.
According to Linda Hemming, the creation of Wonder Woman’s new gold costume was a painstaking process that took several months. The outfit was designed to reflect the Amazon’s history, with a magical and protective quality that set it apart from regular armor. Hemming took inspiration from Alexander McQueen and Thierry Mugler, aiming for a deep golden hue and a shimmering, decadent texture. The costume was made from a urethane material and molded or printed to achieve its unique look. Overall, the goal was to create a suit of armor that felt more like a mystical artifact than a piece of ancient military equipment.
In the upcoming Wonder Woman movie, there have been some changes to her iconic armor. Linda Hemming, the costume designer, explained that they made the Wonder Woman Red Blue and Gold Armor have more depth than the previous film and changed the colors to make it look more like the 1980s. The bustier was also modified from the original design by Michael Wilkinson, with changes made to the fabric and style lines. Hemming shared that designing for iconic characters like Wonder Woman, Batman, and Bond comes with pressure to respect their silhouette and image while also creating something new and fresh for contemporary audiences. Despite these challenges, Hemming is excited to bring her vision to life on screen.
The Chris Pine costume is simply delightful and has the power to bring a smile to anyone’s face. Costume designer Linda Hemming shared that the outfit was inspired by the club wear of the 1980s, particularly dance pants and combat trousers. The latter had a lot of zips and were intentionally made tight, despite being highly uncomfortable. They were all the rage during that decade and are still remembered today as a unique fashion statement.
In regards to Max Lord’s appearance in Wonder Woman 1984, some may speculate that Donald Trump served as the inspiration. However, Pedro Pascal clarifies that it was more of a Gordon Gekko look. Director Patty Jenkins also added that it wasn’t just one specific influence. It’s worth noting the distinctive padded shoulders commonly seen in fashion during the 1980s.
