Second Life The Who What Wear Podcast: Frankenstein Costume Designer Kate Hawley on Mia Goth’s Ephemeral Looks, del Toro’s Color-Coding, and the Tiffany & Co. Archives
Nov 5, 2025
Kate Hawley, a talented costume designer known for her work with Guillermo del Toro, shares insights on designing for his retelling of Frankenstein. She delves into her extensive research process, revealing how historical elements influenced her saturated color palettes. Hawley discusses Mia Goth's dual roles, highlighting color-coding and symbolic accessories like a Tiffany-made beetle necklace. Expect fashion trends like feathered headpieces and striking malachite colors to emerge from the film's stylized designs!
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Meeting Through A Shared Bookshelf
- Kate Hawley met Guillermo del Toro when Peter Jackson introduced them during Hobbit meetings and they bonded over shared books and Gothic taste.
- That meeting launched a long collaboration built on a shared artistic language and mutual understanding.
Research From Inside Out
- Hawley researches historically and thematically, building timelines and textiles before drawing final costumes.
- She treats del Toro's film as a fever dream, blending period silhouette with symbolic textures and colors.
Color As Storytelling Thread
- Del Toro uses recurring visual motifs and precise color cues to connect memory and character in the film.
- Red acts as a leitmotif linking Victor, his mother Claire, and Elizabeth across time and perspective.
