From Innocence to Experience

On the Significance of Sansa Stark's Costumes in HBO's Game of Thrones

Authors

  • Chantele Franz Kwantlen Polytechnic University

Abstract

HBO’s Game of Thrones is widely regarded as one of the most ambitious and sophisticated series in the history of television. Based upon the enormously popular historical/fantasy novels of George R.R. Martin, the series is admired for its epic scale and for its elaborate world-building. HBO’s Game of Thrones is praised for its spectacular set designs and its skilful blending of CGI and location shots to create an instantly recognizable visual style. From the opening credit sequence to the richly textured and nuanced representations of the fictional worlds of Essos, Pentos, and Westeros, the mise-en-scène in Game of Thrones has played a significant role in winning the support of die-hard fans and scholars alike. To date, there have been more than a half-dozen monographs and/or collections of critical essays published on the landmark television series. Our essay aims to add to this commentary by exploring the significance of costume design in Game of Thrones. Inherently, costume design serves multiple functions. On one level, costumes help lend a degree of realism and historical accuracy to the characters and settings. They also help to define specific characters both as individuals and as members of specific social classes or groups. However, costume can also visually foreground narrative arcs and themes. This is the case for Sansa Stark. Through a dramatic transformation in costuming, the series showcases her character’s growth from innocence to experience.

Author Biography

Chantele Franz, Kwantlen Polytechnic University

Chantele Franz is a Kwantlen Polytechnic University graduate with a Bachelors of Arts in English. Through her studies, not only has she been able to explore her love of literature and film, but was also able to co-develop a guest lecture with Dr. Paul Tyndall and fellow classmate Yasmeen Kumar for KPU’s Art History department. The lecture was subsequently presented at the Far West Popular Culture Association’s 2018 Las Vegas conference and created a foundation for her co-authored article, included in this journal. Currently, Chantele is co-directing a modern production of Shakespeare’s King Lear which will be staged at the Cultch.

 

Yasmeen Kumar is a KPU graduate of English and history. During her time at KPU, Yasmeen explored her interest in historical textiles and costumes in film. In her free time, Yasmeen enjoys designing, and creating costumes based on films, TV, and celebrity fashion. Since graduating from KPU in 2019, she has pursued a career working with children with special needs in schools in the UK and Canada. She currently lives with her husband who she met while at KPU.

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Published

2025-08-19

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 1 (2025): Mise-en-scène: The Journal of Film & Visual Narration

Section

Undergraduate Scholarship