Costume designer Mary Zophres breaks down the architectural wardrobe of Joel Coens Shakespeare adaptation.
Joel Coen’sThe Tragedy of Macbethhit theaters at Christmas and is now streaming on Apple TV+.
Below, costume designer (and regular Coen collaborator) Mary Zophres breaks down the ruthlessly stylish wardrobe.
Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand in ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’.Alison Rosa/Apple TV +
Designing for black-and-white meant Zophres relied on texture more than color to create depth.
“You don’t want to be talking to Ross in pink.”
“There were archways and colonnades and stairwells and steps,” she remembers.
Corey Hawkins and Harry Melling in ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’.Alison Rosa/Apple TV +
“It was very linear, graphic, architectural, geometric.”
She created the costumes with that sensibility in mind, and a special attention to shape.
“We referred to a lot of the characters as chess pieces,” Zophres explains.
Frances McDormand in ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’.Alison Rosa/Apple TV +
We wanted to sort of encase her in her clothing, almost constrain her in some way."
“Joel wanted Fran to look more beautiful than she’s ever looked in a movie before.
That was our edict,” Zophres says.
Moses Ingram in ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’.Alison Rosa/Apple TV +
It was all very intentional."
Where did he stand?"
“He has very broad shoulders and very narrow hips.
Alex Hassell in ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’.Alison Rosa/Apple TV +
And I just took it as tight as I possibly could, to emphasize that shape.
He’s another chess piece and very singular.”
The Tragedy of Macbethis now in theaters and streaming on Apple TV+.
