Skip to main content

How to Dress Like Lady Tremaine, the Cate Blanchett Version

An entrance to entrance for the Wicked Stepmom

Everyone's favorite tufthunter, Lady Tremaine, clawed her way to the cinemas this year with the live-action version of Disney's "Cinderella."

Cate Blanchett was a casting coup for the character, given that she had practically played a fairytale villainess before. With the help of acclaimed costumer Sandy Powell, Cate Blanchett portrayed the quintessential Wicked Stepmother in an array of outfits that would make both Joan Crawford and Queen Victoria seethe with jealousy. 

Instead of following the Halloween herd by slipping on The Dress, why not vaunt some hard-won class by going as Cate's version of Madam Tremaine? If you think every eligible maiden wants to be Cinderella on All Hallows' Eve, think again.  

Costume 

If you get the sense that the movie's costumes are a little bit anachronistic, it's because they are supposed to be. Sandy purposely designed the costumes to look like a 1940s movie about the 19th century. Her overall vision for Lady Tremaine is a shotgun marriage between Christian Dior's New Look and Victorian elegance. It's kinda retro-futuristic, in that sense — if the future were the Golden Age of Hollywood, that is. 

While the animated Mrs. Tremaine preferred red, this version is all about putting the mean in green, in keeping with the character's inner green-eyed monster. "If you’re wearing green, you don’t have to act the jealousy because the costumes in a way visually are doing it for you," Cate told EW.

To get Cate's showstopping ballgown, get ready to mine a lot of citron green fabrics, and give your seamstress this sketch, stat.

A TWIST IN TIME. Sandy Powell envisioned an anachronistic wardrobe for Lady Tremaine. Via Fashion Gone Rogue

As always, if you have a midnight clock to beat like Cindy, go the RTW route. (Based on the pic, it's a bit short at the hemline though.)

Accessories

Long golden evening gloves (and a fan) finish Lady Tremaine's look at the ball. Sandy also completed the ensemble with a pricey set of baubles by Atelier Swarovski that would make the animated Lady Tremaine's brooch greener with envy. (Get yours for 11 bucks here.)

Via Libris Notes

Also, with a gown as long as this, you can get away with any decent pair of shoes, so don't stress too much about them like Fairy Godmother. You're much more of a goddess than that.  

Hair 

Because we are animal-friendly folks, spare the poor birds their feathers — and bring a plush toy instead of a live cat on a leash as Lucifer. Eyes on the prize, which is perfecting your 40s-style updo.

You may not achieve this by your lonesome, as evidenced by this tutorial. So you better boss around a hairstylist or a friend, if you're not too savvy about your locks.


 Makeup

After you get your hair did, it's time for some bibbidi bobbidi boo on your mug. As usual, we rely on our beautiful stepsisters of makeup magic on YouTube.



Mother? Madam!

We may not have Cate's bone structure but that shouldn't stop us from being the life of the party. Lady Tremaine certainly made the most of what she had in more ways than one, starting with blowing up her daughters' market value, of course.

So step to the beat like Stepmother, and work the room like the badass social climber that you are.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Dress as Queen Grimhilde from Snow White

Maleficent may have shockingly strong powers, but at the end of the day, you've got to ask: Who's got the crown? Snow White's stepmother is queen bee among Disney villains in more ways than one. She's First Evil in Disney's full-length animations and the highest-ranking animated character in AFI's list of greatest villains . And sorry, ye ageist Mirror: In the beauty department, she can more than hold her own in an apples-to-apples comparison with Snow White. Now, now, we all know Grimhilde (the character was only named after the fact) is a two-in-one bargain among Disney villains. You could either a.) dress up as the 1930s screen goddess or b.) the cackling crone. This guide will skew younger for now. Without further ado, here's how you can be fairest of them all on Halloween night: Costume To shroud my clothes, the black of night   Short of an evil spell, just print out a full-body pic of the Queen and let your tailor or seamstress do the mag...
2 comments
Read more

How to Dress as Morticia Addams

All Hallow's Eve is fast approaching. From now until the macabre occasion, Cautionary Women will give you tips and tricks on what is Halloween all about: dressing up! To start, let's try to get the look of Morticia Addams, one of the reigning queens of Halloween. Anjelica Huston as Morticia Addams Now Morticia, the iconic matriarch of the Addams Family, is scarcely the evil woman pictured here at Cautionary Women. She is rather something of a paradox: scary-looking but kind (in the way she knows how), intimidating but approachable (again, in the way she knows how). She is just eerie, not evil. Carolyn Jones as Morticia Yet Morticia can give any superbly nefarious queen a run for her money. Whether on TV, film, or anywhere The Addams Family franchise is splayed, Morticia commands attention with her spine-tingling style. Sure she may be fundamentally good and all, but try running into her on a solitary road at night. Here's how to be Morticia Addams for...
3 comments
Read more

How to Dress Like Narcissa Malfoy from Harry Potter

So many wicked witches populate the Harry Potter universe, chief among them Bellatrix Lestrange , but there's one who brings a touch of class to her witchery: Narcissa 'Cissy' Black Malfoy. Married into money, Narcissa is as pureblood as they come. She takes pride in her stock a little too much, the complete antithesis of her humble sister Andromeda. While she's not as cuckoo for cocoa puffs or overtly murderous as her other sister Bellatrix, she can be very classist and racist, not afraid to thumb her nose down at Muggles. At least you won't ever catch Mrs. Lucius Malfoy in raggedy clothes.  Narcissa Malfoy cosplay Narcissa Malfoy with big sis Bellatrix Lestrange  Draco Malfoy's mother is always well put together, as seen on the few scenes she has on the Harry Potter films. The classic Narcissa Malfoy costume is one in which the late actress Helen McCrory wears a fabulous green variation of a blazer dress with long sleeves, rounded shoulders and cinched waist....
Post a Comment
Read more