“Frankenstein” debuted on Netflix on November 7, 2025. The Frankenstein (2025) costume designer discusses her initial and final character touches as well as everything in between. For his Frankenstein adaption, Mexican director Guillermo del Toro reconnected with costume designer Kate Hawley, with whom he had previously collaborated in Crimson Peak. Before constructing the opulent and eerie universe of the movie, Hawley went back to Mary Shelley’s original work for inspiration before the magic started. Del Toro envisioned a Frankenstein that seemed larger than life, set in the 1850s during the Crimean War. In a recent interview with Variety, Hawley stated, “He wanted a world that was expansive and modern,” noting that del Toro eschewed the conventional “black top hats” image of historical dramas. Hawley created outfits for Victor Frankenstein, an aspirational scientist who tried to overcome death, using unusual materials. “We talked about modern icons like Prince and David Bowie,” she disclosed. “Victor is an artist who creates life as though it were a work of art.” His early attire, which was influenced by Lord Byron and the Romantic era, depicts a wealthy, clever man who grows more ostentatious as his aspirations grow.
Victor (played by Oscar Isaac) wears old velvet when viewers first see him, suggesting that his security and wealth are eroding. His clothing becomes increasingly ostentatious as he gets closer to Harlander, demonstrating his growing fixation with power and celebrity. Elizabeth’s outfits, meanwhile, serve as the story’s emotional focal point. One of Hawley’s earliest creations, her bridal gown, unites the human and monstrous realms. Its ribboned arms and fitted bodice reflect the shape of the Creature, signifying Elizabeth’s developing compassion for him. Hawley connected nature and anatomy to each of Elizabeth’s dresses. In order to get the ethereal glow del Toro desired for the moonlit sequences, her blue outfit, which was inspired by an X-ray theme, needed 60 meters of fabric.
Using Tiffany & Co.’s 200-year archive, the team worked together. The Louis Comfort Tiffany Scarab Necklace and the Wade Necklace, which has more than 40 carats of diamonds, were two of the selected pieces. “For me, this movie turned into a fairy tale,” Hawley remarked. “Every jewel and every stitch had to tell a tale of love, decay, and creation.”
