For the fashionistas among us, the theatre may be one of the most thrilling places to admire and be inspired by jaw-dropping, innovative fashion. Whether it’s intricate historical dress or elaborate costumes meant to evoke a sense of spectacle or glamorous designer gowns you might see on the runway, the theatre has something for everyone. So if you’re looking for couture inspiration, here are our top recommendations.
Ensemble cast of Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Image provided by production.
SIX at the Vaudeville Theatre
SIX merges the historical with the modern in its story, its music, and of course, the fabulous costumes worn by the six queens. Gabriella Slade (Paddington the Musical) designs each iconic outfit with delightful and painstaking detail, capturing each queen’s unique personality and historical role, from the youthful Katherine Howard’s girlish high ponytail to Anne Boleyn’s green outfit referencing the folk song ‘Greensleeves’. Keen eyes will recognise clever details, such as how the beheaded queens wear chokers and the divorced ones wear spikes. Each outfit also pays tribute to the pop icons each queen emulates in her vocal and musical style.
Our favourite outfit: A six-way tie would be cheating, so we’re going to go with Anne Boleyn’s all-green outfit for its iconic space buns, Lily Allen inspired pop-punk influences, and the historical shout-outs woven into her costume, such as the B pendant on her choker.
Original sketch of Anne Boleyn's costume by Gabriella Slade and Thao Therese Nguyen as Anne Boleyn in SIX
The Devil Wears Prada at the Dominion Theatre
Fashion plays a key part in this stylish, sassy musical, and costume designer Gregg Barnes, who worked on the equally fashionable Legally Blonde, worked hard to capture the fashion of the Noughties in all its glitzy glamour and charming cringe. The outfits range from chic office wear to elaborate high fashion gowns, including vintage pieces by Dior, Prada, Tom Ford, and others. Mixing iconic looks from the film with fresh takes, the musical’s costume design captures each character’s unique relationship with fashion, from Andy’s lumpy cerulean sweater to Emily’s tightly buttoned up outfits and stiletto heels to, of course, Miranda Priestley’s timelessly glamorous and fierce looks.
Our favourite outfit: In her scene-stealing entrance at the Met Gala, Miranda whips off a ruby satin Mikado coat lined with 5000 sequins to reveal a ruby strapless gown with micro bugle-beads painstakingly and individually sewn by hand. An iconic outfit for an iconic character!
Original dress by Pamela Roland and Vanessa Williams as Miranda Priestley in The Devil Wears Prada
Cabaret at the Playhouse Theatre
Step into the seedy, seductive underworld of 1930s Berlin, infused with Tom Scutt’s incredible costumes. The immersive environment of the Kit Kat Club is filled with performers clad in weird and wonderful outfits: both seedy and stylized, mixing Pierrot costumes with fur coats and wigs. In the opening number ‘Wilkommen’, each of the ensemble cast wears a unique costume representing their identity, from a tiny hat perched askew to balloon-like peasant sleeves. Sally’s dramatic pastel green coat and the Emcee’s eccentric mix of a child’s party hat and black rubber fetish gloves both encapsulate the club’s defiant boldness. It’s a sobering moment when we see the colourful, vibrant, individualistic costumes fade into beige uniformity as the Nazis rise to power.
Our favourite outfit: It’s hard to pick a favourite, but we have to go with the Emcee’s look during ‘Money’, as he gradually sheds pieces of his costume while the threat of fascism creeps over the musical. The end result is a haunting skeleton-clown in semi-sheer black fabric, with Babadook-esque black and white make-up and clawed gloves.
Original sketch of the Emcee's costume by Tom Scutt and Eddie Redmayne as the Emcee in Cabaret (2024)
Moulin Rouge! The Musical at the Piccadilly Theatre
Paris during La Belle Époque is a treasure trove of iconic fashion, and Catherine Zuber delivers on this with her costume design for Moulin Rouge! The Musical, which won her both a Tony and an Olivier. From the colourful bohemian styles of Paris to the glamorous suits and gowns to the aristocracy, the fashion choices evoke the heady, passionate, and sometimes dangerous air of the setting and time. The showgirls of the Moulin Rouge club steal the show in their scintillating red and black corsets and colourful cancan dresses, while the tragic Satine dominates the stage in a dizzying array of costumes all characterised by silk, fishnet, and sparkle, and an enviable collection of corsets.
Our favourite outfit: Satine’s sparkling, diamond-encrusted corset is covered in 30,000 Swarovski crystals, which she reveals during the ‘Diamonds’ number, swiftly shedding her original costume, equally extravagant with velvet hat and gloves, to reveal the breathtaking corset beneath.
Original sketch of Satine's costume by Catherine Zuber and Natalie Kassanga as Satine in Moulin Rouge! The Musical
Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre
One of the most memorable things about this beloved, long-running musical is its quirky, unique costume design that perfectly captures the cast of eccentric, magical characters of Oz. From Elphaba’s iconic black dress and witch’s hat to Glinda’s collection of sparkling pink gowns to Nessarose’s famous silver slippers, Susan Hilferty creates an eclectic collection of looks, perfect for a story where all is not as it seems. The outrageous high fashion of the Emerald City perfectly symbolises the elitist, often terrifying society of Oz.
Our favourite outfit: Glinda’s first appearance, dramatically descending over the munchkins, celebrating the Wicked Witch of the West’s death, has her in her famous bubble dress. This gorgeous gown, with its petal skirt, was inspired by Christian Dior’s vintage ‘Junon’ dress, which itself was designed with the goddess Juno in mind.
Original sketch of Glinda's costume by Susan Hilferty and Zizi Strallen as Glinda in Wicked
Les Miserables at the Sondheim Theatre
Andreane Neofitou’s costume design is packed with symbolism, including the frequent occurrences of the patriotic red, white, and blue and inspiration drawn from the paintings of Delacroix for the overall palette. Every costume tells a story about the characters. The magpie-like Thenardiers wear gaudy, colourful, Spanish-inspired outfits, while the duty-bound Javert wears subdued greys and blues that gradually grow darker as his morality does. Fantine’s changing dresses, from the dignified pink embroidered gown she starts off with to the dirty, ripped dress she wears as a prostitute, chart her tragic downfall.
Our favourite outfit: Enjolras’s famous xylophone vest, worn during the barricade scene, is immediately synonymous with his character as a revolutionary leader: the bold red evokes the ‘blood of angry men’ while the unique xylophone pattern makes him stand out on a crowded stage. Combined with the white poet shirt, tricolour sash, and cravat, he strikes a powerful and Romantic image straight out of a painting.
Original sketch of Enjolras's costume by Andreane Neofitou and Bradley Jaden as Enjolras in Les Miserales (2021)
The Phantom of the Opera at His Majesty's Theatre
Costume designer Maria Bjornson used lustrous silks and brocades, lace, embroidery, and beaded appliques to create the extravagant and often gaudy costumes of the musical’s opulent, decadent opera house. From the flashy outfits of the masquerade to Christine’s array of stunning gowns, each costume captures the romance, passion, drama, and spectacle of this epic story. And of course, we can’t forget the Phantom’s iconic, instantly recognisable look, with an elegant suit and cloak, and the white half-mask that’s become a symbol of the musical. Each Phantom’s mask is custom made to the actor’s face.
Our favourite outfit: Out of Christine’s dazzling array of outfits, our favourite is the bold red and green corset and skirt from the Hannibal ballet. With a skirt made of slashed velvet ropes and beaded strands, gold bust cups draped with beads, and worn with gold cuffs and a tiara, this look paints an exotic, dramatic picture of the beautiful Christine. It’s complimented by the similarly dressed back-up dancers during a dramatic moment recreating the arrival of Hannibal to Carthage.
Original sketch of Christine Daae's costume by Maria Bjornson and Lily Kerhoas as Christine Daae in The Phantom of the Opera
In the world of theatre, costume design can make a world of difference to storytelling and immersion. So whether you’re a hobbyist, a budding designer, or just fascinated by fashion, pick the show that excites you most and prepare for a visual feast filled with inspiration for anyone with an artistic eye.
