Do Actors Ever Get to Keep Their Clothes?
(By Jim Webb)
(Photo: Liza Summer | Pexels)
When we watch movies and TV shows, we often find ourselves captivated not just by the story but by the costumes that bring characters to life. But once the cameras stop rolling, what happens to those iconic outfits? Do actors get to keep the clothes they wear on set, or are they sent back to the costume department for future productions? The answer is a mix of industry practices, personal agreements, and, occasionally, a little bit of star power.
Costume Departments and the Rules of the Wardrobe
In most productions, the clothes actors wear are carefully selected by a costume designer who aims to convey the character’s personality, status, and role in the story. While it’s common for these costumes to be kept by the production studio or wardrobe department, some actors do manage to keep the clothes they wear, but only under specific circumstances.
1. The Cost of Costumes
Clothing for movies and TV shows, especially period pieces or high-end productions, can be expensive to design, create, and source. From custom-made suits to intricate historical garments, the value of some costumes can easily run into the thousands of dollars. For this reason, most studios prefer to retain ownership of costumes to preserve their investment for future productions or to resell or rent them for other projects.
Example: In Titanic (1997), many of the costumes worn by stars like Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio were custom-made and specifically tailored for the movie. These valuable pieces stayed in the possession of the production studio, which preserved them as part of the film’s legacy.
2. When Actors Can Keep Their Clothes
In certain situations, actors are allowed to keep the clothes they wear on screen. This typically happens when:
- The Actor Purchases the Costume: Sometimes, actors are offered the chance to buy the clothes they wore if they particularly like them. This is more common with smaller productions where the clothes are less expensive, or with items that are custom-designed specifically for the actor.
- Promotional Gifts or Bonuses: In high-profile projects, particularly in blockbuster films or TV series, actors may be given the opportunity to keep certain items, especially if they were iconic to the role.
Example: After playing Catwoman in Batman Returns (1992), Michelle Pfeiffer was reportedly given the iconic Catwoman costume, which she kept as a memento. The costume became a significant part of her career legacy.
- Personal Requests: Sometimes, actors can make special requests to keep a costume, especially if they have a strong emotional attachment to it.
Example: Jennifer Lawrence reportedly asked to keep her outfit from The Hunger Games (2012), including the famous Mockingjay pin, as a personal keepsake.
3. When They Don’t Keep the Clothes
More commonly, actors do not get to keep the clothing they wear on screen. Studios and production teams prefer to maintain control over the wardrobe for a few key reasons:
- Inventory for Future Productions: Costumes are often reused in future projects, either as part of a recycling effort or because they are general enough to fit various characters.
- Preservation for Historical or Iconic Films: High-budget costumes, particularly those used in period films or fantasy epics, are often preserved in museums or auctioned off as part of the film’s legacy.
- Legal and Financial Considerations: Depending on the actor’s contract, the rights to the costume may be held by the studio, and taking it could be seen as theft or an infringement on the production’s assets.
Example: In The Devil Wears Prada (2006), the wardrobe worn by Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway was primarily owned by the studio and kept for publicity and archival purposes.
4. The Auction and Museum Culture
Though actors don’t typically keep their clothes, many iconic costumes from famous films do find new homes after production. Some pieces are auctioned off to the public, while others are preserved in museums. This allows fans and collectors to own a piece of cinematic history, and it’s often the most beloved pieces that fetch the highest prices.
Example: Audrey Hepburn’s iconic black dress from Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) was sold at auction for over $800,000, a testament to the cultural impact of the costume.
5. The Role of Wardrobe in Iconic Films
Sometimes, the clothes actors wear become so intertwined with their characters that they feel like part of the character’s identity. For example, the leather jacket worn by John Travolta in Grease or the red dress worn by Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman are just as famous as the roles themselves. Even if these garments are not kept by the actors, they live on in popular culture, making them unforgettable.
While actors don’t always get to keep the clothes they wear on screen, there are instances where they can acquire pieces for personal use, either through purchase, promotional gifts, or special requests. In most cases, however, the costumes remain the property of the production studio, either for future use or preservation as part of the movie’s legacy.
For actors, holding on to a piece of their wardrobe can be a powerful way to remember their work, but for fans, the costumes often continue to live on as iconic symbols of the movies and characters they love.
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