American Horror Story has featured an extensive list of iconic and beautifully designed costumes. For the seventh season of the popular anthology series, the characters of Murder House and Coven interacted for the first time, bringing with them their styles in a visually impressive clash of aesthetics.
The witches of New Orleans returned in Apocalypse, having grown into fierce and capable young women prepared to do battle with the son of Satan. As per usual for a season of American Horror Story, fans were treated to anther ensemble of outfits and potential Halloween costume ideas. Here are ten hidden details behind the costumes of American Horror Story: Apocalypse.
The Witches Are Inspired By The 70s
The creator and writer of American Horror Story, Ryan Murphy, is said to have wanted a "witch chic" aesthetic for the coven. This spawned some of the series' most beautiful and iconic pieces, many of which were revived for Apocalypse.
The witches' costumes are heavily inspired by fashion from the 1970s. Misty Day's shawls and skirts are evidence of this, as well as Cordelia's all-black vintage pieces and Madison's boldly cut outfits.
The Witches Are Wearing Uniforms
The all-black ensemble of the witches isn't purely for fashion. Although this certainly plays into the witch stereotype that the coven is no longer denying, since Cordelia outed them at the end of the third season, the black clothing also signifies a uniform. It brings the witches together as a powerful collective.
It makes sense that the witches would wear a uniform considering Robichaux's Academy is a school. The dramatic effect of their matching clothing is felt most when the witches make their way through the gates to the Outpost, preparing to face Michael together once and for all.
The Costumes Have Grown With The Characters
Many familiar characters from Murder House and Coven were reintroduced to the narrative in Apocalypse. The costume designers stated that they wanted the costumes to reflect the growth of the characters and indicate what has changed since audiences last saw them.
Zoe is now a teacher and her fashion has evolved with her personality. Although she is still the same person, she is now "less Urban Outfitters and more Margiela."
Young Michael Is Modelled After Tate
Young Michael Langdon is not the suave and sophisticated figure that we see first in Outpost 3. During flashbacks to his youth, we see that he resembles his ghostly 'father' Tate Langdon greatly, even wearing similar clothing.
This signifies the connection between Michael and Tate in more ways than one. Madison informs the ghost of Violet Harmon that whatever was bad in Tate left him and is now inside Michael, which the similar costume visually indicates.
Myrtle's Style Hasn't Changed Since High School
Myrtle Snow has a distinctive look. Her bright orange hair and layers of skirts make her stand out even amongst the witches, and according to Ryan Murphy her look "hasn't changed since high school."
Myrtle's fashion remains the same in Apocalypse as it was in Coven, despite the character having been revived from death... again. This symbolizes Myrtle's dependability, however, something which Cordelia needs as she prepares to battle the Antichrist.
The Actors Have Input With Their Costumes
Although writer Ryan Murphy ultimately guides the direction of the costumes, the actors also have an input of their own. The costume designers collaborate with the actors to fully understand the character and bring them to life.
Stevie Nicks returned in Apocalypse for another guest appearance, sharing a sweet scene with the recently revived Misty Day. The Fleetwood Mac star is said to have had a lot of input when it came to her costume which, considering she was playing herself, was fitting.
There Is A Reason For The Colour Purple
In Outpost 3, the color scheme of the costume is split into three categories. The staff, including Ms. Venable and Ms. Mead, wear all black clothing, the servants were grey and the other survivors wear purple.
The color purple symbolizes royalty, which contrasted with the drab grey of the servants' attires visually create a wider class divide. Additionally, it is more vibrant and full of life, as opposed to the grey costumes which blend into the background.
The Costume Designers Were Against Capes
The witches in American Horror Story all consistently wear intricate and iconic costumes that reflect a witch-like vibe. However, the costume designers were careful to avoid capes as they did not want to overdo the imagery.
This stylistic decision sets the costumes of the witches apart from the cult members. Although both wear uniforms, the witches have more style and individuality as opposed to the identical robes of the Satanists.
The Outpost Costumes Were Inspired By Victorian Fashion
The characters in Outpost 3 are forced to wear bold clothing that separates them into factions. Because of this, the costume designers were influenced by Victorian fashion as a way to visually represent the class divide between the purples and the greys.
Michael wears Victorian-era clothing upon his arrival at the Outpost, now looking more like an aristocrat than a 90s-inspired teenage boy. This also echoes his statements about remaking the world and returning to old-fashioned values.
Ms. Venable's Costume Casts An Important Shadow
Ms. Venable is another character in actress Sarah Paulson's extensive American Horror Story repertoire and is as visually iconic as her other characters such as Cordelia Goode and Hypodermic Sally. Costume designer Alumna Rebecca Guzzi said she deliberately designed her costume to give her a strong, harsh looking silhouette that would represent the darkness of her character.
Ms. Venable wears a vintage corset with wide shoulders to give her a look of importance and power. The harsh lines of her costume indicate a strong presence, something this character embodies.