Game of Thrones season 7 premiere: fashion recap

Game of Thrones is epic on so many levels. One of the least recognized? Its costuming choices. Here are a few of our favorite looks from Sunday night’s season 7 premiere.

The overall atmosphere of the Game of Thrones universe is a big part of what makes it so riveting. There’s the sweeping cinematography. The moody lighting. The gritty production design that makes you feel like you’re right there (unfortunately, in the case of Sunday night’s Citadel bathroom montage). But one area that seems to go un-buzzed about when it comes to crafting the seven kingdoms is the clothing.

Sure, it’s a little tricky sometimes to differentiate one animal skin shawl from another, and Ellaria’s outfit isn’t what your eye is drawn to when Oberyn’s head is being popped. But the clothes are a major part of what makes Game of Thrones work so well. With that in mind, here are the fashion choices we most appreciated in Sunday night’s season 7 premiere:

Sansa

Sansa’s current sartorial style leans a little more practical than fashion-forward (not to say the woman doesn’t rock a good animal skin). We saw her mostly in fluffy furs and leather capes on Sunday night, but it’s an appropriate choice for her character, who has gone from battered bride to advisor to the King in the North. Her look now is all-business, and we’re into it. Plus with that fiery hair, Sansa can rock pretty much anything and look fierce.

Episode 61 (season 7, episode 1), debut 7/16/17: Lena Headey.

photo: Helen Sloan/courtesy of HBO

Cersei

Cersei is going through an interesting time right now, character-arc-wise, and it shows in her attire. The short hair is a reminder of the humiliation and torture she endured at the command of The High Sparrow, so paired with the sweeping leather jacket dresses and high-necked suit-like gowns she wore throughout the episode, Cersei’s overall look is one of endurance and all-around badassery. She’s giving off a little bit of a Trinity from The Matrix vibe in her head-to-toe leather, with an added edge from the torn texture ripped throughout the outfit. The darkness of the fabric also reminds us she’s still a grieving mother who just lost her last child. Cersei sported a similar gown with more delicate details in a few scenes of Sunday night’s episode, including the one where Euron Greyjoy proposed marriage as Cersei sat on her throne. The high neckline again suggested an air of nobility, but this piece injected Cersei’s look with a little more femininity: an embellished neck and shoulder piece, complete with a Lannister golden lions on each shoulder, and, of course, a surprisingly dainty crown for an entirely un-dainty queen.

Euron

We have far too many feelings about Euron Greyjoy’s Jack Sparrow meets Joshua Jackson meets a community theater actor playing Tybalt in a punk-rock version of Romeo and Juliet look to express them all here. What we will say: Euron makes an impression. The manliner paired with the drapey leather is a bold look, to say the least, but from what we know about Euron, he appears to be a bold character, so it all makes sense. Euron will surely be one to watch, fashion-wise, throughout the season.

Episode 61 (season 7, episode 1), debut 7/16/17: Bella Ramsey.

photo: Helen Sloan/courtesy of HBO

Lyanna

Like Sansa, Lyanna Mormont can most often be seen wrapped in a practical and sizable fur coat or shawl, but we’re including her here anyway. For starters, we plan to include her in pretty much anything we write about this season as she’s a champion among GoT characters. But beyond that, Lyanna, even at her young age, has achieved such an air of dignity around her. Her massive fur, fresh face, and classic half-up hairstyle only further reinforce Lyanna’s quiet fortitude. She doesn’t need to be showy. Her presence is engaging enough.

Jaime

There’s a chance what Jaime was feeling while he stood beside his sister/lover as another man proposed marriage was jealous or a threat of some kind. But stand punk-rock Shakespeare understudy Euron next to Jaime and Jaime wins every time in terms of style. Of particular note in this episode was the get-up Jaime wore that featured imposing metal Lannister lions in place of shoulder pads. We liked that pick both because it looked super cool, and because it matched Cersei’s outfit, which was fairly adorable.

Gilly

Gilly doesn’t get much screentime, but she deserves a nod here for her choice of casual comfortwear. Supporting Sam in the one scene within which she appeared last night, Gilly looked sweet and unguarded in a simple housedress and shawl, her hair falling in soft, natural curls—a fitting choice for one of the few characters on the show that isn’t morally questionable.

Next: Game of Thrones season 7 premiere: our favorite feminist moments

Daenerys

When it comes to Game of Thrones fashion statements, Daenerys almost always soars. As she made her triumphant return to Dragonstone on Sunday night’s episode, she didn’t disappoint. Though the ankle-length coat dress she wore wasn’t particularly flashy color- or texture-wise in comparison to some of her previous costumes, its shape was sharply regal. With pointed shoulders and a dramatic drape, the piece invoked confidence, femininity, and strength. It goes without saying Dany’s intricately-styled braids looked flawless, as well, and we were really digging the statement ring she wore as she felt her way through the contours of her homeland in the show’s closing moments.

What looks did you love (or hate) from Sunday night’s premiere? Tell us in the comments.