Summary

The importance of costumes on Buffy.

Related

Costumes Faith Lehane

Willow in earth colors You're probably wondering what on earth THIS has to do with anything! Or, perhaps you may already know. Either way, I thought it'd be interesting and helpful.

As with any television show or film, costuming is a major part of the production. What a character is wearing helps us identify with the character both on a conscious and subconscious level. Sometimes the writers/producers like to have a bit of an 'in' joke too. For example, Buffy (SMG), in 1st season's Witch, had a black cat on the top she was sleeping in. (You can make the leap between black cat & witch ;) )

You may also wonder why Willow seems to live in 'earth' colors. Orange, green and light browns. Orange is a 'safe' color, especially the shade Alyson (as Willow) wears. It subconsciously lets us know that she's caring and we'll feel safe around her. The earth colors are also non-threatening, and, perhaps more importantly for Will's character, earth colors tie in with her 'Wicca' leanings.

Faith in <a href=Faith, Hope, And Trick"> So, what can we learn about Faith? Cordelia's observation of 'slut-o-rama' was fair as an initial reaction. Upon closer observation of the clothing, we can yes. . .see that it's somewhat revealing. But it also tells us that Faith is somewhat of a 'free' character before we even are aware of Buffy's jealously of Faith's freedom! The tassels on the long sleeves and around the chest area tell us this. Also, the fact that what Faith is wearing is so OTT (OverTheTop) that it also clues us in (along with Eliza's portrayal of Faith) to Faith's persona. Yeah, she's way sure of herself. At least that's what we're meant to think initially! Ditto Buffy and the SG.

By the next day, Faith's in leather pants. Still a little over the top but acceptable. She's also in a white top with colors such as deep to bright red and yellow to green. Not only does it confirms Giles' observation of 'zesty', but also lets the viewer know that there's more to Faith than what we're seeing. Like the colors, nothing is straightforward about her. There's something going on. Perhaps she's as mixed as the colors? By the time we get dinner with the Summers', Faith has donned her plum top, covering her 'zesty' one. It gives both the viewer and Joyce the feeling that Faith may be as responsible and dedicated as Buffy. The two Slayer's patrol however, reveals that Faith is worlds away from Buffy. Plum, being such a dark color, will go more to being 'disturbing' rather than 'safe'.

For the final act of the ep, we see the 'true' Faith. The baby pink velour sweater screams innocence. However, covering it, is the black tank top. Black usually signifies strength and rebellion, but coupled with the pink and the way Faith is wearing both colors, it lets us know something has severely damaged that innocence. Naturally, we find out what. Also, as stated, the way Faith is wearing the two colors (and the fact she's in a flea pit) also lets us know, even before she says it, that she's poor. NB:(Obviously, her tribal band [tattoo] may be associated with poverty, but not here in Europe).

As we see Faith moving closer to the Mayor, obviously her clothing becomes far more obvious that cash flow is not a problem. Also, as we watch Faith become (ironically) more certain of herself, costuming enhances and also reflects her confidence. However, it also lets us in on her vulnerability too. I'll get to that in a moment.

Before hooking up with the Mayor, Faith could usually be relied upon to show up in jeans and either a red or white tank top. White, obviously for innocence and vulnerability, and red for danger or a false sense of comfort. Faith's most vulnerable episode Revelations sees her start out in the white tank top, but the day Mrs. Post (Serena Scott Thomas) does the most damage to Faith, Faith is in her red tank top. This lulls the viewer into the feeling that Faith can take care of herself. That 'Mrs. Post' won't get the best of her.

Later in the episode, having been unknowingly manipulated by Post, the red Faith is in then turns into a 'danger' color. Faith's out to kill Angel after all. She is a Slayer, and this is the first time the characters of Angel and Faith will meet. By Faith wearing red, it helps the viewer to worry that Angel may be in danger. Faith is also wearing a tan jacket after Post's 'revelation'. This mutes the red tank top. Despite the fact that the viewer (presumably) knows the show's characters well enough to know that Angel would most likely beat Faith in a fight (he doesn't though)! and that Buffy will clearly get to both Faith and Angel in time, the tan jacket lets you know that even though you may have cause to worry, something will happen to make Faith less of a threat, as tan, like Willow's colors, is non threatening. This is a highlighted in the last scene of the episode. Faith's declaration to Buffy, that she should've known she couldn't trust anyone and the fact that she's so defeated (again, kudos to Eliza's acting ability) only adds to the fact that Faith, actually, is no threat to anyone at that time. Again, she's wearing an 'earth' colored shirt. However, it's dark enough to leave us with a feeling that it's time to worry about Faith! Perhaps not in a physical sense, but certainly in a mental/emotional sense.

Coming to the Mayor, Faith's first 'official' dealings with him, sees her in baby blue and white. Faith appears as innocent as the colors, acknowledging Giles' chiding and (seemingly) asking Willow quite casually, if she can hack into the Mayor's files. The costuming worked brilliantly, as it caught many people off guard! It wasn't until Faith showed up in her new apartment with Richard Wilkens III, that we remembered the end of Consequences. Once we remembered, the rather revealing costume actually made sense. Sure, it may be baby blue in color, but it's incredibly sexy too. And, sex equates with power. Again, the color works as this is the first errand Faith has run for the Mayor. To simplify, Faith is naive in the short time she appears in the episode. She knows she'll be working for the Mayor, but she's not entirely sure what the work will entail. Hence the innocence of the white and blue.

Enemies is not only an excellent episode, but is also visually stunning. All powerful costumes. First up, Faith is all in black. First in a black leather jacket. She then moves on to a black T-shirt, denim black jacket and black velour slacks and then the costume that most of the episode is played out in. . .black jeans and a red leather blouse. All are powerful because all are black. It's rare to find a character in black that is not powerful. Think Darth Vader ;) - Also, red and black are 'unstable/unpredictble/rebelious' colors. This is why Spike wears the same colors. Dru also.

Again, however, when Faith realizes she's been 'played', we, the viewers have also been played. As stated in the Revelations costume breakdown, red is a 'danger' color. Unlike Revelations however, Faith's blouse was never covered while she was letting Buffy know the 'who, what, where and why' of things. HOWEVER. . .if you note, Buffy's costume, it's also black and the biggest clue of all that Faith is (unwittingly) in a trap, is the Union Jack on Buffy's sweater. No offense to anyone British/English, but the Union Jack/English and duplicity go hand in hand. Most people know that an English cast member of any film or TV series, (unless well known like Giles) will invariably be, or end up being, the 'bad guy' (Usually because of the accent). So, the only costuming clue to ANYONE's duplicity in Enemies, is Buffy's sweater.

As stated, the costuming for the Faith/Mayor arc lets us in on Faith's strengths and weaknesses. A prime example is Choices. For the majority of the episode, Faith is in a rather large leather coat that doesn't seem to fit her 100%. Why? Is she in over her head? Sure. A child living in an adult world of dark intrigue and murder. Faith believes she ready for all this. But we know she's not. And that coat tells us she's not.

One last thing. Always note numbers on a characters T-shirt, et al. There have been many times that Buffy has worn something with a 2 on it. This goes to the alphabet (obviously) and a characters initials. Buffy has also worn the occasional 26. This is to let Faith mirror her, because Faith was always meant to be Buffy's opposite number (so to speak) Taken literally in this case- if you note Five By Five (1st season 'Angel') you'll see Faith wearing the number 62. It is another nod to the fact that Faith is a contrast to Buffy and, obviously, it mirrors the 26.

Always note numbers on clothing, hotel rooms, houses, cars etc. because in many instances, they'll mean something. A general meaning would be 3. Thanks to Christian beliefs 3 is a good number - so if a character (say Faith) is in room 3 - it genearlly means they are good. A Specific example of numbers meaning something: Faith’s prison number [Judgement] 43100 The 4 is D- which could be Dushku. The 310 is what you get when you multiply 62 (seen in Five By Five on her blue T-shirt) by the 5 in Faith’s catchphrase. The 0 is for 2000 (the year of production) - This is also another highlight of an 'in' joke.

Numbers assigned on computers are also usually relevant in some way. I've seen a few times a number is assigned to Buffy. The number? 214= BAD. Anyway, handy hint: don't dismiss what a character is wearing. Especially if you want to be a few steps ahead :-)