The art of Costume Design involves a number of factors. Of course, the work must be appropriate to the era of the film (whether it be the present, the past or a fantastical time). It also must feel appropriate to the circumstances the characters are in (you can’t have every costume looking as though it’s come directly from the tailor).

The costume designer can add a lot to a film by creating costumes that express the character that wears them and designing wardrobes that add to the feel of a movie. This can best be done by blending the costumes into the film so that the viewer hardly notices them. Distracting costumes hardly serve the art of storytelling.

It’s not surprising that period films form the overwhelming majority of the nominees in the category of Best Costume Design at the Oscars. Period films necessitate the costume designer being loyal to the period in which the film is set while also drawing more attention to their work than they would if the costumes were merely the sort of clothes we see in everyday life. Fantasy films, however, also frequent the category, albeit to a lesser extent. Truly contemporary films are almost never nominated here.