One of the thorny kind: The Red Queen’s organic armour in Alice through the Looking Glass (2016)

Abstract

Alice through the Looking Glass () the sequel to Alice in Wonderland () reconfigures Carroll’s tyrannical dictator the Queen of Hearts/Red Queen. The film offers insights into her formative years in the style of Maleficent () and Cruella (), explaining the circumstances that have shaped this formidable diva. Fictional character transformations are often signposted through style and this study addresses the role that costume design plays in the reimagining of this monarch. Clothing and adornment frequently highlight plot and character transitions in fairy-tale narratives and the significance of Colleen Atwood’s ‘organic armour’ garment in fabricating a more nuanced shading for Carroll’s gaudy caricature will be examined. The Red Queen’s affinity with abrasive textures in Carroll’s description of her as ‘thorny’ is a catalyst for fusions and juxtapositions of both smooth and textured materials in this dress, amplifying the interplay between organic and inorganic surfaces in this film. Alice through the Looking Glass and Atwood’s design specifically, not only serves as a conduit for the Red Queen’s transitioning identity, but also provides a platform to appraise ideologies inherent in material surfaces within fairy-tale narratives.