We know Cersei Lannister will do anything for power. Over the past six seasons of “Game of Thrones,” her character has become more and more unscrupulous in that hunt for the ultimate power — the Iron Throne. TheWrap examines how Cersei’s wardrobe mirrors her character’s arc.
Queen of Westeros Cersei Lannister (Lena Heady) begins the series visiting Winterfell with her husband, King Robert Baratheon (Mark Addy), and her attitude is nearly as cold as the temperatures in the North.
She’s been traveling for a month, and looks it, but she still manages to look regal in heavy furs, a jewel-toned dress and long wavy tresses pulled back in the southern style.
Seated next to Catelyn Stark (Michelle Fairly) at the feast in Winterfell, the difference between the two women is stark. Cersei knows that optics are important, and displays her power by being the most elaborately — and probably most expensively — dressed woman in the room.
In one of her most recognizable scenes, Cersei wears a Lannister sigil necklace (a golden lion) and takes Ned Stark’s confrontation about her affair with her twin Jaime nonchalantly. She’s right at home in southron silks to deliver her famous line: “When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die.” And, notice that she wears a black eye (courtesy of her husband the king) almost as a badge of honor as proof that she can handle anything.
Cersei is the only woman to sit on the small council. In her bright, summery gowns and golden hair, she commands the attention in the room — and uses that attention to manipulate many other members to do her bidding.
During the Battle of the Blackwater, Cersei and the other women and children are stuck in the keep while the men fight Stannis Baratheon’s (Stephen Dillane) army. Cersei clearly would rather be doing some fighting of her own — she drowns her boredom in wine and wears her hair in a simple braid, along with a golden breastplate over her dress. If she can’t join the battle, she’ll at least look the part.
When Papa Lannister comes to King’s Landing, Cersei’s gowns seem to get a bit more grown-up, as evidenced in this small council meeting. Cersei is constantly trying to prove her worth against her brothers, and goes right ahead and seats herself at Tywin’s (Charles Dance) right hand. She wears wider sleeves and a slightly off-shoulder gown in a deeper color than we’ve previously seen her. Plus, the fabric seems thicker than her other wispy dresses — a sign that winter is indeed coming?
Cersei might be evil–but you can’t deny her beauty. She spends several seasons using her beauty to seduce the men around her to get what she wants and gain power. But as prophesied, her power–and beauty–won’t last forever, and she’ll be usurped by another younger and more beautiful.
At her eldest son Joffrey’s wedding, Cersei looks regal as any Queen Mother could. But she doesn’t surpass Margaery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer), whose elaborate hair and jeweled gown mark her not only as the new queen, but as Cersei’s new biggest threat.
At Tyrion’s (Peter Dinklage) trial for Joffrey’s murder, Cersei testifies a version of events that paint Tyrion in a bad light (no surprise there). Joffrey’s death marks a turning point in her wardrobe — darker, mourning colors. This brooding style mirrors her disposition; loving her children is Cersei’s one redeeming quality, and as they die, she has less and less reason to restrain herself.
As we said, the death of one son unleashed Cersei to be even more unscrupulous. Even though Tommen (dean-Charles Chapman) loves Margaery, Cersei felt threatened by her and so helped orchestrate her imprisonment with the High Sparrow. Her clothing keeps getting darker, just like her actions.
It a twist of karma, Cersei ends up being imprisoned by the High Sparrow as well, and is forced to walk through King’s Landing naked as her atonement. This is the ultimate low for Cersei — her long golden hair and her expensive clothes, which represent her power, are taken away from her, and she is as powerless as she has ever been.
After her walk of shame, Cersei seems to try to reach normalcy again by donning some of her light clothing from the early seasons, as seen here in a pink frock. But she knows she must take her revenge …
… Which is why she quickly dresses again in dark colors. She and her crony Qyburn plot the ultimate destruction to get her back in power.
We all remember the Season 6 finale, where Cersei kills everyone in the Great Sept that hurt her, including the High Sparrow and Margaery. Her actions cause Tommen to throw himself out of a tower. With no children left, Cersei has nothing to restrain her. Oh, and she’s also crowned Queen of Westeros, and Season 6 ends with her on the Iron Throne.
In photos from Season 7, we see Cersei continue to wear dark, militaristic clothing. She’s ready for the great war to come.
