Costume Deconstruction- Homeless Characters

Costume Deconstruction- Homeless Characters

 

Dirty clothes with holes and stains are often worn by homeless characters, the use of dirt reminds the audience that the character sleeps on the streets not in a comfortable location, and the holes also present the wear and tear of the garment that would be worn several times without change as the character would not have anything else.

Clothes stretched or too big, this can be to emphasise the vulnerability of the character an maybe to highlight how small they are if they have been on the streets for a longer period of time. This can evoke sympathy in the audience.

The character is usually seen wearing casual clothing or pyjamas this could be to amplify the idea that homeless people are often categorised as ‘lazy’ with a bad education. This is then reflected into their costume as they are conformed visually into this category. It could also present how they seek comfort even when they have to sleep on concrete.

In media, homeless people usually have mismatched clothing due to the lack of option that they are given. As the clothes are usually from thrift stores or donations they are the second hand and so homeless people’s choices are limited. This is often visible in the costumes that are assigned to actors as they are pictured either really bright or dull.

The characters are usually pictured with a large oversized coat made from canvas or wool. This can be to show the fact that they have to wear all their belongings all the time because there is nowhere to keep them, the idea that there is such a lack of security can be unsettling to viewers and is often subtle. It can also be to symbolise the fact that they wear a coat all the time as they are living outside where it’s cold and there is no shelter.

Scarves and hats are often seen this may be to emphasize the lack of warm clothing of the wearer, the fact that they always wear a hat can suffice to sun protection, warmth and covers their head if it rains. It could also be a strategic move for the actor to not have their hair on show as to create a realistic image the actor would need to let their hair grow out and not wash their hair as these resources are not available to the majority of the homeless.

If the character is a male they will often have a beard and unruly hair, this will be to highlight the lack of hygiene and products available to them.

Subversion to the common clothing worn by the homeless- ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ character is in a suit, clean and intact, fitting and matched clothing. Although the circumstances are similar the character does not follow the trend set by the majority of the media as the character subverts from the common conventions and wears smart, formal clothing.