Carbon Costume

Augie Steenbeck (played by Jason Schwartzman) is a widower and father of four in the Wes Anderson film Asteroid City.  When he and his children are stranded near the titular desert town, Augie calls his father-in-law to pick them up.  During their stay in Asteroid City, Augie meets Midge Campbell.  Augie’s costume includes a belted safari jacket and khaki pants, which he pairs with brown boots.  More important than the outfit itself might be Augie’s accessories, which include a pipe and a vintage camera.  If you don’t have a camera that looks the part, a smartphone case designed to look like one can do the trick instead.

Midge Campbell (played by Scarlett Johansson) is a Hollywood star stranded in the titular Asteroid City in Wes Anderson’s film about a 1955 convention interrupted by out-of-this-world visitors.  The actress meets Augie Steenbeck and his family during her stay.  Midge has short dark hair and favors a pair of oval sunglasses.  Since the movie takes place in the ’50s, she dons plenty of vintage-inspired costumes including a sleeveless floral dress with a set of pearls.  Pair your chosen outfit with red nails and lips for the perfect mid-century look.

In The French Dispatch, Juliette (Lyna Khoudri) is a student revolutionary leader and girlfriend of Zeffirelli. Both are fighting for a world without borders, but lines of division soon form among the protestors. The fiery idealist Juilette stands opposite the blithe Zeffirelli and the pragmatic journalist Lucinda Krementz.

In Wes Anderson’s The Darjeeling Limited, Sister Patricia Whitman (played by Anjelica Huston) is the mercurial mother of Jack, Peter, and Francis.  When her sons meet up with her after many years apart, they find that she has become a Catholic nun.  Sister Patricia wears all white with sensible brown leather shoes and heavy black eyeliner.

In Wes Anderson’s film Moonrise Kingdom, Mrs. Bishop (played by Frances McDormand) is the mother of Suzy Bishop.  When Suzy and Sam Shakusky disappear together, Mrs. Bishop and her husband search for her.  Mrs. Bishop wears several colorful outfits that are all true to the story’s 1965 setting, making this a fun costume to recreate with both new pieces and vintage finds.

M. Jean (played by Jason Schwartzman) does not have a large role in The Grand Budapest Hotel. But the size of his role does not change how important he is in the film. M. Jean is a direct contrast to Bill Murray’s M. Ivan and Ralph Fiennes’ M. Gustave. Whereas the older men did their job with polish and pride, M. Jean seems to do his job simply because it is his job. The pins on his lapels mark him as a member of The Society of the Crossed Keys but he does not have the same polish as either Ivan or Gustave. And that is the point.

Because M. Jean represents the less splendorous present life of The Gran Budapest, his uniform is much simpler than the men that came before him. He wears a simple purple suit with a red tie and white undershirt. Black dress shoes round out the clothing while a thin mustache and a cigarette complete his appearance. And, of course, the pins signifying his membership in The Society of the Crossed Keys.

Klaus Daimler (played by Willem Dafoe) is the German first mate of the Belafonte research vessel in Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.  Klaus views Steve Zissou as a father figure, and becomes jealous of Ned Plimpton as the latter’s relationship with Steve grows.  Klaus always wears shorts, no matter the occasion, so this is a great costume option for someone who really wants to show off their legs.

M. Chuck (played by Owen Wilson) is a member of the Society of the Crossed Keys and a concierge at another hotel in Wes Anderson’s film The Grand Budapest Hotel.  M. Gustave is also a member, and the Society works to help Zero and Agatha prove Gustave’s innocence after Dmitri accuses him of murder.  All of the concierges wear tuxedo uniforms of varying colors, Chuck’s is light grey with a black waistcoat.