COSTUMING
Hamilton is one of, if not, the most renowned musical of all time. It tells the story of Alexander Hamilton, a founding father of The United States of America, using elements of hip-hop, R&B, pop, and soul. The music isn’t the only form of storytelling though. The award-winning costuming, overseen by costume designer Paul Tazewell, shows incredibly thought-out nuances of the musical, setting the mood of the time period, establishing each character through their color palette, and even showing elaborate character arcs through simple costume changes.
The musical is set from 1776-1804. When designing the costumes, Tazewell didn’t want to go for pinpoint accuracy, instead opting for a modern interpretation of 18th-century fashion. While the general silhouette of the costumes is classic to the era, the structuring of certain pieces, like the corsets, is designed in a way that makes it easier for the cast to sing and dance. Tazewell also decided not to include wigs, which is a big factor in aiding the modern feel of the musical.
TIME PERIOD
Photo by Brandon Miyagi
Color Palettes & Character Arcs
Color Palettes & Character Arcs
ALEXANDER HAMILTON
Photo by Joan MarcusHamilton starts off wearing a brown coat, prior to him becoming a renowned figure in America. As his character develops, he changes outfits, sporting a soldier’s coat for his time as a commander and wearing a green coat at the height of his success to symbolize money and wealth as the first secretary of the treasury. Towards the end of the musical, he is seen wearing black, which ultimately represents his death.
AARON BURR
Photo by Joan MarcusLike Hamilton, Burr also starts off wearing brown, though he wears it for the majority of the musical (in addition to a deep blue), which is thought to represent Burr’s desire to blend in and “wait for it”. It’s only at the very end that he switches to all black, something that many characters do, except Burr wearing black isn’t for the mourning of a person, but rather the mourning of his mistake and the loss of his career.
THE SCHUYLER SISTERS
Photo by Brandon Miyagi
The Schuyler Sisters have, without a doubt, the most recognizable costumes in the musical. Each sister has a specific color palette that reflects their personality and ideals. Eliza Schuyler Hamilton is often seen wearing mint blue/green to represent her thoughtful and sympathetic nature (though she does change to black at the end for the death of her son and husband). Angelica Schuyler wears a muted burnt orange, symbolizing her effervescent and vivacious personality. And Peggy Schuyler wears a simple butter-yellow, reflecting her youthfulness and innocence.
SIDE CHARACTERS
Photo by Joan Marcus
The costuming isn’t just thought out for the main characters. Some of the most elaborate and eye-catching pieces are sported by side characters. King George has an over-the-top costume and is the only character wearing a wig, which helps add to his comedic relief. Thomas Jefferson wears a deep plum-purple coat, reflecting his eccentric personality. Maria Reynolds, of course, is seen in a scarlet red dress with red lipstick (for obvious reasons).
ENSEMBLE
Photo by Joan MarcusHamilton starts off wearing a brown coat, prior to him becoming a renowned figure in America. As his character develops, he changes outfits, sporting a soldier’s coat for his time as a commander and wearing a green coat at the height of his success to symbolize money and wealth as the first secretary of the treasury. Towards the end of the musical, he is seen wearing black, which ultimately represents his death.
Photo by Joan Marcus
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