Death Becomes Her: More Than Just Camp (A Costume Theory)

Okay, so I just rewatched Death Becomes Her (again) and I'm officially convinced there's way more going on with the costumes than just looking fabulous (though, let's be real, they ARE fabulous). I think the clothes actually mirror the characters' decaying everything. Hear me out. Early on, Madeline is all sharp angles, power suits, and those ridiculously structured dresses. It's all about projecting this image of control and youth, right? Think of that gold dress she wears to the book party – it's stunning, but almost armor-like. As the movie progresses and her obsession with staying young intensifies, the clothes get tighter, more revealing, almost desperate. It’s like she's trying to physically contain her age, but it's just highlighting the opposite. Helen, on the other hand, starts out dowdy and frumpy, but after the 'treatment' on purpose she's wearing softer fabrics, more flowing silhouettes. Like, the costumes show her finding her power, even if it's a twisted kind of power. And Ernest? Poor Ernest. His clothes reflect his descent into… well, a glorified mortician's assistant lol. He starts out in sharp suits when he's with Madeline, but then he's wearing these drab, ill-fitting ensembles. It’s like he's slowly fading into the background, becoming less and less of a man. I think the costume designer (Erica Edell) was using the wardrobe to subtly hint at the character's inner states – the vanity, the desperation, and the complete loss of identity. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but I really think the costumes elevate Death Becomes Her beyond just a hilarious dark comedy. It's like a visual representation of their souls rotting from the inside out. Thoughts?