If you’re anything like me, McKenna Grace’s press tour looks for Sunrise on the Reaping are living in your head rent-free, and for good reason. They’re absolutely stunning homages to the original franchise, and I can’t stop thinking about them, particularly as the release date draws closer.
Now, if you love method dressing as much as I do but don’t have access to the designer numbers that Grace is pulling out, here are three tips to help you pull up to the theaters in style!
- Identify the Reference
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There are so many iconic looks in The Hunger Games franchise, from Lucy Gray Baird’s rainbow ruffled skirt to Katniss’ burning “Girl on Fire” dress. They’re all stunning, and if you’re not sure where to start with taking what you have in your wardrobe and transforming it into a tribute parade-worthy look, I’d suggest picking out your favorite outfits from the franchise.
If you can’t pick a favorite look right away, it might help to just identify a character that either you love or that you have the closet to pull off. In my dream world, I’d be dressing as the lovely Lucy Gray, but I just don’t have the closet for that, so I shifted to Maysilee Donner, another one of my favorite characters.
Once you know what character you want to pay homage to, you’re back to the step of figuring out the outfit you want to reference, just with a narrower scope. Fortunately, the characters in The Hunger Games franchise all have incredibly diverse wardrobes, so you have plenty of room to have fun.
In case you want something a bit simpler, arena or Reaping Day outfits might be right up your alley. If you like something with a bit more drama, then you might want to try a tribute interview look. On the chance that, by some miraculous twist of fate, you have pieces you can use to put together Katniss’ Mockingjay armor, then I’d better see you pulling up to the theaters in full rebellion-symbol regalia. No excuses.
- Assess Your Wardrobe
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Once you’ve identified the look you want to reference, the next step is to take a look at your closet and see what you have. When looking at the clothes you have, I’d suggest looking for staples, layering pieces, and things you can wear in different ways.
After all, you’re not limited to Katniss’ arena outfit from the first film just because you don’t have Cinna-designed gowns in your closet.
In my humble opinion, the key to having fun with method dressing is thinking outside the box.
For example, I might not have a black ballgown that’s a one-for-one with Maysilee Donner’s tribute interview dress, but I do have an elegant black top and black lace maxi skirt that can easily serve as a base for my outfit. It’s not perfectly accurate, but it does have the right colors and a silhouette that is close enough to be used, and that’s what counts.
Maybe you have a lot of black clothing, maybe you have random red layers, and maybe you even have leftover netting from a mermaid costume you wore for Halloween. All of these articles can be used in your outfit; you just need to be a little creative with them.
- Find Your Accessories
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I will forever maintain that the accessories make the outfit, and method dressing is no exception. In fact, the accessories and hair are what will really sell the look.
Accessories can include everything from scarves and bags to jewelry, and I’d advise you to avoid completely discounting items that don’t seem obviously necessary for the look. I’d also suggest considering shifting how you think about wearing those accessories. In my case, I have a sheer black scarf with red floral embroidery that fits the color scheme of my outfit, and I’m planning to wear it draped over my elbows as one would with an evening gown.
The key with jewelry is to consider how it fits with the outfit. Katniss doesn’t wear earrings in the books or films, but you can still play with things like simple studs for an arena outfit or something a bit more elegant that matches the vibe of something like her tribute parade outfit.
Lucy Gray’s outfits are colorful and dramatic, so any jewelry you choose should play into that. Considering the colors of the look, as well as the feeling they evoke, is crucial to picking the perfect accessories.
Hair is likely the easiest way to recreate the look; after all, add a messy side braid, and you’re Katniss. Weave a braid into your loose hair, and you’re Maysilee. Tuck a white rose behind your ear, and you’re Lucy Gray. It’s definitely the simplest way to pay homage to your character, and it really does make all the difference!
I’m fairly confident that Sunrise on the Reaping is going to emotionally destroy us all, but hopefully, with these tips in mind, we’ll look fantastic through the tears.
If some of our favorite characters can die with dignity, we can sob with security that at least we’re dressed to the nines, unless you’re dressed as Woody Harrelson in pajama pants. If you do show up in the pajama pants, though, I commend you. You might just be the best method dresser of us all.
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