Edward Scissorhands Costume

The clothes and the make-up that the humans dress Edward up in change his outside appearance, but his inner self never changes. * Edward puts on human's clothes when he tries to fit into suburbia, but he tears them off when he fails. The house Edward lives in is very gothic and against a stylised 50's backdrop. The make-up used on him makes his skin look very pale, very ghostly and pasty. The differences in look are used to highlight the nature of humankind as a whole. The clothes are like shackles that were placed on him to make him blend with society. I think the costume is to be seen as part of Edward himself. This is telling us that make-up, or outside looks, are superficial whereas the human spirit is what is really important and can never be changed. This is a prime example of judging a book by its cover. The industry she is involved in represents a very materialistic world and perhaps a fickle society. * Even when Edward's father dies, the blood seen is over-emphasized, which is in keeping with the whole colour scheme of the film. The message is just because someone is not pleasing to the eye, does not mean they are to be feared or to be an object of derision. He is very gaunt looking and it gives the appearance of a skull. * Edward, in contrast, is dressed in dark and dreary clothes. The make-up on the women accents and highlights their look.