Six is a concert style musical based on the wives of Henry the VIII. The plot is essentially a competition based on which wife had it the worst with Henry.
The costumes of Six are definitely interesting. They are very structured and artistic. They reference modernity, Tudor fashion, armor, stained glass windows, Tudor architecture as well a lots of symbolism with the show itself. Love them or hate them, the costumes are very unique recognizable to the show.
This is a ranking of the costumes based on my own personal opinion.
I do love the holographic elements of these looks and how they play off the lighting design along with the kick pressed studs, which is the intent but still neat. Also quick aside I’m not including the Alternative costumes which there are a lot.
The costumes were designed by Gabriella Slade.
6. Jane Seymour
While I appreciate that Jane Seymour’s costume is based off of Tudor architecture, I just find this costume a little awkward. It’s also a weird case of a lot going on but not coming together as well as the other looks.
5. Anne of Cleves
I want to like this one more than I actually do. I do like the shorts and the sleeves but there just something about this costume that doesn’t work for me. Maybe it’s the boxy silhouette or fur trim that just throws me off.
4. Catherine Howard
I’m of two minds about the translucent skirt. On the one hand I like it and appreciate the farthingale look to but on the other it’s a little odd that it’s just very rigid straps. I do like the corset with sheer black sleeves quite a lot. I did struggle with the placement between this one and the third place one.
3. Catherine of Aragon
What pushed this Catherine costume over Catherine Howards’s costume was just how the majestic this costume is. It’s looks so royal with the gold and black and those studded gold sleeves.
2. Catherine Parr
The reason why Catherine Parr and Anne of Cleves don’t were skirts is because both Queens outlived Henry. So within the show the pants represent freedom.
However I think the longer pants work better to balance out the dramatic sleeves. The sleeves here are meant to be more of in-line with Tudor style but yet they still are feminine and graceful as well as projecting strength. Catherine Parr’s costume just feels so refreshing and that shade of blue is lovely.
1. Anne Boleyn
I confess, I have a soft spot for green musical costumes. Anne Boleyn’s costumes has a lot of the Tudor fashion signifiers but reinvented in a playful yet edgy way which is part of Anne’s song/style pop star inspiration.
The checkered pattern paired with the sleeves along with shape of the flared skirt just all works well together in a fun way.
How would you rank these costumes??? Which one is your favorite?
Also I love the roman numerals earrings that they all wear. The number corresponds to which number wife the Queens were when they married Henry the VIII. It’s such a brilliant concept.
These pictures are from the Tony’s performance of the opening song “Ex-Wives.”
