The Queen on Dragonstone
Based on parts of George R. R. Martin’s prequel that follows the Targaryen family “Fire & Blood,” the second season of HBO’s “House of the Dragon” follows right after the first left off in the mist of the early days of cilil war conflict called“The Dance.”
The second season premiered on June 16th 2024 with eight episodes in total.
(Post contains affiliate links)
Queen Rhaenyra: First of Her Name
Rhaenyra: Emma D’Arcy
The second season finds Rhaenyra struggling after the loss of her son, her marriage breaking down, her council having little faith in her and her seemingly having less of an advantage than the Green faction in King’s Landing.
However despite that her costumes reflect her Queenly status as well her house colors. A few of costumes have capes with strong shoulders. Many of Rhaenyra’s costume have touches and homages to Daenerys’ from Game ofThrones.
The costumes for season two were designed by Caroline McCall who has previously done work on “Downton Abbey” and “His Dark Materials.” For the Targaryens, McCall went for brutalist abstraction in terms of how the embellishment were approached. (source)
Rhaenyra wears just over ten costumes, two of which were worn by Milly Alcock reprising her role as young Rhaenyra.
This page is a ranked list of five of her best looks. They were ranked by aesthetics and memorability.
List is subject to change.
5. Charcoal Ensemble
The costume that Rhaenyra wears the most in season two is a charcoal costume. It’s more of a casual and utilitarian costume.
The fabric has crinkle texture with strong shoulder collar that has silver embroidery with beading, She wears with it a wide leather belt that feature two silver dragons breathing fire.
Underneath there is dark red shown at the neck.
The tunic hits just above the ankle and she wears legging and knee-length boots with it. The costume is very reminiscent of Daenerys’ costume from season seven when she arrives at Dragonstone.
Very noticeably in episode eight when she confronts Daemon at Harrenhal she adds a cape giving the look a Queenly authority.
4. Scaly Black Gown
A more somber and stately look for Rhaenyra is her scale texture black gown. It was worn for Luke’s funeral in first episode of the season as well in episode three.
It has the same wide structured shoulder collar as many of her other looks. Added to the to the beading at the shoulders there is silver studs that help convey the dragon motif that is prevalent throughout all her costumes. The beading design is used at the end of the pointed long sleeves.
She wears a reddish wide belt that matches the swath of fabric at the neckline and she sometimes wears a cape with it. Emma D’Arcy said in a promo interview that she enjoyed wearing the capes as the very dramatic.
She wears a pleated dark red petticoat which is similar to Daenerys’ white pleated petticoat from season four of Game of Thrones.
This costume was featured on the poster.
3. Red Riding Leather
At the start of the first episode Rhaenyra looking for tangible proof of what happen to her son.While she waits she wears a red leather riding costume
The look is made from a combination of dark red smooth leather and dark red scale-like textured leather. The textured leather is also used a flame-like appliqués at the neckline. The scale texture is also used at the pointed cuffs. Down the center front are angular silver fasteners.
There also a slightly ombré effect on this costume has it goes from dark red to black towards the bottom.
2. Red & Black Velvet gown
One of the pivotal scenes in episode two is an argument between Rhaenyra and Daemon that prompts him to leave
Dragonstone. During this scene, as well a later scene where she sends her younger sons away for their safety, she wears a beautiful red and black burnt-out velvet gown.
It has a similar silhouette to her black scaly gown but the choice of fabric makes it softer. It has the same shape to the collar with silver, black and light catching crystal beads. This beading is repeated at the bottom of the sleeves. Her belt is made from the same velvet as the gown and is also beaded.
She adds a gray velvet shawl that has a scale pattern and is held in place with a silver Celtic style brooch.
1. Red Dragon Queen Outfit
As a means to gain a decisive advantage for her cause, Rhaenyra has smallfolk, who have Targaryen blood, try to claim riderless dragons. When she addresses them and presents them all to a massive and furious dragon she looks ever the picture of a near godlike Queen.
Her resplendent red costume looks like a more formal version of her charcoal ensemble. It appears to be silk with a slightly dark red vein-line pattern. There is silver flame-like embroidery at the shoulder along with a detached shoulder cape that also has embroidery. The pointed inner sleeves has the same beaded embroidery detail.
She wears a belt that is also very similar to the one she wears with the charcoal ensemble with its silver dragons but it has a different placement with dragon design and beading.
The hanging sleeves also add to the subtle drama and grandeur of this costume.
Honorble Mention
Rhaenyra’s silver dragon shoulder pieces from episode 8 are gorgeous but not much of the costumes could be seen in the scene.
