Alicent – The Former Queen
Season three of HBO’s “House of the Dragon” is the penultimate season. The show is a prequel series based on George R.R Martin’s book “Fire and Blood,” as well the shorter novellas “The Princess and the Queen,” and “The Rogue Prince.” These stories are all set in his “A Song of Ice and Fire” world – chronicling the events of a devastating civil war called “The Dance.”
The third season premiered on June 21st, 2026 with eight episodes.
Spoilers for season three
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Queen Alicent: The Former Dowager Queen Mother
After the end of season two, Rhaenyra and Alicent Hightower strike a plan that will put Rhaenyra on The Iron Throne. Alicent does this really in order to protect her only daughter Helaena. She sees her two elder sons as lost causes as Rhaenyra has the tactical advantage of more mounted dragons. So arranging Rhaenyra’s swift conquer of the Realm and its’ capital is the best way in Alicent’s mind to spare her gentle daughter. Thus season three opens with Alicent getting ready for Rhaenyra’s entry into King’s Landing and taking The Iron Throne.
However Alicent and Helena are captured and used as hostages while both her elder sons are at-large. There is also the issue of Alicent’s cousin Ormund Hightower, who is also fostering her youngest son, Daeron. Ormund’s machination is to put Daeron on the Iron throne and rule through him. Also complicating Alicent’s plans is that Helaena is with child which threatens Rhaenyra’s position as new reigning Queen. Alicent then tries to escape with Helena as second time and when that fails she gives up Aemond’s location only to be put in charge of ending his life.
Alicent is a captive throughout season three and is alsoone of Rhaenyra moral sounding boards.
Carolina McCall returns from season two to design the costumes for season three. As Alicent is a prisoner for more of the season and thus holds less powerful than in seasons prior she has less ornate costumes throughout season three. She starts off the season in her greens but as the season goes on she wears more teals and blue. Green has always been House Hightower colors of war.
Her costumes are still in a medieval by way of pre-Raphaelite art in terms of their inspiration.
If we take a generous estimate she has about 8 costumes but that is a little skewed. And some are rewears from season two.
This is a ranked list of four her best looks from season three. They were ranked by aesthetics and memorability.
List is subject to change
4. Blue Travel Dress
Towards the end of the season Rhaenyra tasks Alicent with executing Aemond to ensure Rhaenyra’s reign. Alicent travels to Harrenhal to try to complete this mission. Alicent does find Aemond with his paramour Alys Rivers who immediately doesn’t trust Alicent. Aemond however who has a lot of mommy issues and does trust Alicent which leads to him getting poisoned and Alicent fleeing.
Her travel dress is blue floral-like dress with lace tie closures at the center front. It has a wide neckline and long hanging sleeves. There also some lovely yet subtle embroidery on the front.
The under-layer is off-white and is visible at the neck and sleeves. The neckline has a gathered collar and looks like it has a narrow v-shape. It’s looks like it was inspired by some of Catelyn Stark’s from Game of Thrones.
She also has a corresponding fur trimmed cloak with silver metal closures.
3. Textured Teal Dress
As Alicent spends the majority of season three as a captive trying to her best escape with her daughter Helaena, the majority of Alicent’s costumes are pared way down and informal. They are still however lovely.
This teal dress which looks like a crinkled texture silk is actually the under layer of another costume but here she is wearing without out the heavy velvet outer layer which makes it feel like a different costume as it has a more unstated and casual look, as if this is Alicent’s equivalent the lounge wear.
The silhouette is quite simple as it a rounded neckline with long pointed sleeves with button closures. There is two lines some embroidery going down the front at an angle creating a lovely v-shape which adds just a little detail.
Looks still in keeping with the high fantasy aspect of the show aesthetics but very wearable too.
2. Dark Teal Gown
Alicent tends to favor gowns with long flowing sleeves in shades of green throughout the first two seasons of House of the Dragon. Green is a power color for the Hightowers as its their colors of war. Since mid-season one Alicent has worn mainly green. She was very briefly in blue at the end of season two which is also the costume she wears at the very start of season three.
This gown of Alicent’s is very much to her tastes. It somewhere between formal and informal with its rounded neckline, lovely embroidery and gold front closures. The outer layer has long hanging sleeves with narrow fitting under-sleeves which also have some embroidery.
However the color is more of dark teal showing that she mentally has moved beyond war against Rhaenyra though not completely.
She wears with her hallmark seven-pointed star necklace.
1. Blue-Green Fire Velvet Gown
While this costume was briefly seen in season 2 Alicent green velvet shines in season 3.
It’s in her lovely signature silhouette with a gorgeous embroidered blue-green velvet outer layer. The embroidered motif that is all over this costume is gold fire incased in these interwoven cage-like design to highlight the situation she has gotten herself into. The intricate embroidered design has a lot of energy and movement that makes it look very dramatic which is fitting since this is Alicent’s last act as the Queen Dowager.
The longs sleeves are lined with what looks like a matching teal silk as the under dress and it looks like the the edges of the sleeve opening is trimmed with beading or at least some reflective detail.
It’s a stunning costume.
Underneath she wears a teal gown that she later wears on its own.
More Alicent Costumes
- Alicent’s Best 7 Costumes from Season 1 of “House of the Dragon”
- Alicent’s Best 5 Costumes from Season 2 of “House of the Dragon”
