Robe of Gandalf the Grey
The costume of Gandalf the Grey was designed by Ngila Dickson, who was the costume designer for both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. She wanted to create a costume that was authentic, functional, and mysterious, reflecting Gandalf's character and role in the story. Here are some details about how she constructed the costume:
- The hat was the hardest part to design, as she had to find a shape that was whimsical, magical, and ancient. She spent months sketching different versions until she found the right one².
- The robe was made of grey wool and linen, with a yoke around the neck and shoulders, and box-pleated fabric for the rest of the body and sleeves. She used a pattern from Simplicity 4219 as a base, and altered it to fit Gandalf's style¹³.
- The cloak was a simple piece of grey wool fabric, wrapped around Gandalf's shoulders and held in place with a ring pin. She chose this style because it was similar to the cloaks worn by Vikings and Anglo-Saxons, and because it was versatile and easy to reuse¹.
- The belt was a black sword belt, with a buckle that had a rune engraved on it. The rune was the same one that Gandalf used to mark Bilbo's door in The Hobbit⁴.
- The scarf was a long silver piece of fabric, that added some contrast and elegance to Gandalf's outfit. It also served as a symbol of his status as one of the Istari, or wizards sent by the Valar to Middle-Earth⁴.
- The gloves were old grey gloves that Gandalf wore to protect his hands from the cold and from his staff. They also added some texture and realism to his costume⁴.
- The boots were big black boots that were sturdy and comfortable for walking long distances. They also matched his belt and gave him a more imposing presence⁴.
Sources:
10/11/2023
(1) The Gandalf Cosplay Buyer’s Guide – Swish And Slash. https://swishandslash.com/cosplay-buyers-guides/the-gandalf-cosplay-buyers-guide/.
(2) Gandalf the Grey Costume : 9 Steps (with Pictures) - Instructables. https://www.instructables.com/Gandalf-the-Grey-Costume/.
(3) Did You Ever Notice... Gandalf the Grey's Costume?. http://newboards.theonering.net/search/Tolkien_Topics_C3/Movie_Discussion:_The_Lord_of_the_Rings_F8/Did_You_Ever_Notice..._Gandald_the_Greys_Costume_P108419.
(4) The Lord Of The Rings: 10 Hidden Details About Gandalf's Costume You .... https://screenrant.com/the-lord-of-the-rings-gandalf-costume-details/.
(5) Gandalf the Grey Costume : 9 Steps (with Pictures) - Instructables. https://www.instructables.com/Gandalf-the-Grey-Costume/.
(6) The Gandalf Cosplay Buyer’s Guide – Swish And Slash. https://swishandslash.com/cosplay-buyers-guides/the-gandalf-cosplay-buyers-guide/.
(7) Did You Ever Notice... Gandalf the Grey's Costume?. http://newboards.theonering.net/search/Tolkien_Topics_C3/Movie_Discussion:_The_Lord_of_the_Rings_F8/Did_You_Ever_Notice..._Gandald_the_Greys_Costume_P108419.
(8) The Lord Of The Rings: 10 Hidden Details About Gandalf's Costume You .... https://screenrant.com/the-lord-of-the-rings-gandalf-costume-details/.
(9) Professional Adult Grey Gandalf Costume – Coserz. https://www.coserz.com/blogs/news/professional-adult-grey-gandalf-costume.
(10) Lord of the Rings Gandalf the Grey Costume for Men - HalloweenCostumes.com. https://www.halloweencostumes.com/adult-gandalf-lord-of-the-rings-costume.html.