The Style Of Grandmaster Beth harmon

The Queen’s Gambit is one of my favorite shows and I have re-watched it dozens of times. Each episode is like a mini movie that leaves you wanting more as soon as it’s over. The show follows a young girl named Beth, who lives in an orphanage and becomes strangely addicted to tranquilizers at a young age. Beth also becomes dedicated to the game of chess, and she spends most of her free time playing.  The orphanage janitor teaches Beth how to play, and from there she triumphs in the chess world as a woman in the late 1950s. 

One of the reasons I love this show is because of the costume designs. The outfits are so accurate to the time period and amazing. I love how each character’s outfits match with their personality. In the show, Beth is seen first in the orphanage, and her outfit is plain and brown. She is seen playing chess in this outfit for the first time with Mr. Shaibel, the janitor who taught her how to play. When she’s adopted by a couple, her new mom dresses her in cheap, plain colored clothes that most girls at her age wouldn't wear. Beth doesn't feel very confident while wearing these clothes in the beginning, but as she wins a couple matches Beth earns money from her winning the games. She quickly spends this money on a chess board for herself and uses this money to buy clothes that she likes. The dress she ironically picks is a plaid black dress with white, and a white blouse underneath. I think this represents the beginning of her journey in the chess world. Beth gains the confidence to add these new clothes to her wardrobe. 

As she continues to grow in the chess world, her style continues to grow as well. Her clothes evolve throughout the show, as well as her hair and her makeup, as she creates a signature look. Beth dresses very feminine and confident throughout the show to show her dominance in a field of people who are primarily men. It can be intimidating to be surrounded by a bunch of older men, and with no one really by Beth's side, she uses fashion to help her stay confident and true to herself.  All the clothes in the show are very thought out and designed perfectly to fit the scene and the era. Her style definitely changes depending on where she is playing chess. 

When Beth went to Paris for a chess tournament she opted for a black skirt and black turtleneck, this was different from her regular feminine looks. This outfit could be showing a more serious look to her opponent, Borgov. After she has a long and fun night out with a woman named Cleo, sent to distract her by the Russians, Beth wakes up frazzled and unprepared for the tournament. Beths ends up losing the match to Borgov, her biggest rival. When she arrives back home, she begins to spiral and turn to drugs and alcohol to cope. Beth feels as though she is a failure because of losing this match,  not only does she herself change, but her style does too. We see Beth dressed in a bright yellow turtleneck, with black trench coat and a teal colored knitted hat. And we can't forget the crazy eye makeup; Beth puts on big false lashes and eyeliner under her eyes. It's very out of the ordinary for Beth, as she normally dresses more reserved and confident. This outfit is all over the place, which represents how Beth is struggling. With the death of her adopted mom and her adopted father leaving, Beth returns to a place of loneliness.  After some old friends and opponents visit Beth and help her get back on her feet, Beth makes it to the Soviet Union to go against Borgov one more time. This match is the most crucial one for Beth to win, and it's what she's been working for her whole life. It was a stressful time, but with the help of her friends on the other side of the world, calling her every night, we see Beth beat Borgov at his own game. At the end of this episode which is the last one of the season, Beth is seen walking the streets of Moscow in an all white outfit. White hat, white pants and shoes and a long white wool coat. At this moment, Beth resembles the white queen. Beth's outfit in the end is feminine and really shows her confidence and success she has achieved over the years. 

Beth's style in this show really pulls together everything and gives us another perspective and way to interpret the show. Some might think her outfits are just plain outfits with no story, but I think every detail in each outfit ties to something personal in Beth's life. This is the reason I love this show, not only because it's interesting, but I love how the clothes reflect more than just the era they are in. It shows who Beth truly is, a mysterious, ambitious and complicated individual.