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War costume designer Matthew Price says he and Sienna Miller used archive fashion, contemporary labels and carefully chosen silhouettes to distinguish Carla Duval from the actor. Price also identified a paisley Chloé jacket as Carla’s revenge outfit and said the wardrobe had to conceal Miller’s pregnancy during filming.
Costume designer Matthew Price says he worked with Sienna Miller to make her character in HBO’s divorce drama War feel distinct from the actor, despite their apparent similarities: both are British, Hollywood-famous women with high-profile wardrobes. In an interview with ELLE, Price described using archive pieces and a varied mix of labels to shape Carla Duval’s style, while also helping conceal Miller’s pregnancy during filming.
Carla is an actor whose divorce from tech executive Morgan, played by Dominic West, shapes the drama’s plot. Price told ELLE the role presented a particular styling challenge because Miller’s public image could blur into the character’s. He said he and Miller recognized early on that they shared a reference point in magazine editor Claire Thomson-Jonville, whose approach informed the character’s French-minimalist wardrobe. They avoided locking Carla into a single silhouette.
Price said the pair rejected some pieces that felt too closely associated with Miller. They tried clothing from Chloé, for example, but concluded that some items felt “a little too Sienna.” That distinction helped them find Carla’s look, Price said. He also said Miller was comfortable choosing garments based on fit rather than the name on the label.
The wardrobe combines pieces from Fendi and Stella McCartney with more accessible contemporary brands, including & Other Stories, The Frankie Shop and Agolde. Price’s team of 30 also sourced archive clothing, among it Dolce & Gabbana pinstripe suits, a fringed Comme des Garçons gown and a McQueen coat from the 2000s. The designer said the intention was to make the clothes feel expressive but plausible for Carla, rather than like costumes assembled around famous labels.
How Clothes Build Carla’s Identity
The wardrobe helps establish that Carla is a character with her own tastes, rather than a version of Miller dressed in fashionable clothes. That distinction matters to a story centered on a public figure’s divorce: her clothing can signal how she presents herself as the relationship changes, without relying on a single signature look. Price described the result as “chameleon-like”, with no one item serving as the definitive Carla outfit.
The clothes also give the production a way to express changes in mood and power. Price said the story uses fashion as armor and includes a deliberate “revenge outfit” in episode 2: a paisley Chloé jacket with black leather boots. He characterized the choice as softer and less obvious than a conventionally revealing dress or sharply tailored suit. That is Price’s account of the costume’s intent; the interview does not establish how viewers or critics have received it.
The practical work behind the wardrobe is also part of the story. Price said his team had to dress Miller in ways that remained true to Carla while concealing the actor’s pregnancy. The interview offers that as a production challenge, not as a detailed account of specific techniques or filming arrangements.
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War is described in the ELLE report as an HBO divorce drama created by George Kay, the writer associated with Killing Eve. Its central relationship is between Carla Duval and Morgan, a tech executive played by Dominic West. Carla’s profession and public profile make fashion a visible part of her character, but also create the risk that her clothes could echo Miller’s own image too closely.
Price said he and Miller were aligned from their first video meeting, when both raised Thomson-Jonville as a reference. From there, they explored archive fashion alongside current collections and accessible brands. Price said Miller supported going back as far as the 1980s when a piece suited the character. He also credited collectors and archive specialists with helping the team locate and obtain garments, sometimes through loans and sometimes through purchases.
One archive piece Price singled out was a fringed Comme des Garçons gown worn in a later court scene. He said he initially wondered whether it might feel too theatrical, but the production found a place for it. The interview does not provide a complete costume inventory or a full episode-by-episode breakdown.
“As she is played by an actor such as Sienna, it is a bit meta.”
— Matthew Price, costume designer, speaking to ELLE
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What the Interview Leaves Open
The ELLE interview does not give War’s release date, episode schedule or further production details, and it does not specify how the pregnancy was concealed from shot to shot. Price’s remarks also do not establish whether the referenced archive garments were borrowed or purchased in each case, or how much of Carla’s wardrobe changes across the season. The source describes the costume team’s intentions; audience and critical responses are not included.
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The Series Will Show the Wardrobe
Viewers will be able to see how the clothing works in the drama as War is released. Price’s interview points to episode 2’s Chloé jacket-and-boots combination and a later court scene featuring the fringed Comme des Garçons gown, but gives no further viewing dates or episode details. No additional costume or release announcements are included in the source report.
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Key Questions
How did Matthew Price distinguish Carla Duval from Sienna Miller?
Price said he and Miller avoided pieces that felt too closely associated with the actor, while developing Carla’s style around shared references, varied silhouettes and a mix of archive and contemporary clothing.
What is Carla’s revenge outfit in War?
Price identified a paisley Chloé jacket and black leather boots in episode 2 as the character’s revenge outfit.
Which designers appear in Carla’s wardrobe?
Price cited archive pieces by Dolce & Gabbana, Comme des Garçons and McQueen, as well as contemporary collections from Fendi and Stella McCartney. The wardrobe also includes pieces from & Other Stories, The Frankie Shop and Agolde.
How did the production handle Miller’s pregnancy?
Price said the team had to keep Miller’s pregnancy hidden while staying true to Carla’s character. The interview does not detail the specific wardrobe or filming methods used.
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