Lydia Tár is the style icon we needed

Not only a world-famous conductor but also an undeniable style icon. Lydia Tár is all that, but perhaps more. The fact is that the character played by Cate Blanchett in Todd Field's TÁR has not only won over cinephile audiences for the actress' performance, which is unsurprisingly nominated for an Oscar but also fashionistas thanks to her carefully studied wardrobe. This is thanks to costume designer Bina Daigeler, who relied on a mix of vintage clothing, custom outfits, and others by well-known designers to create Lydia Tár's outfits, as in the case of the now iconic coat by The Row, which the character wears with ease along with a New York Rangers cap and which Daigeler says cost almost her entire budget. The jacket, like many of the other garments the character wears, is just one of many that Tár uses to tell her story through her clothing, delving even deeper into her soul. For example, the coat by The Row, worn mostly during outings in civilian clothes, tells the private side of the conductor, who hides from unwanted attention armed with a cap and sunglasses.

«She doesn’t spend time getting ready and making choices in the morning, but because she has these nice clothes, she knows she will always look good and be well-dressed,» Daigeler told W Magazine to describe Lydia Tár's everyday outfit, which consists of cashmere waistcoats and jumpers (worn strictly over the shoulders), immaculately tailored shirts and loose-fitting trousers, which, however, change into fitted and severe suits the moment the character steps on the podium (the only time she wears socks, for those who love details). However, as her personal life and career begin to decline, her looks also lose their grace and organization. The style that is a child of the Berlin setting gives way to the chaos that invades Lydia's life, just as the icy silence of her electric car gives way to the noise of the taxis in which she crosses New York. Attention to detail is also reflected in the choice of accessories: no jewelry, except for a vintage Rolex worn strictly backward. The reason for this? The reflection of the light on the ring and on the dial of the same watch could disturb musicians at the moment Tár is standing on the podium. By the way, the watch belongs to Blanchett herself and was given to her by her husband Andrew Upton after the birth of their second daughter.

Another detail that certainly did not go unnoticed was the handbag given to Lydia, an Hermès Birkin personally chosen by director Todd Field, while Daigeler would have preferred a Louis Vuitton. «Cate and I both talked with Todd several times about the Hermes, saying that a Louis Vuitton might be better. But he insisted that this woman would wear a Birkin and we had to get one. You don’t really see it very much, but somehow, everybody knows it’s a Birkin» the costume designer told W Magazine. But although the attention to detail put into the film's costumes would suggest otherwise, Bina Daigeler had absolutely no intention of making the dresses the stars of the film. «I never thought anybody would look at the clothes in the film,» said the costume designer who, despite her lack of Oscar nominations, is enjoying her moment of extreme celebrity after a relatively anonymous career. Her next job? The series on Cristóbal Balenciaga by Disney+.