'Game of Thrones' Costume Designer Not Feeling the Nipple Armor

GOT filming in Sevilla, Spain. Photo: WatchersOntheWall.com

With Game of Thrones filming its fifth season in Spain, it’s hard to fathom what more the bloody, bawdy series could do to shock or titillate—except of course turn on itself. Apparently, the drama’s chief costume designer, Michele Clapton, admits some of her own designs are actually pretty sexist.

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In this case, it’s not the puzzling, navel-baring evening gowns or leather breastplates worn by Daenerys Targaryen (or the 100% costume-free moments in the series, of which there are many). Instead, Clapton’s speaking out about the nipple armor she designed for the Sand Snakes, Prince Oberyn’s three daughters. “I’m not terribly keen on it,” Clapton told New York Magazine. “I wouldn’t do it on men, and I don’t really like the concept of it on women. Of course you have to have the woman’s shape. That’s fine. But [nipples on armor] is almost from a man’s point of view, and there’s something slightly cheesy about it.”

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Ah, nipple armor. The costume phenomenon has a long and dubious history with many low points, including a similar scandal over the 1997 Batman costumes, all of which feature nipples. But it turns out high fashion loves nipple armor. Earlier this fall, the Pirelli Calendar released pictures from its 2015 edition, which feature model of the moment Gigi Hadid, legs spread, in a latex suit with molded nipples. The calendar was shot by the arty, provocative Steven Meisel and styled by Carine Roitfeld.

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Upon its release, some said Pirelli’s Hadid shot was a nod to a now famous 2013 photograph of Kate Moss on the cover of Pop magazine, wearing a nippled bronze bodysuit designed by artist Allen Jones in 1978.

So are Clapton’s nipple-adorned breastplates just a matter of inelegant cheese, an attempt to pander to male fans of the fantasy show? Or are they in fact, the height of fashion?

Gigi Hadid. Courtesy of Pirelli

Alicia Silverstone, George Clooney, and Chris O’Donnell in Batman & Robin, 1997. Photo: Everett Collection

Kate Moss in Pop, 2013. Photo: Pop Magazine