Les Misérables

Act 1: The Struggles of Jean Valjean and Fantine’s Fall

Main Characters:

• Jean Valjean:

  • Initial Outfit (Prisoner):
    • Striped prison uniform in muted tones (often gray, white, and black stripes), representing his 19 years of hard labor.
    • Accessories: Large number tag on his chest or back to reflect his status as a prisoner.
  • Post-Prison (Jean Valjean):
    • A simple, worn-out suit with a dark overcoat to represent his poverty and life on the run.
    • Accessories: A plain hat, sturdy boots, and a small bag with his few belongings.
  • Later (Wealthy Jean Valjean):
    • As Jean Valjean assumes the role of a wealthy factory owner, he wears more refined clothing: a tailored suit in rich fabrics (often dark brown or gray), a waistcoat, and a tie or cravat.
    • Accessories: A pocket watch, gloves, and a top hat to reflect his newfound respectability.

• Fantine:

  • Initial Outfit:
    • A plain, simple dress and shawl, reflecting her working-class status and modest life.
    • Accessories: A bonnet or scarf and simple shoes.
  • Transition (After Losing Her Job):
    • Fantine’s costume becomes ragged as she descends into poverty. Her dress is torn, her hair is unkempt, and she appears much more vulnerable.
    • Accessories: A shabby scarf or shawl, tattered shoes.

• Cosette:

  • Initial Outfit (Young Cosette):

    • A ragged, simple dress reflecting her poor and neglected childhood. Often a faded or brownish dress with no decoration, symbolizing her mistreatment by the innkeepers.
    • Accessories: A bonnet or headscarf, and bare feet to emphasize her impoverished condition.

  • Post-Rescue (Cosette):

    • When Jean Valjean rescues Cosette, her costume transitions to a more refined, well-maintained look, featuring a simple, modest dress in light colors like white or pastel.
    • Accessories: A ribbon in her hair and clean shoes to symbolize her newfound hope.

• Javert:

  • Outfit:
    • A formal, military-style uniform to reflect his rigid, law-abiding nature as a police inspector. The costume is often dark blue or black, with gold epaulettes, a waistcoat, and boots.
    • Accessories: A military cap, belt, and a sword to emphasize his authority.

• The Innkeepers (Thénardier and Madame Thénardier):

  • Thénardier:
    • A shabby, yet slightly more formal outfit, with a vest, trousers, and a bow tie. His costume has a scruffy look to reflect his deceitful nature.
    • Accessories: A top hat and a pocket watch (symbolizing his trickery).
  • Madame Thénardier:
    • A dirty, ill-fitting dress with a low neckline to reflect her greed and the rough environment she subjects Cosette to.
    • Accessories: A shawl or apron, and sometimes an over-the-top hairstyle to reflect her cruelty.

Ensemble (Factory Workers, Street People, and Soldiers):

• Factory Workers:

  • Simple, plain clothing like worn dresses, aprons, and trousers, reflecting the laboring class and the difficult conditions under which they work.

• Street People:

  • Ragged, dirty clothing, often in muted tones, reflecting the poverty and suffering of the lower class in Paris. Characters may wear torn coats, threadbare shirts, and shabby shoes.

• Soldiers:

  • Military uniforms in dark, muted colors to reflect the period and role they play in the story.

Act 2: The Revolution and Redemption

Main Characters (Continued):

• Jean Valjean:

  • Costume Change (Later in the Act):
    • After assuming a new identity, Jean Valjean continues to wear refined, wealthy clothing, but as he ages, his costume may appear more worn. He dresses in a dignified, simple manner, such as a neat coat and vest with a cravat.
    • Accessories: A walking stick and an overcoat for the latter part of his life.

• Cosette:

  • Outfit (Young Adult Cosette):
    • A more youthful, elegant dress with a slightly more formal design, often in pastel or light colors, to symbolize her purity and optimism.
    • Accessories: A ribbon in her hair and simple, clean shoes.

• Marius:

  • Outfit:
    • A young revolutionary’s look, with a simple vest, trousers, and a loose shirt. His costume often incorporates muted colors and practical materials like wool, reflecting his youth and commitment to the revolution.
    • Accessories: A red vest or scarf to signify his role in the revolution, and a cravat.

• Éponine:

  • Outfit:
    • A tattered, poor dress or skirt that reflects her difficult life and unrequited love. Her clothing is more worn than Cosette’s, with dirt stains and rips in her garments.
    • Accessories: A simple scarf or shawl, and worn shoes.

• Javert:

  • Costume Change:
    • Javert’s costume remains relatively consistent, but as his personal struggles increase, his costume may appear more rigid and austere.
    • Accessories: His uniform is worn with increasing precision to reflect his obsessive nature.

Ensemble (Revolutionaries, Soldiers, and Parisian Citizens):

• Revolutionaries:

  • Soldiers and rebels wear a mix of worn, practical clothing such as simple vests, trousers, and coats in muted tones like red, brown, or gray, reflecting the civil unrest and their readiness for revolution.
  • Accessories: Red flags, sashes, and sometimes hats or scarves representing their ideals.

• Soldiers and Guards:

  • Formal military uniforms, often with brass buttons, jackets, and hats to represent the regime’s oppressive nature.

• Parisian Citizens:

  • A mix of formal and informal 19th-century clothing, from simple dresses and skirts to waistcoats, shirts, and pants. The attire is reflective of the time period.

Special Notes:

• Color Palette:

  • Act 1: Muted tones for the lower class (grays, browns, blacks) and more refined colors (navy, burgundy) for the wealthier characters like Jean Valjean.
  • Act 2: Brighter reds, yellows, and earth tones for the revolutionaries, while darker colors remain for characters like Javert and the Thénardiers to emphasize their authority and villainy.

• Fabric Choices:

  • Act 1: Simple fabrics like wool, cotton, and linen for the working-class characters and more refined materials like velvet and silk for the wealthier characters.
  • Act 2: Worn, rough fabrics like wool, canvas, and cotton for the revolutionaries and poorer characters, with more polished fabrics like satin or silk for the wealthier characters like Cosette.