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War costume designer Matthew Price says he and Sienna Miller worked to make Carla Duval’s wardrobe distinct from Miller’s own public image, despite similarities between actor and character. Their approach combined archive designer pieces with contemporary clothing, including a Chloé jacket Price identifies as Carla’s revenge outfit in episode two.
Costume designer Matthew Price says he and Sienna Miller built a wardrobe for Carla Duval in HBO’s War that would distinguish the fictional actor from Miller, despite their apparent similarities. In an interview with ELLE, Price described using archive fashion, modern labels and carefully chosen outfits to shape Carla’s identity as her divorce unfolds.
Carla is a British, Hollywood-famous actor whose divorce from Morgan, a technology executive played by Dominic West, drives the drama. Price said the resemblance between the character’s public-facing career and Miller’s own made the costume work feel “a bit meta.” He also said the wardrobe needed to suggest Carla’s life without simply reproducing Miller’s personal style.
Price and Miller shared references from their first video call, including magazine editor Claire Thomson-Jonville and French minimalism. But they did not want Carla to stick to one silhouette. Price recalled trying Chloé pieces that felt “a little too Sienna”; recognizing that mismatch helped them define the character more quickly.
The wardrobe combines historical designer pieces with contemporary clothes. Price’s team of about 30 people sourced archive garments, including Dolce & Gabbana pinstripe suits, a tasselled Comme des Garçons gown and a McQueen coat from the 2000s. The selection also included Fendi and Stella McCartney, alongside accessible contemporary labels such as & Other Stories, The Frankie Shop and Agolde. Price said the aim was to keep the clothes from feeling “totally unreachable” or overly costume-like.
Clothing Builds Carla’s Public Identity
The wardrobe is part of how War distinguishes Carla from Miller while making Carla’s status and changing circumstances legible. Because both are presented as famous actors with fashion-conscious lives, familiar labels alone could blur the boundary between performer and role. Price’s account shows how choices of silhouette, provenance and styling were used to make that distinction.
Costumes also track the character’s response to the divorce. Price identified an outfit in episode two—a paisley Chloé jacket with black leather boots—as Carla’s “revenge outfit.” He described the look as a less obvious form of dressing for a public turning point than a tight dress or a mannish suit. That approach connects the wardrobe to the drama without making any single garment stand in for Carla’s entire personality.
Archive clothing can carry its own visual associations, but Price said the pieces were worked into the character’s evolving taste rather than presented as a parade of labels. That balance matters to viewers because the clothes need to support the story while still appearing like choices Carla might make. The interview offers the designer’s explanation of that process, rather than an independent assessment of how audiences will read every look.
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War is an HBO divorce drama created by George Kay, known for writing Killing Eve. The story follows the breakdown of Carla and Morgan’s marriage. Price said he immediately wanted to work on the project and began developing Carla’s wardrobe with Miller in collaboration.
The production’s costume approach drew on both new and older clothing. Price said he and Miller agreed that archive items could help create distance between the actor and the role, and that Miller was keen to use them. The team approached designers and collectors for loans or purchases. Price described archive keepers as experts who could be difficult to reach, but said some became more receptive after learning the pieces were for Miller and seeing images from the project.
Price said the wardrobe was intended to be “chameleon-like”, with no single item defining Carla. He singled out a fringed Comme des Garçons gown worn later in a court scene as a personal favorite, although he had initially wondered whether it might feel too theatrical. The interview also disclosed a practical production challenge: Price and Miller worked to conceal Miller’s pregnancy while keeping the clothes consistent with Carla’s character.
““As she is played by an actor such as Sienna, it is a bit meta.””
— Matthew Price, costume designer, speaking to ELLE
What the Interview Does Not Establish
Price’s comments explain the design decisions, but the interview does not give a full episode-by-episode wardrobe breakdown, identify every archive garment or specify which pieces were borrowed rather than bought. It also does not detail the practical methods used to conceal Miller’s pregnancy, or how much the wardrobe changes as the story progresses.
The source presents Price’s account of the collaboration and his intentions for Carla’s clothes. It does not report audience response or provide independent confirmation of how viewers interpret particular outfits. The available material also does not state the show’s release date or give further production details beyond describing it as HBO’s new drama.
The Looks Unfold Across the Drama
As viewers follow Carla and Morgan’s divorce through the series, the wardrobe’s shifts are intended to accompany changes in Carla’s circumstances and preferences. Price pointed to the episode-two Chloé outfit and a later court-scene gown as examples of how specific looks enter the story. The interview does not announce a new production milestone or provide a schedule for additional episodes or behind-the-scenes material.
For now, the confirmed details come from Price’s interview with ELLE: the design team used a mix of archive and contemporary clothing, avoided pieces that felt too closely associated with Miller, and adapted fittings to conceal her pregnancy. Further information about the full costume inventory and the show’s release or episode schedule was not included in the source.
Key Questions
What is the news about Sienna Miller’s costumes in War?
Costume designer Matthew Price explained how he and Miller created a wardrobe for Carla Duval that would separate the character from Miller’s own image, while reflecting Carla’s life as a famous actor going through a divorce.
What was the outfit Price called Carla’s revenge look?
Price identified a paisley Chloé jacket and black leather boots in episode two as Carla’s revenge outfit. He described it as a subtler choice than a figure-hugging dress or a mannish suit.
Which designers and labels were used for Carla’s wardrobe?
The interview names archive pieces from Dolce & Gabbana, Comme des Garçons and McQueen, as well as clothing from Fendi and Stella McCartney. The wardrobe also included contemporary labels such as & Other Stories, The Frankie Shop and Agolde.
How did the costume team distinguish Carla from Miller?
Price said some Chloé pieces felt “a little too Sienna,” prompting the team to look for clothing that better suited Carla. They also drew on archive fashion and varied the character’s silhouettes rather than giving her one fixed look.
Did the costumes also conceal Sienna Miller’s pregnancy?
Yes. Price said concealing Miller’s pregnancy while staying true to Carla was an additional challenge during fittings. The interview does not explain the specific techniques used.
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