Some thoughts on Margaery’s clothing
So Margaery Tyrell has some of the most gorgeous dresses in the show, but it’s particularly interesting to watch how her sense of fashion evolves throughout her arc, particularly with regard to how she uses her sex appeal as a weapon. (Also, in examining her dresses more closely I’ve realized she has way more blue dresses than I thought; there are 3 or 4 that all look similar but are in fact distinct.)
When we first meet Margaery, she’s married to Renly. She wears a low-cut dress, but one that is otherwise very modest, with her arms and collarbones covered. However, we see her use her revealing clothing for the first time when she attempts to seduce Renly.
After Renly’s death, she puts on her one truly bizarre outfit. She has no need to sexualize herself; what she needs in such a time of uncertainty and regrouping is armor and protection, and this dress is indicative of that.
When we next see Margaery, she is being introduced to Joffrey as his potential bride. Here is where we begin to see her trademark look of a blue sleeveless dress with gold embellishments.
Margaery’s wardrobe reflects her position and her choices. She dresses exclusively in blue and gold, which is common for Tyrells. This emphasizes her family, since it is the Tyrell alliance that makes a marriage between her and Joffrey so attractive to the Lannisters. She also plays up her sex appeal for Joffrey’s sake, to get him on her side. Her dresses are low-cut with wide necklines that show off her chest, and she wears cap sleeves when most other Westerosi women wear their arms covered. Her dresses also frequently have cutouts in the waist of back, making them even more revealing.
After Joffrey’s death, Margaery has a careful line to walk. Once again she has lost the husband who is the source of her power, but this time her path forward is clearer than it was with Renly. Her strategy with Tommen is similar to that with Joffrey, although with much less manipulation and more taking advantage of Tommen’s innocence. The sex appeal is still very important if she’s to increase the young king’s awe of her. Though she dons black in mourning for Joffrey and later Tywin, the cut of her dresses remains largely the same.
The only time we see her more covered is in during official proceedings the throne room, for Tommen’s coronation and Tyrion’s trial. She adds a shawl, increasing her modesty in environments where she is not the focus, and where it is not useful to her to emphasize her own sexuality.
We see another shift when Margaery marries Tommen. Suddenly, her position is much more secure. Her wardrobe doesn’t change drastically, but it does shift in very telling ways. First, she abandons blue for gold. She no longer needs to look especially Tyrellish, and instead leans into her new status as queen. Second, while she doesn’t abandon her typical style, we do see her more covered for the first time. Margaery no longer needs to be a sex goddess to win Tommen; she’s done that. Now she needs to look regal and poised. Her long-sleeved gold dress is not dissimilar to many of the dresses Cersei wears, although more within Margaery’s own style.
The most dramatic change we see in Margaery’s wardrobe comes after she is arrested by the Faith Militant. She reenters society apparently devoted to the gods, and repentant for her earlier lifestyle. One of the things she discusses specifically with the High Sparrow is her use of sex as a weapon. Her clothing emphasizes her modesty. She still looks regal and poised, but she is completely covered, neck to wrists to toes.
Interestingly, for the first time since Joffrey’s death, we see Margaery return to the blues typical of her family. Perhaps it’s a nod to her true intentions to remain loyal to House Tyrell and her own ambition. In any case, we never get to find out.