Christmas Movie Dress Advent Calendar Day 2: Christine Baranski in HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS

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Yesterday: A dutiful wife. Today: the elegantly graceful, beautiful and Christmassy-to-a-fault Martha May Whovier. Played by Christine Baranski in 2000’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas, directed by Ron Howard, she was the ultimate Christmas Princess, forever draped in reds and greens and fake white fur in every scene, but her Christmas gown for the Whoville Whobilation was pure, pharmaceutical grade Christmas fashion, from the presents in her hair to her forest green tulle skirt.

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The girlfriend of Whoville’s mayor and secret longtime crusher of the Grinch, Martha May is the leading Whoville socialite (hence the reference to Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy in her name) and serves as a symbol of the love and kindness of the holiday as well as the sparkle and glamour that characterizes it. We would feel a little silly attempting to decipher or analyze this costume’s meaning, because it’s not exactly subtle. None of the costume design is. Check the cop covered in donuts and coffee. Everyone’s station, meaning and purpose is clearly signaled in Whoville. Her job is to be perfect and to embody Christmas, driving the Grinch to distraction and the mayor to a sweaty and public marriage proposal. What we love about this costume, designed by Rita Ryack, is how it rewards the viewer with so many details that you can’t help but be drawn in to look at them all. It’s a cosplayer’s and drag queen’s dream of a costume.

Next: A Christmas bad girl!

[Photo/Still Credit: Universal Pictures]

• Christine Baranski
• Costumes
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas
• Movie Advent Calendar
• Movie Costumes
• Universal Pictures