Once Upon A Costume--Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold

ONCE UPON A COSTUME - RUMPLESTILTSKIN / MR. GOLD

By Mia Bennett (@must_be_mia1)

Rumplestiltskin is one of the most fascinating and amusing characters on Once Upon a Time and has an interesting assortment of costumes. From scaly leather to a sharp suit and tie, Rumple knows how to express himself while dressing to the nines.

Shall we begin, Dearies? 

​Rumplestiltskin began as a spinner just trying to get by in life. This left him having to constantly wear ratty cloaks and rags since he didn't have magic or much money. In flashbacks, Rumple wore multiple layers of clothing, presumably to keep him warm. The coloring ranged from off-white to gray, which possibly could be symbolism since his life at the time was very dull and dingy.

When Rumplestiltskin became The Dark One, he spiced up his wardrobe big time. He ditched the rags for a variety of leathery items, often looking scaly and rough, much like his new skin. Rumplestiltskin was hence well known for wearing scaly leather which was usually black and sprinkled with brown. This gave the vibe that Rumple was mysterious, powerful, and in control as The Dark One. He was also seen wearing cloaks from time to time, although they were much more extravagant than his old cloaks. 

If he wasn't decked out in leather, Rumple enjoyed wearing simple brown outfits when in his castle, not having to put on a show for anyone.

​When everyone ended up in Storybrooke, Rumplestilskin changed into his alter ego, Mr. Gold. There, he also wanted to run the town in style. He wore sharp suits, accented with ties. Some of his dress shirts and ties were generally colorful. This helped remind the audience of the mischievous deal-making, powerful, yet amusing Rumple that still lay underneath Mr. Gold. While the town adjusted to modern clothing, Mr. Gold was the sharpest dressed man in the town, always wanting to look presentable for whomever was next to strike a deal or scheme with him.

​In contrast, when Rumplestiltskin was with Belle, his wardrobe was noticeably different. He was very fond of wearing red around her. At first, when Belle and Rumple met, he paraded around in his leather that is like armor to him. However, shortly after, as he grew to care for her. he was more comfortable wearing other items. He enjoyed wearing red and/or gold. This could be looked at as a romantic vibe from Rumple, as he wanted to get closer to her and know about her life. Red promotes confidence, determination, and of course, love. Gold is also associated with love, courage, and passion. These colors go well together, and Belle seemed content that he was comfortable enough to "take off his armor"  while around her.

In Storybrooke, after the curse was broken, Mr. Gold still dressed to impress Belle, looking very sharp. At Mr. Gold and Belle's wedding ceremony, he respectively matched with her, accentuating his suit with a white rose.

On their honeymoon, Once Upon a Time pulled out one of the most iconic classic Disney scenes, and brought it to life with Rumple and Belle. Rumplestiltskin wore a striking royal blue suit, going all out for the couple's first dance together. This truly was a magical moment for the both of them.

In "Operation Mongoose Part 2" we caught a glimpse of what could have been for Rumplestiltskin and Belle without the darkness in their lives. In this alternate universe, he wore gold armor as well as Enchanted Forest outwear that usually is worn by Prince Charming. It was a simple, happy look into their marriage before the darkness took over him once again.

​Speaking of darkness, Mr. Gold has managed to become even darker and more manipulative than ever. In Season 5, his wardrobe changed slightly. While stuck in the Underworld he was seen wearing darker colors, rather than the vibrant ones we were used to. Season 5 was very intense for Rumple as we saw him obtain all the Dark One power, and found out Belle was pregnant only to have things go south in their relationship. Then he had to deal with Hades, along with the newcomer Hyde, with whom Rumple seemed to have an agreement. It is no surprise that he would wear tones that were black, maroon, and dark blue.

What will Mr. Gold wear in Season 6? Now that he appears to be in cohorts with Hyde, maybe he'll find a way to bring Belle out of her sleeping curse safely. Or, he might resort to his old ways and bring his leather back as armor while he deals with the repercussions for his actions over the past two seasons. On a personal note, I hope we see more of Rumplestiltskin in flashbacks. It's always nice to see the different outfits he wears in the Enchanted Forest. It is a nice switch up from the suits too.

Who knows? Perhaps we'll see an entirely different wardrobe from him in Season 6. This could be influenced by his current status as a father-to-be, or by the way people dress in the "Land of Untold Stories" since Storybrooke has new arrivals. Either way, Rumple always has something up his sleeve. Whatever happens next, he'll have a compelling plan that we anxiously await to see.