ONCE UPON A COSTUME: ZELENA MILLS

Once Upon A Costume: Zelena Mills
by Mia Bennet (@Must_Be-Mia1)

Zelena Mills is one wickedly-styled witch! She is very fashionable and usually seen wearing her two favorite colors: black and green, topped with a black hat. Zelena always owns her outfits and is definitely dressed to kill. Whether she is posing as a midwife or getting ready for a brawl in Storybrooke, she brings her "A Game" in the clothing department.

Abandoned as a baby by Cora and left to be raised by a couple in Oz, Zelena grew up as a peasant. This meant, unlike her half-sister Regina, she did not own fancy, beautiful outfits. She mainly wore a raggedy dress and cloak to keep herself warm. Once Zelena left her home and  started training in magic with Rumplestiltskin, she began to dress like Regina. Zelena was extremely envious over her sister's life and wanted to feel pretty as well.

​After taking over Oz, Zelena went through a massive change. Not only did her skin change to the color green, but her wardrobe adjusted as well. She felt in control of the land and strut around Oz wearing fitting dresses. When Glinda, and the other "Sister Witches" came into town, they tried to convince Zelena to change her ways and be a better person. For a while their advice worked, and Zelena continued to wear a softer color, since she felt happier. Unfortunately, Dorothy crashed the party, bringing Zelena into a jealous rage. She sent Dorothy, Glinda, and the Wizard away. From then on, she never let her guard down again.

While Regina and mostly everyone else from the Enchanted Forest were living in Cursed Storybrooke, Zelena made herself feel at home in Regina's castle. She took over and began to wear Regina's dresses. When the second curse hit and Regina was sent back to the Enchanted Forest, Zelena taunted her, telling her that she looked even better in her outfits than Regina did.

​In Storybrooke, Zelena went through a life-changing experience. First, posing undercover as a midwife, she dressed classy, almost always seen in a black cloak. She tried to blend in and look like any other resident. After her cover was blown however, she took it up a notch and started wearing different black outfits, occasionally with a touch of green, as she tried her best to outshine Regina, especially for their match in Main Street.

When Zelena was seen again in 4b she was caught by Regina and Emma in New York City. Immediately thrown into the asylum in Storybrooke, she sported a maroon top with a grey sweater. She was seen wearing this until she was transported into the alternate universe. 

In the world of Heroes and Villains, Zelena got a taste of what life would have been like if she had been raised by Cora. She was able to wear a pretty, creamy pink gown and a wedding dress. This might well have been the only royalty wear that she didn't have to steal from Regina. Sadly for Zelena, this did not last long and she was back in her sweater.

During Zelena's time in Camelot, she was able to ditch her sweater and wear light-colored garb, only to pose as a handmaiden. For the time being, Zelena seemed to fancy her outfit. In Storybrooke, she wore her gray sweater until it was time to have her baby. Once her daughter was born, Zelena quickly switched into a suitable green dress. She happily poofed around Storybrooke wearing outfits of her choice.

Before being sent back to Oz by Regina, during a key scene in which she first holds her daughter, Zelena was seen wearing a black blouse, accented with a green cover-up.

​ I'm very curious to find out what we will see Zelena in next. Will she go back to her classic sparkling dresses? Or will she have a new stunning outfit for the second half of the season? Her last words to Regina were "I am not done, you will see me again!" So I expect to see Zelena back in action, ready to do whatever it takes to get her baby girl back. In style, of course.