How 'Game of Thrones' costumes have changed over 6 seasons — and what it means for your favorite characters

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Game of Thrones" season six. 

"Game of Thrones"— with its jaw-dropping budget of $100 million this season — is operating on a cinematic level of production. One of the series' many detailed facets is the costume design. From hand-embroidered dresses to realistic fur coats, the "Game of Thrones" cast is often gussied up in intricate outfits. 

Aside from being stunning to look at, these costumes often provide a glimpse into each characters' ongoing development in the series. We've chosen seven characters to break down season by season and see how their shifting storylines are reflected in their outfits. 

Keep reading to learn more.

Jon Snow was never meant to wear black for life.

Season 1

Jon began the series wearing muted northern colors (and Stark Colors) — browns, greys, and blue. He was dressed in the fine leather of a highborn boy, ready to become a man of the Night's Watch.

Season 2

After formally joining ranks with the Night's Watch, Jon was dressed in black from head to toe. His thick black fur coat accompanied Jon as he ventured north beyond the wall.

Season 3

Jon was captured by the wildlings at the end of season two, and was forced to feign allegiance with them. That meant shedding his black cloak and wearing the warm brown furs traditionally found on the free folk.

Season 4

But he never truly betrayed the Night's Watch. By season 4 he was back among them, wearing black and training alongside his brothers. Jon's face bears more scarring by this season, reflective of his seasoning as a leader and warrior. 

Season 5

At the beginning of season 5, Jon is elected to be Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. He remains in black, but his larger cloak signifies him as the man in charge. Unfortunately, he's killed for showing compassion for the free folk he once lived among. 

Season 6

After his resurrection, Jon decides his oath to the Night's Watch has been fulfilled. He immediately ditches the black cloak, and instead returns to the Stark clothing colors of brown and blue. His hairstyle (a pulled back bun) is also reminiscent of Ned Stark. 

Cersei shifted from regal pinks to Lannister red, and now mourns in black.

Season 1

Cersei's dresses in season 1 vary from light pinks to darker shades of red and green. But her softer hairstyle and minimal jewelry signify her as a subtle source of power in King's Landing.

Season 2

In season 2, after she orchestrates Ned Stark's demise and Robert Baratheon's murder, Cersei goes full-blown Lannister. Her deep red gowns with ornate gold embroidery mark the power shift. She's no longer concerned with any family but her own.

Season 3

Cersei's grip on family increased in season 3, as she grows protective of her son Joffrey. Her accessories become militaristic, with thick gold necklaces and more architectural necklines. Cersei's hairstyle also grows more stylized and intricate as she gets obsessive about power.

Season 4

At the beginning of season 4, Cersei loses her first child, Joffrey. Though she maintains the tightly curled updo, her dresses switch to a deep black for mourning. The Lannister gold remains a key detail in Cersei's gowns, however.

Season 5

Cersei's mourning period continues, though this time it's her father who was murdered. Her gowns all vary in shades of black, and though Cersei's hair softens a bit again, it is still curled with an air of privilege. 

Season 6

Cersei was shorn and walked naked through the streets at the end of season 5. Her golden hair stripped of its finery, we now see her with a cropped cut. Cersei is vulnerable, but as focused as ever on what she has lost. Her funeral dress is now looking a bit ragged — Cersei has mourned for a different family member each season. 

Sansa Stark's embroidered dresses have reflected her surroundings.

Season 1

Sansa is known for her sewing abilities. She often wore dresses of her own creation in season 1, all of which reflected her desire to be a proper southern lady with lighter fabrics and rich detail. 

Season 2

By this season, Sansa's family was torn from her and she was a captive in King's Landing. She fell into a forced role of "good little lady." Her clothing became more similar to the people surrounding her in the capital, and her hairstyle began to mimic Cersei Lannister's braided look. 

Season 3

Trapped in Cersei's plots, Sansa began wearing more light red in season 3 — the color of House Lannister. Her hairstyles grew increasingly "southern," and she stopped wearing it down. 

Season 4

Littlefinger helped Sansa escape King's Landing early in season 4. She wore a purple patterned dress for much of this season — a reflection of the "Purple Wedding" (Joffrey's death scene) and of her move away from the lighter colors of the capital. 

Season 5

Though Sansa dressed in a black outfit while disguised as Alayne for the first part of season 5, her real iconic outfit from this time was this northern-style dress and cloak. Sansa shielded herself underneath the dramatic hood while escaping from Ramsay Bolton.

Season 6

Sansa is now in a position of power for the first time in the series. She's sewn a new blue dress with a Stark direwolf embroidered in the front, and she keeps warm under a regal cloak. This is the true Sansa Stark — Queen of the North.