An Alignment Chart of ‘The French Dispatch’ Outfits That No-One Asked For

The Wes Anderson film has been released today, and these are the looks we’re loving (and analysing)

Wes Anderson has a very particular and extremely recognisable aesthetic: kitschy, kooky, vintage, neat, muted yet bright and all around iconic. And it’s thanks to costume designers Karen Patch and Milena Canonero, who can communicate Anderson’s vision so well and who he has worked with on almost all his films.

The director turned to Canonero for his most recent film The French Dispatch, and we love what she’s done with the 1960s-literary-revoluntionary look so, just for fun, we wanted to figure out where each look would place on an alignment chart (a Dungeons & Dragons chart that considers moral and lawful codes of characters).

Above The French Dispatch alignment chart (Photo: Searchlight Pictures & Tatler Hong Kong)

Lawful good: Arthur Howitzer Jr

Bill Murray in the film THE FRENCH DISPATCH. Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. Â© 2020 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation All Rights Reserved

Above Arthur Howitzer Jr, played by Bill Murray (Photo: Searchlight Pictures)

Arthur Howitzer Jr (Bill Murray) is the editor-in-chief of the French Dispatch, the literary magazine that this film follows. He has an agenda to set, deadlines to meet, and does it all in a no-frills shirt, tie and waistcoat combination in bookish shades of brown and yellow.

Neutral good: JKL Berensen

Tilda Swinton in the film THE FRENCH DISPATCH. Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. Â© 2021 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation All Rights Reserved

Above JKL Berensen, played by Tilda Swinton (Photo: Searchlight Pictures)

Staff member of the French Dispatch JKL Berensen (Tilda Swinton) is every part the fabulous writer a woman imagines herself to be. With perfectly coiffed hair, a zesty flowing dress and co-ordinated jewellery, everything about her look is just so good.

Chaotic good: Herbsaint Sazerac

(From L-R): Elisabeth Moss, Owen Wilson, Tilda Swinton, Fisher Stevens and Griffin Dunne in the film THE FRENCH DISPATCH. Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. Â© 2020 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation All Rights Reserved

Above Herbsaint Sazerac, second from left, played by Owen Wilson (Photo: Searchlight Pictures)

Photographer Herbsaint Sazerac (Owen Wilson) is the most easily placed character on this chart in our opinion—even his name gives it away. We can’t decide what is more telling of his chaotic good nature: his beret, suspenders, or shoeless feet.

Lawful neutral: Lieutenant Nescaffier

Stephen Park in the film THE FRENCH DISPATCH. Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. Â© 2020 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation All Rights Reserved

Above Lieutenant Nescaffier, played by Stephen Park (Photo: Searchlight Pictures)

The chef at the private dining room of the police commissioner, Lieutenant Nescaffier (Stephen Park), looks extremely sharp in his chef’s whites and severe bowl cut. According to the story, he solves a kidnapping case, so he’s true to his profession—and apparently makes the finest food, too.

True neutral: Alumna

Above Alumna, far left, played by Elisabeth Moss (Photo: Searchlight Pictures)

Alumna (Elisabeth Moss) is the copy editor at the French Dispatch. An essential part of the team—and the reason that anything gets published—she wears a classic feminine uniform that would look right in any office environment, which plants her squarely in the middle.

Chaotic neutral: Zeffirelli & Juliette

TimothÃ©e Chalamet and Lyna Khoudri in the film THE FRENCH DISPATCH. Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. Â© 2021 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved

Above Zeffirelli, played by Timothée Chalamet, and Juliette, played by Lyna Khoudri (Photo: Searchlight Pictures)

This couple played by Timothée Chalamet and Lyna Khoudri are your classic rebellious teens. Student revolutionaries who are inspired to make a change, nothing can stop these lovebirds, and their suits, boots and helmets will help guide them.

Lawful evil: Simone

LÃ©a Seydoux in the film THE FRENCH DISPATCH. Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. Â© 2021 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved

Above Simone, played by Léa Seydoux (Photo: Searchlight Pictures)

She’s not necessarily evil, but as a prison guard, Simone (Léa Seydoux) shouldn’t be an artistic prisoner’s muse. Although she looks law abiding in her uniform, her actions say otherwise.

Neutral evil: Julien Cadazio

(From L-R): Tilda Swinton, Lois Smith, Adrien Brody, Henry Winkler and Bob Balaban in the film THE FRENCH DISPATCH. Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. Â© 2020 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation All Rights Reserved

Above Julien Cadazio, centre, played by Adrien Brody (Photo: Searchlight Pictures)

Perhaps it’s the hint of a moustache, the sleek suit, or the fact his character is based on the controversial art dealer Joseph Duveen, but there’s something that seems a little oily about Julien Cadazio (Adrien Brody).

Chaotic evil: Moses Rosenthaler

Above Moses Rosenthaler, played by Benicio del Toro (Photo: Searchlight Pictures)

Besides from being a literal criminal, Moses Rosenthaler (Benicio del Toro) has a serious flare for his art. He’s messy and wild, toes the line of the law by modelling his works after this prison guard, and it shows by his straight jacket.

NOW READ:

Wes Anderson Designed A Gorgeous 1950s Train Carriage, And You Can Rent It For A Day

Why Dining At New Punjab Club Feels Like Being In A Wes Anderson Movie

Pro Tips From Make-up Artists You Need to Know Now

Topics

Wes Anderson Films The French Dispatch Timothée Chalamet Tilda Swinton

Tatler Asia