The last of the guilds goes out with a bang as Costume Design was once thought to be a wide-open field, but has seemingly settled like its companion Best Production Design. Here are our predictions and commentary for this penultimate precursor.

COSTUME DESIGNERS GUILD AWARDS

Best Period Costume Design

The Grand Budapest Hotel (Wesley, Peter, Tripp, Thomas)
The Imitation Game (RU:Peter, RU:Tripp, RU:Thomas)
Inherent Vice
Selma (RU:Wesley)
The Theory of Everything

Wesley Lovell: I look at the other nominees in this category and I just can’t see a single on of them besting The Grand Budapest Hotel. The Imitation Game, Selma and The Theory of Everthing just seem too recent while Inherent Vice is even closer in terms of fashion relevance, but also lacks major support elsewhere at the Oscars. I put my second-place finisher as Selma just because of the bounty of costumes on display, but I could also see the time-spanning designs of The Theory of Everything winning.
Peter J. Patrick: I give the edge on this one to the elaborate costumes of The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Tripp Burton: Out of all these, The Grand Budapest Hotel is the most elaborate, the most colorful and the most detail obsessed. It should win easily on its way to a possible Oscar win.
Thomas LaTourette: The quirky period costumes of The Grand Budapest Hotel should easily beat out the competition for this award. Both the ‘70s work of Inherent Vice and especially the ‘40s work of The Imitation Game will try to give it some competition, but Budapest will easily win.

Best Fantasy Costume Design

Guardians of the Galaxy (RU:Peter)
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1
Into the Woods (Wesley, Peter, Tripp, Thomas)
Maleficent (RU:Wesley, RU:Tripp, RU:Thomas)

Wesley Lovell: This field is a bit more competitive than the period category with Guardian of the Galaxy, Into the Woods and Maleficent all strong competitors. Any of the three could win, but ultimately, I think the copious costume work in Into the Woods will ultimately triumph.
Peter J. Patrick: Again, I give the edge to the nominee with most elaborate costumes.
Tripp Burton: This could be the most interesting of these 3 categories. Into the Woods and Maleficent both have a very traditional, fantasy feel to them, and both look gorgeous at the same time. Guardians of the Galaxy is the most loved film of the year, with some impressive space opera design work. I won’t be shocked to see any of them win.
Thomas LaTourette: Into the Woods should win this category, setting up a tight race between it and The Grand Budapest Hotel, also a probable winner, for the Oscar. Angelina Jolie’s gowns from Maleficent will provide a bit of a race, but the varied styles and breadth of work for Into the Woods should carry it to the winner’s circle.

Best Contemporary Costume Design

Birdman (Wesley, Peter, Tripp, Thomas)
Boyhood (RU:Wesley, RU:Peter)
Gone Girl
Interstellar (RU:Tripp, RU:Thomas)
Wild

Wesley Lovell: Interstellar and Wild seem like also-rans. Gone Girl is more visually distinctive, but has proven to be a lackluster performer with the Oscars. That leaves two Best Picture nominees. Birdman has a lot more dominant costume work, but Boyhood highlights current fashion trends of the last twelve years. Ultimately, I think Birdman being a bit more bold will be more appealing to these voters than Boyhood will.
Peter J. Patrick: Boyhood’s designer will receive an honorary award so I give the edge here to her Birdman competitor.
Tripp Burton: I’m not sure if any of these jump out as stellar examples of this category, although they all work very well given their context. I’m guessing Birdman continues a strong ride through the guilds, unless the more elaborate Interstellar (which contains more than street clothes) makes a stand.
Thomas LaTourette: Birdman will probably prevail over Interstellar for this award.