2021 Oscar Predictions: COSTUME DESIGN (September)

(courtesy Walt Disney Company)
As with cinematography, costume design could be a place where Emmy nominees graduate to become Oscar nominees for David Fincher’s Mank. In this case, Trish Summerville makes the leap from HBO’s Westworld to the black and white tale of the creation of 1941’s Citizen Kane in the upcoming film.
Speaking of Emmy nominees, Bina Daigeler, nominated this year at the Emmys for her costume design in Mrs. America, is a major contender for her diverse and beautiful work in Disney’s Mulan that features everything from detailed and traditional Hanfu (above) to warrior garb for thousands.
They’ll both battle seasoned Oscar favorites like two-time winner Mark Bridges (this year with News of the World) and 15-time nominee/three-time winner Sandy Powell (this year with The Glorias), among others.
Here are my ranked 2021 Oscar predictions in Costume Design for September [UPDATED to reflect the just announced move of West Side Story to December 2021]
1. Mank (Netflix)
Trish Summerville
2. Dune (Warner Bros) [moved to October 2021]Jacqueline West
3. Mulan (Walt Disney Pictures)
Bina Daigeler
4. Ammonite (Neon)
Michael O’Connor
5. Death on the Nile (20th Century Studios)
Paco Delgado
Other Contenders (alphabetical)
Da 5 Bloods (Netflix)
Donna Berwick
Emma. (Focus Features)
Alexandra Byrne
The Glorias (Roadside Attractions)
Sandy Powell
Judas and the Black Messiah (Warner Bros)
Charlese Antoinette Jones
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix)
Ann Roth
News of the World (Universal Pictures)
Mark Bridges
One Night in Miami… (Amazon Studios)
Francine Jamison-Tanchuck
The Personal History of David Copperfield (Searchlight Pictures)
Suzie Harman and Robert Worley
Respect (MGM/UA)
Clint Ramos
The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Netflix)
Susan Lyall
The United States vs. Billie Holiday (Paramount Pictures)
Paolo Nieddu
- Alliance of Women Film Journalists (AWFJ): ‘One Battle After Another,’ ‘Hamnet’ Lead - December 22, 2025
- North Texas Film Critics Association (NTFCA) Nominations - December 22, 2025
- Kansas City Film Critics Circle (KCFCC) Awards: ‘One Battle After Another’ Named Best Film - December 21, 2025

‘The Testament of Ann Lee’ Review: Amanda Seyfried is Mother (Ann) in Mona Fastvold’s Miraculous Musical Drama [A]
With ‘Song Sung Blue,’ Craig Brewer Pays Tribute to Kate Hudson and Hugh Jackman, Joy Amongst Sadness, and the Creation of Art [VIDEO INTERVIEW]
Director Watch Podcast Ep. 131 – ‘High Life’ (Claire Denis, 2019)
Alliance of Women Film Journalists (AWFJ): ‘One Battle After Another,’ ‘Hamnet’ Lead