Costume Design by:
- Ann & John Bloomfield ( notable efforts: The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1970), The Wicked Lady (1983), Conan the Barbarian (1982), Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987), Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), Space Truckers (1996), The Mummy (1999) )
The sequel to Conan the Barbarian, Conan the Destroyer was noticeably rather more light-hearted compared to its predecessor, with the first films of tragedy and violence, and instead aimed for a more family-friendly, swashbuckling approach - directed by mostly adventure film director Richard Fleischer, who would later direct the sort of sequel Red Sonja later - with Conan (Arnold Schwarzenegger) having many more allies this time, as he is tricked by an evil queen into capturing magical items that would help restore an evil god. The costume design of this film was once again done by John Bloomfield, but this time a lot of the costumes would a much more fantastical and colourful quality, especially compared to the more gritty feeling of the first film - Bloomfield's usual design traits, such as attention to detail to fabric types, alternating colours and striped patterns, would be seen much more clearly here.Once again a warrior woman joins Conan's crew, in this case the tenacious Zula (Grace Jones), who is seen in a variety of simplistic outfits that calls to mind stereotypical images of the 'Amazons' of legend. Zula's most notable outfit happens to be her very last, and is mostly notable thanks to be the wonderfully ridiculous helmet fitted with none other than pigtails!
Akiro the Wizard (Mako Iwamatsu) returns from the first film to be a more comedic character, with his main outfit being a rough woollen coat, which is designed similarly to the coat Bloomfield designed for him in Conan the Barbarian, though I prefer this one for appearing much more slick and rather stylish, especially with the alternating colour bands at the bottom of the robe and arms. At all times, Akiro wears a black skullcap over his head.
Conan is also assigned to protect the royal princess Jehnna (Olivia D'Abo), who in actuality is intended as a sacrificed to the queens pagan gods. Jehnna wears the same outfit for most of her scenes, a grey and black lined dress, though at the start a tan bodice-like piece is worn over it.
When Jehnna is about to be sacrificed, she wears a more ornate dress, powder blue in colour and worn with a grey waistband, as well as the top being white and having markings etched onto them - to top it off, it is worn with a small silver crown.
Jehnna's very last dress is worn at the awarding ceremony, and is another powder blue dress with glittery pieces all over, worn with the same crown but also a wonderfully ornate gold and red robe over it, that has been stitched to have patterns all over.
Conan has been employed on his seemingly innocent quest by the demon worshipping Queen Taramis (Sarah Douglas). who sports some of the film's most memorable outfits - her first outfit, worn when she captures Conan initially, is slick black leather armor with vertically striped leather trousers, worn with a large patterned cloak, as well as horned masked helmet, underneath which is a metallic hood which has her hair fastened. Also note the choker!
Most of Taramis' other costumes are very much emphasising her femininity, with her second outfit being a shiny black and gold lined dress, adorned with golden jewellery and worn with a flowing silvery gown, as well as a crown-like headpiece designed like fish scales - an implication towards the characters true aims?
Taramis' third outfit is by far both the most daring and most risque in the film, and it is mostly because of that that it is never shown in the final film past one shot - in this case, an almost see through dress that has a crow herald stitched in black fabric, just barely preventing nudity, and worn with a golden crown and various bangles as well.
Taramis's very last outfit is rather risque as well, but is shown more - this outfit is made up of black leather that crosses the shoulders, and is worn with a cloak of brown and gold patterns, as well as a spiked crown.
Sent to keep an eye on Conan (and to kill him when the time is right) is Taramis' bodyguard Bombaata (Wilt Chamberlain), who is dressed in two main outfits throughout the film's running time. His first outfit is a black leather and fur combination that is worn with a large kidney belt, a spiked vambrace, and leather belt, that is sometimes worn with the striped leather underclothes, or is worn with a large leather coat and spiked helmet.
Bombaata's second outfit is much simpler, consisting of black leather armor (adorned with the crest of the guard's logo) worn with black trousers, a large black threaded coat, and the hair done up in a ponytail.
Queen Taramis is helped in her civil duties by the Grand Vizier (Jeff Corey) who sadly does not get much screentime, and is first seen in a black robe worn with leather shoulder pads and a helmet fixed with streamers going down past the head, a design rather similar to Bloomfield's design for Thulsa Doom's priest garb in the first film.
For the Dagoth summoning ceremony, the Grand Vizier sports another outfit, consisting of a patterned grey robe with red undersides, and is worn with a kidney belt and leather shoulders (again, rather similar to Bloomfield's design for Thulsa Doom's priest garb in the previous film), and is completed with an ornate helmet designed like an eagle crest with wings.
One of the items Conan and company are tasked to retrieve is a gemstone that is guarded by the malicious wizard Thoth-Amon (Pat Roach), who sports a striking outfit consisting of a red patterned cloak worn over a black and gold armor piece, and worn with a spiked, almost reptilian, headpiece - also notice the golden finger claws!
Dagoth's horn is stored in a temple which is guarded fiercely by a group of soldiers, led by 'the Leader' (Ferdy Mayne) who is clad in a short black cape and skirt, which is worn with a large leather kidney belt adorned with golden symbol, as well as golden wrist guards and a gold-trimmed skullcap-like helmet, which has threads streaming down from the back.
