Eleanor From The Life Aquatic Costume Guide

What You’ll Need

Eleanor Zissou dresses in sharp contrast to the rest of the Belafonte crew. While Steve and his team wear utilitarian baby-blue jumpsuits and red beanies, Eleanor maintains an effortless patrician wardrobe suited to her position as the expedition’s intellectual foundation and financier. Her appearance revolves around breezy maritime tailoring, layered southwestern stones, and a striking flash of teal through her dark hair.

Recreating the look comes down to nailing relaxed proportions and distinct color accents. The garments themselves are comfortable and unfussy, but the styling requires a loose, unhurried drape so the character comes across as composed rather than overly formal.

The Linen Shirt and Tank

The upper half builds from a fitted white scoop-neck tank top worn close to the torso. Over the tank, layer a blue linen shirt with a loose, relaxed fit. Eleanor leaves the front unbuttoned past the sternum to reveal the tank underneath, with the cuffs unfastened and the sleeves casually pushed up along the forearms.

Fabric texture plays a large role in how this layer behaves. Stiff cotton broadcloth holds crisp creases that feel out of place on a research ship, whereas washed linen or a lightweight linen-cotton blend wrinkles naturally and drapes softly against the body. Sizing up by one size gives the shirt an easy drop-shoulder line that lets it hang freely.

Trousers and Proportions

Eleanor pairs her tops with wide-leg trousers that sit high on the waist and break gently over her shoes. Depending on the scene and lighting on deck, her pants range from a saturated ocean teal to an iridescent blue with a faint metallic luster. Teal flowy pants cut from lightweight rayon, modal, or crepe offer fluid drape and move naturally when walking.

For scenes where her trousers show a more reflective sheen, iridescent blue pants replicate that distinct coated surface without demanding specialized textile treatments. High-waisted cuts work best here, cinching at the natural waist so the fitted white tank creates a clean break before the wide pant legs fall.

Layered Turquoise Jewelry

Heavily layered turquoise jewelry anchors the neckline and gives Eleanor her distinct bohemian, well-traveled character. Instead of relying on a single necklace, she wears multiple strands of different lengths and bead cuts resting over the open collar of her shirt.

A turquoise flat bead necklace with disc or heishi-style stones sits highest, resting right along the collarbones above the scoop of the white tank. Just beneath it, add a turquoise bead necklace strung with larger, rounded stones that falls lower on the chest. Combining flat rondelles with chunkier, irregular beads prevents the jewelry from looking like a matched commercial set, giving the impression of pieces acquired individually over years of travel.

Hair and Teal Streaks

Her hairstyle is dark, center-parted, and kept relatively flat to the head, punctuated by bright teal streaks framing either side of her face. For anyone with natural dark hair of shoulder length or longer, blue and teal clip-in hair streaks provide the necessary color without requiring bleach or permanent dye. Secure the clips beneath the top parting along the temples so the blue strands peek out cleanly from under the dark hair.

If you are styling a wig, select a sleek dark brown or soft black synthetic base with minimal volume. Part it down the middle, insert the teal wefts on each side roughly an inch back from the front hairline, and smooth the roots flat with a touch of pomade or hair cream to maintain a calm, tidy silhouette.

Footwear and Final Styling

On the ship, Eleanor relies on practical, low-profile footwear. Flat leather slide sandals, neutral espadrilles, or simple dark loafers fit the setting and stay hidden beneath the wide hems of her trousers. Finish the look with classic dark-tinted sunglasses, and keep your posture steady and calm to match her unflappable presence on the Belafonte.