Icons of Pop Culture · Sale 75795 · Lot 116

How the Grinch Stole Christmas – Prototype Whoville Police Shirt - H4-95

A rare prototype Whoville Police shirt created during pre-production for Ron Howard’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000). Designed and constructed by the film’s costume department, this early test piece was made as part of the creative exploration process that shaped the distinctive look of Whoville’s quirky residents and their whimsical civic uniforms. The shirt is crafted from a light lavender-blue cotton-blend fabric and features short sleeves, two buttoned chest pockets, and custom “Police Dept.” embroidered patches on each sleeve with an eagle emblem and shield design. The vibrant pastel tone and exaggerated collar reflect the film’s colorful, larger-than-life costume aesthetic conceived by Academy Award–nominated costume designer Rita Ryack. While not seen onscreen, this production-made shirt embodies the early design experimentation that brought the eccentric world of Whoville to life, blending playful creativity with a meticulous attention to detail.

The item(s) may exhibit varying levels of wear and studio distressing, as detailed in the listing images that provide an accurate representation of the condition. All inner wardrobe tags have been photographed to offer insight into size and use. If tags are absent from the photographs, it indicates that they were removed by the studio, and no size information is available.