Fancy THAT!
From bonnets, breeches, big houses and even bigger skirts, to suits – and cheekbones as sharp as blades – viewing figures prove we love to lose ourselves in a costume romp. When the world feels unpredictable, we turn to the past to find comfort for what Pride and Prejudice’s Mrs Bennet describes as her ‘poor nerves’. Little wonder the popularity of period dramas has boomed in times of pandemic and political uncertainty, with increasingly lush and lavish costumes making the humble mopcap seem so… well, last century.
In Netflix’s hit show, the wigs, rhinestones and ruffles would fit easily in the pre-French Revolution court of Marie Antoinette. Veteran New York costume designer Ellen Mirojnick headed up a wardrobe team of 238 and said, ‘It was like acity of elves. There were about 7,500 pieces, from hats and shawls to overcoats, that made up around 5,000 costumes.’ British costume maker Bryony Satchell was one of those elves. ‘We embellished the Regency style with beading, and fabrics such as organza and silk, making it easier for modern audiences to relate to,’ she told us. ‘The frilly, puffy, Empire-line look soon started appearing on runways, then in the high street. It’s fun, frivolous and flamboyant, taking us back to a more feminine and romantic time.’
