The allure of period dramas and movies is such that, they truly make us want to escape reality and get lost in the world they created. From sets that are larger than life to the jaw droppingly beautiful costumes, it truly makes for the perfect escape and can also become a learning curve for all the fashion geeks out there.
Let’s look at some of the most iconic costumes from period dramas from all over the world –
Bridgerton
The list of would probably be incomplete without Bridgerton. Although Bridgerton isn’t the best example of historically accurate styling (nor do they want to be), with the elegant outfits for the Bridgerton’s to the outlandish outfits for the Featherington’s to the most extravagant for the Queen, Bridgerton truly knocks it out of the park when it comes to styling. Costume Designer John Glazer and his team created more than 8000 outfits for the ensemble of the Regency drama. Each piece was well thought out with the character and story in mind. From styling Kate Sharma in Indian inspired pieces to Penelope in blues and greens in Season 3, the Bridgeton team always focuses on the intricacies of it all.
Jodhaa – Akbar
Neeta Lulla, the costume designer for film had to bear a lot of weight on her shoulders, as she was tasked with designing costumes of not only the main cast but also all the commoners. Lulla had to rely on paintings and books to depict the character costumes accurately as there was little to no contemporary material available for it. The thin line between historical accuracy and modern times was a problem Lulla was familiar with, having worked on films such as Devdas, Kisna and One Night with the King. Lulla’s solution for Jodhaa Akbar was to design looks mostly close to the time period but also infusing it with contemporary styles.
Lulla also focused on various storytelling cues, Jodhaa and Akbar were from both religiously and culturally different worlds. The colour schemes of their costumes show this – Jodhaa is seen mainly in yellows, saffron and emerald greens while Akbar wears gold, browns and beiges. Their contrast is striking but when they are together, their wardrobes involve a warm colour palette. The hope and peace of their union brings is seen through their costumes.
The Ghost Bride
A witty blend of a murder mystery with romance, The Ghost Bride is Netflix’s first original production in Mandarin. The wardrobe is inspired by the mix of Peranakan culture, and consists baggy trousers, jacquard coats and thick-soled shoes for men and cotton sarongs or skilfully embroidered straight-cut dresses with high collars for women.
Kingdom
Available on Netflix Kingdom, the fictional of zombie based in Joseon (Medieval period) of South Korea costume designer Kwon Yoo-Jin uses colour to determine ranks. The royal family is seen in red and black hanboks (Korean traditional outfit), while the ladies-in-waiting wear skirts in blues and greens with red frills. Scholars are only seen in white robes to show purity and commoners don off-whites, browns and greys in the show.
Gilded Age
The Gilded Age is period drama set in late 1800s New York, is the story of the rivalry between two families – an old money and the other is fairly new to the affluent social scene. The costumes in the show are designed by costume designer Kasia Walicka-Maimone who describes the period that The Gilded Age takes place in as one of the most fascinating periods of New York fashion, because styles and trends began changing and progressing alongside New York City’s upper-crust.
This was also seen in the show, other thing Walicka-Maimone team wanted to establish was the clear divide between old and new money. In the show, Agnes van Rhijn and Ada represent the old money elites while Bertha and her husband George are new money trying to fit in. The difference in background between them is clear as Agnes and Ada’s don simple and elegant gowns while Bertha is seen in frills, feathers and large hats that make her stand out.
