The Wolfman: Some Pics for the Weekend | Clothes on Film

12 Dec ’09 Filed under Clothes from 1837-1919, News. Tagged corset, frock coat, lounge suit, top hat, Victorian. Bookmark the permalink. Post a comment. Leave a Trackback (URL).

As it is the weekend how about some photos from Universal’s upcoming The Wolfman starring Benicio del Toro and Anthony Hopkins.

The Wolfman is director Joe Johnston’s remake of a 1941 film of the same name. It is set during the Victorian era, late 1880s to be precise. The costume design is by Milena Canonero (Ocean’s 12, The Darjeeling Limited).

We have Benicio del Toro in the title role as Lawrence Talbot, a man inflicted with the curse of the werewolf. Anthony Hopkins plays his estranged father, Hugo Weaving a Scotland Yard police inspector sent to investigate mysterious deaths in the hamlet of Blackmoore, while Emily Blunt rounds out the cast as the love interest fiancée of Talbot’s missing brother.

Here is a glimpse at the film’s big budget, very Gothic looking costumes:

Del Toro’s luxurious fur coat is avant-garde for the conservative Victorian gentleman. His country lounge suit is buttoned high with small lapels. The collar is stand, turn down variants were only worn for informal occasions at this time. His necktie is threaded through a scarf ring.

Somewhat Oscar Wilde style Hopkins with his patterned silk scarf and cravat. Note the shapeless set-in shoulders of his ample overcoat.

Weaving wears a formal stiff collar and four in hand necktie. His coat is cut high and slim and is probably a frock. The overcoat as we know it today only arrived proper during the middle of the 19th century. In the main it was made from heavy broadcloth (as were most lounge suits).

A loose fitting linen over-shirt and waistcoat for Del Toro. Emily Blunt is in mourning black. The neckline of the dress is rather low, though we can see the pull of late Victorian corsetry towards her waist.

Hopkins is in a top hat and sunglasses (yes, they were about then). His waistcoat is buttoned very high – an accurate touch – while his fur coat is purposelessly shapeless and lacking a horizontal seam. Del Toro wears a homburg hat and cloak. Apart from the hat, for so late in the century his outerwear is quite dated.

There are no hard and fast rules however. A period look on-screen depends on character backstory and a director’s vision, in addition to fastidious historical reference. Sumptuous is the word that leaps to mind here.

The Wolfman is due for release on 12th February 2010. We can all get gory in time for Valentine’s Day.