Without pretending this will be as exhaustive as the Clothes on Film costume guide (parts ONE and TWO) for Sherlock Holmes (2009), here we go with a lighter, though still hopefully informative analysis of its sequel, A Game of Shadows (2011, directed by Guy Ritchie). Again the film’s costume designer has lent a hand, and again Oscar winner Jenny Beavan needs no further introduction. So not pausing for backstory or padding and on the assumption of spoilers ahead, let us begin… John Watson (Jude Law) is introduced first sitting at his desk in a grey herringbone tweed waistcoat, white striped stiff collar shirt and brown patterned necktie. Always in tweed,…

Without pretending this will be as exhaustive as the Clothes on Film costume guide (parts ONE and TWO) for Sherlock Holmes (2009), here we go with a lighter, though still hopefully informative analysis of its sequel, A Game of Shadows (2011, directed by Guy Ritchie). Again the film’s costume designer has lent a hand, and again Oscar winner Jenny Beavan needs no further introduction. So not pausing for backstory or padding and on the assumption of spoilers ahead, let us begin… John Watson (Jude Law) is introduced first sitting at his desk in a grey herringbone tweed waistcoat, white striped stiff collar shirt and brown patterned necktie. Always in tweed,…

MINOR SPOILERS At a pivotal juncture during the Fathers & Sons episode of Godless (2017), the camera tracks into a pink ribbon tied on the back of young woman’s hair; a woman who is suffering from the onset symptoms of smallpox and unlikely to find recovery. Later in the episode we pan across dozens of freshly dug but unnamed graves each with it’s own crucifix. We don’t see the woman again, but on one of the crucifixes is tied a pink ribbon. Such is the power of even the slightest costume and accessory details in Godless, the narrative is informed by their very presence. Costume designer for Godless was Betsy…

Forgive the self-promotion as we draw your attention to Clothes on Film’s essay in the book Hollywood Costume edited by Deborah Nadoolman Landis, published to accompany her exhibition at the V&A. Even without the involvement of Clothes on Film editor Chris Laverty, we would still be recommending this publication wholeheartedly. Firstly, it is absolutely beautiful; the kind of text that university students will actually want to pore over for their coursework. That is not to say it is purely educational, but emphasis is strongly on the nitty-gritty use and conservation of costume. What gives the book a novel twist is Landis recruiting actual Hollywood costume designers to discuss their work,…

Although we didn’t visit the So Dior exhibition at Harrods personally, we were lucky enough to have a photographer swing by and snap some pics for us. Sad to have missed this one as the gowns in particular are exquisite. So Dior ran from 16th March to 14th April inside definitive department store Harrods. It was billed as a retrospective of Christian Dior’s contribution to fashion and perfumery constructed on three floors with a pop-up shop and cafe. A Dior takeover might be more accurate. Elegant Princess Margaret personified everything Christian Dior loved about England. Harrods was reputedly his favourite store. Dior initially trained as an architect before pursuing a…

As Mad Men’s unflappable account man Roger Sterling, John Slattery tended to wear a fairly standardised costume of light grey three piece suit and white shirt; right up until the season 2 episode ‘Three Sundays’, when he donned a sharp double breasted suit for the first time. Showing the main Sterling Cooper line-up away from their desks and enjoying (in some cases) a relaxing Sunday, this episode culminates in a last act, last minute pitch for American Airlines. Evidently landing such a prominent account would elevate ‘Sterling Coo’ into the big leagues so everyone has to be ready and raring to go, or as Lane Price (Jared Harris) would put…

Give us three minutes; we’ll give you the costume world. Amy Adams Current actress of the moment and friend of costume designers everywhere, Amy Adams, is to be honoured at this year’s CDG awards on 22nd February. Totò a colori Satin, peplums, artsy tortoiseshell spectacles and Sophia Loren with unshaven armpits. Superqueen explains exactly why we should all seek out Totò a colori. Game of Thrones Finally someone has realised it is ALL about the embroidery. The Great Gatsby Catherine Martin chats to HitFlix about “colour obsessed” Baz Luhrmann. Easy to Love Engrossing post by Kay Noske at Movie Star Makeover, all about Helen Rose’s fantastic colour combinations for Easy…

More straightforward clip than teaser trailer, but worth checking out anyway – surely you must be curious to know if Meryl Streep has nailed the accent? She certainly looks the part. It is appropriate that our first ‘action’ glimpse of Streep’s Margaret Thatcher shows her wearing blue, albeit light which she tended to favour less, as this colour represents the Conservative party (i.e. her political allegiance). Costume designer for The Iron Lady is Consolata Boyle, who was Oscar nominated for her work on The Queen (2006). While costume design is not historical re-enactment, there will obviously need to be a certain level of real life authenticity in place here, as…

Starring: Robert Pattinson, Paul Giamatti, Kevin Durand Directed By: David Cronenberg POSSIBLE SPOILERS Cosmopolis is visual shorthand for David Cronenberg: vaguely futuristic setting, bursts of sex and violence, body horror; its literal and/or figurative consumption by disease, and a lean male protagonist driven by obsession and unable to reconcile his life. Eric Packer (Robert Pattinson) is a billionaire broker travelling across Manhattan in his white limousine for a haircut. He sets out wearing black single breasted Gucci suit, plain white Gucci shirt, black silk necktie, black leather lace-ups, black leather belt, titanium Chanel wristwatch and black Oliver Peoples sunglasses. As Cosmopolis progresses, Packer’s attire disintegrates alongside his business empire and…

The first trailer for director Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of War Horse has arrived online. It is only two minutes long so there is not much to see, but see it you should because it looks sumptuous. War Horse is based on Michael Morpurgo’s novel of the same name about a young Englishman’s bond with a horse during the First World War. The horse itself comes into contact with many characters and events throughout the story including serving in the British Calvary and befriending a French farmer. The screenplay is by Richard Curtis and Lee Hall, with some of the less abstract elements of Nick Stafford’s stageplay apparently remaining. Long time…