Most of the time I really admire the period clothing (except for the strongly-hued 60's dresses). I have a tiny but glaring criticism of one of Josette's 1795 garbs. I have to wonder if KLS designed it herself and I read she did that every so often. My beef is with the lush purple short sleeved number with the low neck and beige front area just after Barnabas died. I don't understand why Josette suddenly stopped wearing black mourning considering both Barnie and Jeremiah were dead. I thought the dress most inappropriate and VERY out of character for such a good-girl perfectionists who desperately wanted to do the right thing. I can't image Josette wearing it at the time, so it must have been a vanity thing for KLS who wanted to doll up to visit Vickie in jail. Her cloak was pretty flimsy as well, way much so for February Maine weather, which is the month I belived it all happened. Someone in wardrobe should have nixed the outfit.
the costuming was accurate to a degree but great liberties were taken as well...this was all very distict to the late 60's...but this created a very memorable affect...for me any future version of the show(as much as i'd welcome one)would lack this and thereby be missing some of the charm of the original.
The frock coats in 1897 were killer but one complaint I have about 1897 was that EVERY day Quentin wore the same damn suit! Surely the man had more than one set of clothing. You'd think David Selby would have been sick of always wearing the same thing.
Now that you mention it, the only character I can think of (in 1897 at least) who 95% of the time remembered his hat when out and about was the infamous Reverend Trask.
Speaking of 1897, wouldn't the servants have been given some sort of standard uniform to wear? Or were servants allowed to wear garments of their choice within reason?
Incidentally three of my favorite costumes on the ladies were Josette's form-fitting striped dress she wore just after Angelique put the whammy on her in 1795, and Beth's striped dress (that's in your icon!) I also loved the pink dress Angelique wore with the fur lined cape when stalking Aristede on the docks. That really was a spectacular dress, I wonder why they only used it (to my knowledge) that one time.
No matter the time period I *love* the suits on the men. Three piece suits are so damn sharp looking. I admit to being incredibly partial frock coats though.
discussing the d.s. costuming is my favorite subject on earth!
for me the most memorable thing about the historical costuming is the juxtaposition of 18th and 19th century period dress and 1960's make-up and hairdressing styles.like the sets and the music this is to me one of the most distictive things about the show.
the costuming was accurate to a degree but great liberties were taken as well.it's the 18th and 19th centuries as seen through the 1960's.the color combinations could get pretty wild.josette's false eyelashes in 1795 were probably not accurate and vicki's hairdo(at it's most awe-inspiring during this storyline)was not likely the type of thing worn by servant girls at the time.this was all very distict to the late 60's.
but this created a very memorable affect.for me any future version of the show(as much as i'd welcome one)would lack this and thereby be missing some of the charm of the original.
The family could have worn mourning garb for Jeremiah, but as far as the rest of the world was concerned Barnabas had sailed off to England. How strict were standards for widows at that time? I know about wearing black for a year, but I've just recently begun reading Gone with the Wind and in it it's mentioned that Scarlett would have to wear knee length veiled black bonnets for three years, shortened to shoulder length after three. Were widows expected to wear mourning regalia for that long?
As to 1840 and 1841 PT, the best suit Barnabas wore in 1840 was that purple job, we told Mary McKinley-Haas (costumer for 1840/1841 PT) this when she sat at our table at one of the Fest banquets. I also loved the grey dress Julia wore in the same scene. The two really complimented one another. That striped dress she wears in 1841 PT was just too much! I call it her Fruit Striped Gum dress, LOL! ;)
I found a link I had posted there on mourning customs. http://www.geocities.com/BourbonStreet/Quarter/2926/Mourning.htm
I think the period around Gone With the Wind was pretty close to when Albert died, and Victoria turned mourning into a cottage industry. I have (or had, since it's gone a bit moribund from lack of interest) a yahoo group for discussion of real history and Dark Shadows, and I found a link I had posted there on mourning customs. (URL)
I always complained about most of Grayson's outfits, so that comment about the "Fruit Striped Gum" dress really got to me!!
I love all the historical costumes on the show, but I disagree that they were anywhere near accurate in the period.
I think the period around Gone With the Wind was pretty close to when Albert died, and Victoria turned mourning into a cottage industry. I have (or had, since it's gone a bit moribund from lack of interest) a yahoo group for discussion of real history and Dark Shadows, and I found a link I had posted there on mourning customs. (URL)
Thanks for the link! Period mourning customs have always fascinated me.
One of her present day costumes I loved though was that blue suit deal she wore during the 1968/Adam/Creation of Eve plotline. Jonathan, in one of the same eps, wears that grey 3 piece that was davoon! ;)