Fashion On The Screen
Photo: BBC
BBC Radio 4 broadcast a very interesting episode of Front Row last Wednesday, which discussed how television and film have influenced fashion. The episode was inspired and driven by Amber Butchart's book The Fashion of Film and Amber herself was interviewed by Samira Ahmed.
Some of the nation's favourite TV dramas have garnered almost as much attention for their fashion choices as for their gripping storylines. Keeping Faith is a BBC drama about a woman whose husband disappears, and the programme has been a huge hit in the UK. The twists and turns have captured the public imagination, but Eve Miles' signature yellow coat has caught the public eye - and has inspired many high street retailers to offer similar garments for those who would like to emulate Eve's character's style. The same thing has happened with Phoebe Waller-Bridge's jumpsuit from Fleabag and most of Villanelle's outfits (without the bloodstains) from Killing Eve.
Photo: Steve Schofield/Amazon
As Amber points out in the interview and her book, films and TV shows have influenced real life fashion ever since cinema's beginnings. Consider the impact of Audrey Hepburn's wardrobe in the 1961 classic romantic comedy Breakfast at Tiffany's. As Amber puts it: film and television can function as a catwalk, yet the impact is greater because we develop a connection to a character. Emulating their style
And it's not just womenswear that has been inspired by TV and film: men's clothing too has been influenced by the big and small screens. Peaky Blinders, for example, has certainly inspired a nod to twenties British military-esque fashion in contemporary collections of menswear (Esquire even published a guide to dressing like the Peaky Blinders cast in October 2017). Mad Men has had a similar effect.
Listen to Amber Butchart's interview here.
Fashion of Film is published by Mitchell Beazley. Available to purchase here.
Blog post by Jessica Edney. Read more about film and television costume in Nicola Donovan's article The Graft Behind the Glamour in the Decorative issue. Subscribe to Selvedge here.
2 comments
Have worked a few seasons in Game of Thrones Costume making, and in the prequel recently in Belfast. Really high quality costumes for the principal actors, and interesting designs and combinations of fabrics, and details…The Killing Eve ones look great. Loved the high linen trousers, shirt and sweater for the Oxford scene near the end of the series.
Regarding characters’ signature garments…..in The Bridge Sagan Noren’s coat, Vera’s hat, Laura’s beautiful blue coat in the Tunnel, the ladies of Downton, the ladies of Peaky Blinders(as mentioned above)….I love costume watching…not to mention the AMAZING costumes in Game of Thrones….an endless list of beautiful garments lol…