I have wanted to do a deep-dive review of Daniel Deronda (2002) because it’s an interesting story that’s well acted and has AMAZE-BALLS early 1870s costumes. But there are so many of those amaze-balls costumes that I’ve been daunted! I finally decided to get off my butt and do this, but the only way I’m going to be able to do it is to split things up into each of the four episodes, because there are Just That Many Costumes and they are almost all That Fabulous.
I refer you to my post on episode 1 for my review of the series and the small bit of info I was about to find about the costumes designs. Sadly episode 2 doesn’t have a TON of costumes — there’s a lot of Daniel (cute/hot, but it’s suit after suit) and then Mirah (Jodhi May) in multiple middle-class boringness. Here’s what was worth screencapping!
Depression as expressed in a dress.
Mirah is taken in by a middle-class family, and she wears a lot of this sort of thing, which is REALLY hard to screencap and not that exciting. I do like Celia Imrie’s V-necked blouse and both of their buckled belts.
I’ve always loved this shot, where Gwendolen’s mother is taking her daughter’s hair down and you can see the false hairpiece. Nobody has that much hair!
More middle-class, late 1860s (i.e., slightly out of fashion) acceptable-ness on Mirah and the family-that-took-her-in’s daughter.
I do like that they give Mirah big, early 1870s hair.
Henleigh’s spurned mistress (Greta Scacchi). This is another great use of a blouse — note the collar and cuffs are the same fabric as the skirt, and then the flowers on the blouse fabric tie it all together. LOVE the pleats at the top of the sleeve!
Also what a lovely comb!
Trying on jewels, can’t see much.
Wedding! Gorgeous hair on Gwendolen, and I love all the rucheing (ruching?). Unfortunately you don’t see much of this on screen.
Luckily this dress was on exhibit, so you can see a bit more here.
The only other shot of the dress in the series. Note mom’s cream dress…
I really love the long-coat look of it, and then the ivory lace on cream background — subtle color contrasting is pretty.
Gwendolen’s wedding undies. Yay for proper chemise!
A coat for traveling — I love this look.
What’s underneath — purple taffeta with a lot of rucheing over the bustle.
Taffeta just likes to wrinkle like that, doesn’t it? I still want to do some smoothing below the waist. But, THAT HAT!
Receiving a sad letter and some jewels. More subtle color contrast.
A slightly overall promo pic showing the green evening dress.
Let’s hope there’s more shiny in episode 3!
Love that movie. Need to watch it again, now that I’ve read to book.
Gwendolyn isn’t a whore, but I think this should count as passing the Lorraine Test (eg is the whore wearing proper underthings beneath her corset)
Lovely! I think those bodices could have done with flat lining in something like a firm cotton though.
Silk organza would have done wonders
Thanks for the second episode. I love the show. Mr O’Neill does an excellent job of showing the class distinctions between the middle class and landed gentry, but also between the gentry and the aristocracy.