Black is for mourning, black is for witches and vampires, black is sexy, black is chic — wearing a black dress has meant many different things throughout history. Costume designers dress characters in black to evoke any of these various ideas in a historical movie or TV show or sometimes for an entirely unique meaning. And they may even use a non-black color to do it because that will read as black on-screen!
Well black frocks are perfect for Halloween today, so let’s vote on our favorite one that’s made for costume dramas, then discuss in the comments below…
Mary Queen of Scots (1971)
Anonymous (2011)
Salem (2014)
The Draughtsman’s Contract (1982)
Marie Antoinette (2006)
Lady of the Camelias (1981)
My Cousin Rachel (2017)
Deadwood (2004-2006)
Crimson Peak (2015)
Voted for the Draughtsman’s Contract as it has the best hat.
I gotta go for the Marie Antoinette one. It’s not historically accurate but it was SO SWISHY!
I know!! And it just brings back the entire ball masqué sequence, which was just lovely :D
Went with Mary QoS because Glenda Jackson.
I had to go with Crimson Peak on this one because while Lucille’s dresses were 30 odd years out of date, they were fabulously goth as fuck!
Crimson peak too because dress, sure (well dresses, that red one is fab too), but also because HAT! Have you seen what that hat really looks like? Deliciously creepy.
I am partial to one not on this list…I LOVE Sophie Marceau’s ball gown in Anna Karenina when she dances with Vronsky. I just love everything about her outfit!
I agree with Caroline – that ball gown was something!
Had to vote for the ultimate goth dress from Crimson Peak because (a) hat and (b) it comes with an optional well-dressed Tom Hiddleston.
Anonymous because THAT COLLAR!
Another vote for Crimson Peak (I mean, black velvet? swoon). What I’m really wondering about, though, is why Glenda Jackson as QEI has a cigarette in her hand while perched on the throne–I presume she was taking a 5-minute butt break, unless whoever handled continuity in the movie made a dreadful mistake…