Bits n’ Pieces

Here’s a brief article in the Telegraph about Dame Judi Dench’s return to Cranford to film a two-part Christmas special. The filming is taking place in Wiltshire and is expected to finish this Sunday.

 

One visitor to the Allentown Art Musuem in Pennsylvania was troubled by the title of one exhibit of film costumes: “Period Costumes for the Screen.” Were they really authentic replicas? Or are they modern interpretations?

The answer, supplied by the museum’s textiles curator, Jacqueline M. Atkins, is all of the above. According to Atkins, most of the clothes are modern interpretations based on designs from the periods depicted. Many gowns represent the Regency period of the early 19th century, the high Victorian era, and the Edwardian years of the early 20th century.

“In many cases,” Atkins explained, “the designers tried to use fabrics of the time and not to use synthetics. They tried very hard to replicate the type of fashions being worn.”

To this end, the costumers sometimes incorporated bits of authentic period materials into their gowns. For instance, the collar piece on a wedding gown worn in Sense and Sensibilitydates from 1810. Two-thirds of the lace on a gown worn by Lee Remick in The Europeans is authentic to its period.

Two outfits in the show are exact replicas, “down to the buttons,” of historical garments. And two other gowns are entirely authentic – a 1912 red number worn in Titanic and a slinky white sheath from the 1930s used in Gosford Park.

To further enliven the mix, Atkins has interposed some samples of historical textiles from the museum’s extensive collection. Knowing that these exhibits were authentic and that most of the dresses were not, I found the simple samples more satisfying aesthetically than the far more ornate concoctions produced by the costumers.

I remember blogging about this exhibit when it was in Ohio months ago. I’m still jealous! This gorgeous “Fashion in Film” exhibit will remain at the Allentown Art Museum through August 9th, before being picked up by another venue (the next two date slots are still available…*dialing High Museum of Art in Atlanta…*).

 

The awesome Jane Austen Today blog brought my attention to a nice BBC DVD sale going on at Amazon.com. There are a number of good costume dramas included in the sale, including The Charles Dickens Collection Vol. I and The Elizabeth Gaskell Collection.

~ by Lady Ashley on June 12, 2009.