A guide to lockdown’s cheap frills: corsets, crinoline and chain-smoking to keep you going
OMG. Okay, so these are my OBSESSION CONFESSIONS. I know, maybe it’s a little embarrassing, but come on… Surely I can’t be the only one? This series is about all the things that we can’t take our eyes off, the latest viral TikTok trends, the secret infatuations with certain former boyband members…okay I’m only going to say this one more time, surely I can’t be the only one?
The period dramas you didn’t know you needed right now.
I am yet to master the art of bubble resin rings or teach myself to knit balaclavas during this year of home confinement. Instead, I have gained a reputation amongst my friends and followers as the go-to for a period drama recommendation. In fact, I’d argue that balling my eyes out to Saiorse Ronan’s rejection of Timothee Chalamet in Little Women is just as cathartic as therapy, baking or going for a run. Period dramas are my first aid kit, the remedy that cures me of heartbreak or hangovers, a bright beacon of hope in the bleakest of winters. It’s been scientifically proven that nostalgia can help us cope with uncertainty. So when you need to escape and get out of your head for a minute, what better way to go than to tune into an episode of Bridgerton a la Netflix? I’d certainly rather live vicariously through costume fantasies than real-world sweats and leggings - it’s the cheapest frill I can get right now.
Emma
Wildly gauche, hilarious and velvety, seen through the inimitable Autumn De Wilde’s eccentric De Gournay lens, garish Emma is the perfect modern reimagining of Austen’s beloved novel. A hyper-romanticised Rococo vision with its abundance of feathery bonnets, canary yellow, Décolleté necklines and the spice that is Frank Churchill. Sugar coated and deliciously sensual, watching Emma resembles the ecstasy of opening a decadent box of rosewater Turkish Delight at Christmas time – Emma is a paradise dressed up in corsets.
Bridgerton
Netflix’s whip-smart Bridgerton is a rollicking riot of a watch. It was recently revealed as the platform’s most-seen original series, emphasising the innate human need we have right now for rose-tinted escapism and social connectedness, currently only formed by watching the same shows as one another. The styling in Bridgerton is exquisite: diamond-embossed gowns, sparkling jewels, slinky satin evening gowns and outrageous headdresses – it is chintzy glamour at its finest. Fashion’s most notorious corset maker, Mr Pearl, made the corsets with an attention to detail right down to the bone.
Brideshead Revisited
Brideshead Revisited is the story of sycophantic Charles Ryder and how he becomes bewitched by the madly charming Marchmain family. It is the nostalgic recollection of a golden era in Oxford, at the elaborate and enchanting family seat Brideshead, gliding down the canals of Venice and on the streets of London. This ‘80s itv adaptation starring Jeremy Irons is an epic odyssey, lasting over eleven hours. It’s accentuated by fair isle knitted vests, cricket jumpers, billowing blouses, crêpe de Chine and three-piece suits. Heavenly vignettes of friendship, art, Europe, landscape and beauty render this the perfect escapist drama.
The Queen’s Gambit
The most enthralling and elegant ode to the 1950s and ‘60s since Mad Men. Gorgeously shot in peachy transatlantic settings, The Queen’s Gambit is the cinematic equivalent to Battenberg cake, starring the formidable Anya Taylor-Joy in one of the most exciting roles played out in years – the enigmatic and compelling chess prodigy, Beth Harmon.
The Serpent
Within moments of watching The Serpent, you’ll find yourself down a Depop rabbit-hole, searching for blush-pink corduroy trousers and a pair of larger-than-life sunglasses. You’ll revel in the abundance of aviators, high-waist flares, bold geometric shirts and head-scarfs, as the show transports you away to a nightclub curated with the likes of Shuggie Otis, The Stones, Diana Ross and Serge Gainsbourg. It is the female characters in The Serpent who channel the best looks, particularly Jenna Coleman as Leclerc’s accomplice, effortlessly chic throughout alongside Frankie, her fluffy pooch. Because, of course.