Finally! Kimiko found the trailer for The Other Boleyn Girl (which I have taken to calling TOBG[YN] because I have that kind of sense of humor). Looks like total shlock! What do you think of the costumes? I like the blue and green satin gowns at first glance, some of those embroidered things look potentially weird. Where are the circle dresses?
Bet’s Dickens Fair Costume
Tons of work done this weekend… read more about my Bet’s Dickens Fair costume
Real Women’s Clothing Update – A Real, Honest to Goodness Big One!
So what happens when you get busy and don’t really update the Real Women’s Clothing directory for about a year? You have bazillions and bazillions of new listings to add! Ouch! I think my arm just fell off!
I’ve cleaned up links that weren’t working (like the Museo del Traje), relinked sites that changed URLs (like the Bowes Museum and what used to be the Museum of Costume in Bath, now the Museum of Fashion) — most of these have been gone so long that they’re highlighted as new, so longtime users of the directory may see some repeats. And I’ve added a veritable fiesta of new links. Yay!
I’d like to sincerely thank everyone who sends me links, or posts links on their own blog/livejournal/etc. Sometimes I file away your emails/posts for months before I’m able to get to them, and sometimes I bookmark the site and forget that it was you who sent it to me, but I’m always sincerely appreciative! Big shout out to Wendy for finding the Powerhouse Museum in Australia (bonus points to those who find the tram ticket dress!), Eva for finding the Gothenburg City Museum, and Bjarne for finding the National Museum of Denmark. And to anyone else who I’ve forgotten who has ever sent me links – thank you!
Bet’s Dickens Fair Costume
So, crazy woman that I am… read more about my Bet Dickens Fair costume
Costume Movie News
There are lots of costume movies coming out soon, or in production, that are worth chatting about! First, all of the new Jane Austen adaptations — airing on Masterpiece Theatre — have release dates (Persuasion 1/13/08, Northanger Abbey 1/20/08, Mansfield Park 1/27/08, Sense & Sensibility 3/30-4/6/08). Also, Masterpiece Theatre will be airing the new production Miss Austen Regrets — a fictionalized account of the last years of JA’s life — featuring the genius casting of Olivia Williams as Jane Austen and Greta Scaachi as Cassandra.
I’m sure we’ve all seen the trailer for Sweeny Todd by now — I’m super excited about Helena Bonham Carter’s gothy gear, especially the red and white stripey bustle gown. Yay!
The Young Victoria, starring Emily Blunt as the young queen, is looking potentially very pretty. The costume designer is Sandy Powell (The Aviator, Gangs of New York, Shakespeare in Love, The Wings of the Dove, Interview with the Vampire, Orlando), hence why they’re so pretty!
All of the photos coming out of The Duchess — Keira Knightley as Georgiana, the 18th c. Duchess of Devonshire — look simply divine. I have something of a quibble with Knightley as Georgiana, as I think of G as being much more mature and sophisticated than KK. But I’ll accept it, since the costumes and wigs look so great! The costume design is by Michael O’Connor, who designed Wallis & Edward and The Last King of Scotland. I’m such a sucker for 1780s!
As we all wait for The Other Boleyn Girl to be released, I’ve read that there are plans to remake the 1972 Vanessa Redgrave Mary, Queen of Scots with Scarlett Johansson in the title role. Should give us lots to nitpick!
A couple of exciting things recently airing, or coming up, on UK TV include: Fanny Hill, based on the 18th century novel about a girl who falls into prostitution — the script is by Andrew Davies, who adapted the 1995 Pride & Prejudice so well. Also a new version of Oliver Twist, starring Timothy Spall. And finally, Cranford, an Elizabeth Gaskell novel (writer of Wives & Daughters), starring Judi Dench and costumed by Jenny Beavan (of Merchant-Ivory fame). If anyone across the pond has seen any of these, let me know what you thought!
Details on all of these movies are available, as always, on my upcoming movies page.