How to Work Period Piece Inspiration Into Your Daily Style
Graphic by Margeaux Rocco. Images via ASOS
From Little Women, to Downton Abbey, 2019 gave us a wonderful look at period piece fashion. With the recently released Emma, 2020 shows no signs of slowing down.
While the flowing gowns and structured petticoats of period films would be quite surprising today, there are plenty of subtle ways to work this inspiration into your daily style.
The March sisters of Greta Gerwig’s Little Women stick to mainly pastel dresses – made of either linen or cotton – with small lace details. To reflect their style, keep an eye out for ruffled blouses, button-front detailing and A- line silhouettes.
Image via Refinery29
Images via ASOS, Urban Outfitters
Another stylish character from the film is Laurie, played by Timothée Chalamet. Throughout the film, he wears well-cut vests with subtle patterns and high-collared shirts with a ribbon around his neck to accessorize. A combination of patterns, such as stripes and paisley, can be an easy way to reference his style.
Image via Vox
Downton Abbey may be all about dresses, but there are ways to imitate the characters’ styles without buying a silk gown. Since the film is set in the 1920s, the female characters represent their changing society with dropped waistlines and straight, slip-dress silhouettes. Their dresses are usually made of silk and satin, and decorated with lace, fur or fringe details.
Thankfully, many elements of their style have already manifested in modern trends, such as the recent popularity of slip dresses and silky, almost lingerie-style camisoles. See-through lace detailing can also be a great way to reference the time period.
Image via Evening Standard
Another important aspect of the fashion of Downton Abbey is the characters’ accessories: from above-the-elbow gloves to long beaded necklaces to delicate hats. If you want to copy the ladies of Downton Abbey, keep an eye out for large pendant earrings and bedazzled headbands.
Image via Town & Country
Images via LightintheBox, Unique Vintage
Set in the 1800s, the film adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma features ultra high-waist dresses with long and simple silhouettes. For Emma herself, her dresses are often quite simple, with intricate detailing around the bodice and neckline. To give the gowns a modern twist, look for babydoll-cut tops, soft colors and minimalist details.
To accessorize, Emma and her best friend Harriet rock gloves, shawls and straw hats covered in gingham and floral decorations. Finding hats as elaborately styled as theirs may be hard, but there are several hats with ribbons at ASOS, and a few beautiful floral ones at Poshmark.
Image via ABC
Images via Shein, Anthropologie, ASOS
Period piece fashion may seem intimidating, but if you focus on the minute details of character’s outfits, it’s easier to break down the ensemble and incorporate those details into your own wardrobe. If you are interested in period piece style, hopefully this article provided you with some tips to achieve the outfit of your dreams! However, if period pieces aren’t really your thing, maybe modernizing the basic style elements will change your mind.