You asked for it, so here’s an occasional open thread to bitch about anything tangentially related to history, costume, movies, or TV shows! Or whatever else is on your mind right now. Note that URLs are automatically held for moderation, but most anything else goes as long as you’re not bitchier than we are!
We made it! Almost, anyway — the end of 2025 is in sight. While the world goes insane around us, we’ve tried to make this blog a safe space for enjoying and critiquing historical costumes in movies and TV shows. We are deeply grateful for all of you for reading, commenting, liking, and sharing our content, and especially for joining our Patreon channel! We’re taking short break at the end of the year, but we’ve still got a couple weeks of posts for you.
How are you finishing 2025?
I found this amazing vintage shop near me that has a decent selection of clothing from 1900s-1930s. Think your Edwardian summer whites through to the slinkiest black bias cut satin evening gowns!! I will never buy because A) expensive and B) those fabrics are far too delicate to wear, but good lord. Makes for some great clothing porn
Still watching Little Women 1994 for the Christmas vibes! So heartwarming!
I can’t decide if I want to laugh or shriek, reading Margot Robbie’s interview about “Wuthering Heights.” Will it really be “this generation’s Titanic”? She certainly looks like she’s been drenched by the North Atlantic in some of the photos.
My eyes were rolling so hard, did you see Margot’s comments about her co-star Jacob Ellordi, calling him the next Daniel Day Lewis? AS IF!
I’m hoping not, but the younger generations do find Jacob attractive, so who knows? Incidentally, 14-year-old me did not see Titanic in 1997 for Leo. I was there for the fashion and Kate Winslet (my girl crush). The crush on Leo came after.
I’m with all of you. Now, I will admit that Wuthering Heights was never a favorite of mine. What I’ve seen and read so far does nothing to change my mind about this film. And comparing it to the Titanic (also not a favorite except for the costumes) and Jacob Ellordi to DDL is absurd. Perhaps someone will enjoy it but it won’t be me.
The latest trailer genuinely looks like the worst thing I’ve ever seen.
The 1860s/70s costumes in the 1994 Little Women by Colleen Atwood were gorgeous and captured the essence of the characters perfectly! They should’ve left it alone for a remake!
This might be a little off topic but I’m going to take a chance anyway. We all enjoy watching historic films for the costumes, the actors and the history. At the moment my frustration is the language. I am not a prude. Language is a wonderful thing and can be used to express so very much. However, I’ve taken a look at the use of profanities now and in the past and think that we use F..k a lot in everyday life. Prior to the 20th century the use is more circumscribed. So watching films set prior to the 20th century is a bit disconcerting when they inject profanities so liberally through the script. Am I alone in this? Just curious and this comes from someone who grew up in a household where my mother cussed profusely. She knew all the words.
I don’t mind profanities per se, but it seems like the screenwriters just use them to create a tone that’s GrittyTM. I’ve noticed anachronistic language in recent frock flicks, like the following dialogue:
“I love you.” “Same.” Talk about jarring. Some of us got into Jane Austen for phrases like, “You mistake me my dear, I have a high respect for your nerves, they have been my good friends these twenty years at least.”
Agreed, especially with “it seems like the screenwriters just use them to create a tone that’s GrittyTM.” (Although I do cuss far more than I did in 2016.)
It is not the profanities per se but the over use of them. As you point out it is anachronistic to many of the periods we love to explore and it is really lazy in terms of screenwriting. I love the prose of Austen and others and would rather hear what they are saying rather than a “modern interpretation” to make it more friendly to so called “modern” audiences.
As if “modern” audiences aren’t capable of enjoying Austen and the Brontes! So annoying when writers and directors underestimate their audience.
Everyone’s raving about Hamnet! Honestly, I’d rather watch paint dry!
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Yeah, I agree–too much emotion-tugging for my taste. I am still waiting for the Frock Flickers’ dissection of “Hamnet”; I doubt they will enjoy the heroine’s side part and flowing hair. (She’s a nature-loving free spirit.) And the costuming is pretty erratic.
One of Vanessa’s gowns from Mary Queen of Scots is up for Auction at Juliens!
https://www.juliensauctions.com/en/items/2107345/vanessa-redgrave-1971-period-dress-from-mary-queen-of-scots
Wow! That looks amazing, considering it’s over 50 years old. :)
I tried watching House of Guinness, and Masters of the Air, and I tapped out of both. They were so boring! Hoping for some better frock flick content soon lol
May I say a word about Montmartre?, a french tv show that should be available in your country on Disney+. It takes place in 1899. They were low on a budget : producer explains : I wanted a tramway, I had a carriage… Every caracter, even the wealthy countess has got one, maybe two outfits. The main actress wears a red skirt with a fuchsia coat , like a poppy on the screen. They put the money in the cabaret scenes which are quite enjoyable.