We discussed The Affair of the Necklace (2001) on one of our podcasts (hey, remember when we used to be a podcast? Pepperidge Farm remembers!), and Kendra did a huge post strictly about the hat porn in the film, but we’ve never actually done a proper blog post about the absolutely phenomenal costuming in this film. That changes today! I’ve always felt like The Affair of the Necklace doesn’t get the love it deserves — it was hampered by some weak reviews about the leads not quite being up to the task of the material and I think it has never really recovered its reputation as an absolutely stunning film with a tight script and bite-your-fist-hnng costuming.
Milena Canonero designed the costumes and there’s a fairly close relationship between her work on this film and the later Marie Antoinette (2006) (indeed, several costumes from The Affair of the Necklace were restyled/recycled for the Sophia Coppola film). Yet, Marie Antoinette gets all the love, and no one seems to remember The Affair of the Necklace! The injustice!
Did I skip your favorite costume from The Affair of the Necklace (2001)? Share it with us in the comments!
This is indeed one of the favourite 18th century themed movies which I love, and hope to find in 4K in time. I wish that a prequel on the same scale of magnificence is made on The Origin of the Necklace, recounting the story of Madame Du Barry’s last few months in Versailles when the necklace was requested for her by Louis XV shortly before his demise. (I have already started to write a plot of how I imagine the movie to be, but due to my lack of expertise, connections and finances, sadly it will just be another buried movie dream :/ )
I needed this. Something to take my mind off our bleak future! What’s going on in the WH is bleak AF!
I started to watch the film several years ago, and there was something about the introductory backstory – REVENGE!!! – that made me roll my eyes and change channels. I do love Milena Canonero’s work (got to meet her at a panel discussion once 💗), so the stills are making me want to reconsider and perhaps give it another go. Maybe with the sound off. History = no spoilers. The costumes look drop dead gorgeous.