The 1910s is a fascinating era to me, fashion-wise. It’s right in the middle of the change from the Edwardian era, which is all soft and gauzy and frilly, to the 1920s, which is comparatively minimalist. It’s the perfect era for menswear-inspired tailoring on women, which is something I ADORE. It’s a very streamlined, fitted silhouette, which I find super elegant. And, it’s one of THE BEST eras for women’s hats.
Let’s take a look at my top 5 films set in the 1910s, in no particular order:
A Very Long Engagement (2004)
It’s been too long since I’ve watched this magical tale starring Audrey Tatou (Amélie) as a woman whose fiancé goes missing during World War I. It’s by the same director as Amélie, so there’s a definite helping of magical realism, but it’s handled in the same deft manner. The story itself is sweet and sad.
But it’s the costumes that just slayed me as they are SO perfect, like:
The Wings of the Dove (1997)
We did a detailed podcast about this AMAZE-BALLS adaptation of a Henry James novel starring Helena Bonham Carter. Costumed by legendary designer Sandy Powell, this film perfectly captures the Orientalist influence that was so strong in fashion in this era … plus, since part of the movie is set in Venice, it provided a wonderful chance for them to recreate the famed Fortuny Delphos-style dress (listen to our podcast for lots more info on the originals AND the recreations!). Oh, and the story itself is sad (in the best way) and complex and features a fabulous redhead…
Downton Abbey: Season 1 (2010)
Downton Abbey meandered its way into the 1920s, but season one started things off with a serious bang by seriously rocking the mid-1910s-wear. You’ve been living under a rock if you don’t have an idea of this show, so I won’t belabor that, but I will point out how beautifully the TV series captured the era’s styles across a range of classes.
Titanic (1997)
Okay, so many people groan when this movie is mentioned, because yeah, director James Cameron didn’t have a light hand when it came to the melodrama. And yes, the fashions in this film are maybe a little bit too conservative, especially when compared to, say, The Wings of the Dove. But who the hell cares when there’s such gorgeousness to admire:
Howards End (1992)
It’s Merchant/Ivory, you know they’re gonna do it R.I.G.H.T. If you can find something to complain about in this E.M. Forster adaptation starring Emma Thompson and Helena Bonham Carter, you may have a heart of stone. Because the story has romance but also a deft hand with class issues and family relationships. Plus, costumes that are the equivalent of hospital corners on your bed:
Which 1910s-set films did we leave off this list? Add your favorites in the comments!
Not the Jump dress!
Came here to say that. Not the jump dress. This is the dress she wears when Jack goes to dinner with her AFTER he talks her out of jumping.
I should have added:
Either way, it doesn’t take away from the beautiful costumes.
Great article
Yep: the “jump” dress is just about my favourite costume – ever. So I can definitely tell the difference! :) :)
I was in high school when Titanic came out, so I am immune to the (well-deserved) criticisms of it being a melodrama – we were all obsessed with it! I don’t think I should – or could – watch it through now, however.
You missed my favorite, “Somewhere in Time”, set in 1912, with incredible costumes by Jean-Pierre Dorleac, a master of Edwardian fashion! Dorleac received a nomination for Best Costume Design at the 1981 Academy Awards.
Yes! Somewhere In Time is such a beautiful movie!
‘Teens fashion is my favorite! (Outside of medieval stuf, that is. I’m also very fond of 1950s-very early ’60s also. Works with my figure.) It’s flattering on just about everyone, can be very sleek, elegant, ‘modern, or very fluffy, feminine, frilly, etc. And all points between! I really love Margaret Schlagel’s black and white dress. And pintucks and insert lace- oh my. And Fortuny? Oooh. To have the figure to wear those pleated dresses! He also did some fabulous velvet tunics and coats- very geometric, very dramatic. And the Orientalism is fascinating!
Count me in!
oh, I am so glad that someone else has issues with Lady Mary’s dress – it is so veryvery off.
Out of curiosity, what’s wrong with it? Is it because the waistline is so much lower? I do love the fabric.
Also I notice that Edith’s gown in that photo has almost a Regency look to it.
During the teens there was a conscious regency influence – they even referred to it at the time as “regency revival.” So Lady Edith’s dress is no accident ;o)
Thank you thank you. Not only is it ‘off’, it’s hideous. It’s unflattering. She wore it so often during WWI??? Why??? It was so awful. So glad I’m not the only one to notice this awful dress!
Lady Mary’s dress actually looks like a ballet costume. I don’t find it hideous at all, but it doesn’t look right.
Many ballets of the post tutu-era variety have costumes in this style. It’s practical for dance (especially partnering), and looks vaguely historical enough for shows like Cinderella or Manon.
Excellent! I’ve recently been wanting to watch more films in this era! <3
I LOVED A Very Long Engagement. I want to mention how well the costumes change as the story jumps backward and forward in time.
The Music Man is set in 1912. Some of the women’s costumes are amazing for a ’60s movie, and the hats are stupendous.
I love this period also. Not a huge fan of Titanic, but those hats are amazing. I love all five of those but I think Wings of the Dove has the best costumes of all. I remember there’s a scene in a blue room that was just stunning. I think it’s time for me to watch it again!
When I was in London in the 80s, Liberty (the department store) had an exhibition of Fortuny clothing and I fell in love. It even included one of the Delphos dresses pulled through a wedding ring! I do like this time period because it’s so eclectic and the fabrics are wonderful.
“Wings” has some of the best costuming ever, but the Fortuny gowns were also my favorites. (And really a pretty good movie overall.) Interesting that both the early 1800s and 1900s saw a rise in aesthetic and more comfortable dress for women.
My favourite is Wings of the Dove closely followed by Titanic. I want all of Allison Elliot’s clothes (I’m a redhead, too) and Rose’s opening hat and heaven dress (end dress when she goes up staircase…) And Howard’s End and A Room with a View are tied with second.
PS why don’t you both make Bonham Carter’s dress with the amazeballs hat? Take pics & have a contest on FrockFlicks…
The 1910s is one of my favorite time periods. I love reading about history at that time, and the clothing styles are some of my favorites.
For that reason, I’ll always have a soft spot for Titanic, even though I will readily admit it has a lot of problems, solely because it was the first movie where I noticed the costumes and it got me interested in researching clothes from that time period.
So, I remember being in 4th grade and all the other girls were squealing about Leo, and I was like, “But Rose’s dresses!”
Kate Winslet in Titanic is everything. To quote myself at the time “Leo? You mean there were men in Titanic?”
Watching Room with a View right now. Love, love.
Love the 1910’s. Also that yellow dress is Titanic is a favorite. The color is so pretty.
No images from “CHERI”?
I thought about it, but isn’t it 1900s and not 1910s?
Cheri is set during 1910-1913 or there about there’s a mention of WWI that Cheri either fought in or died in at theend of the movie.
I loved Titanic when it came out for different reasons, and when I saw the rerelease in IMAX all I could think about was the dresses! (these days I only watch the first couple hours. Once the ship starts sinking, I’m out. I cried SO MUCH, every time… Yup, heaaaaavy on the melodrama, the sappy part of me loves it).
A couple of WWI films I saw somewhat recently (Passchendaele and Testament of Youth) had decent costumes from what I can remember. Not going to watch them again any time soon because they were just so sad.
I love all of these films (even sappy Titanic). But A very Long Engagement is my favorite after Howard’s End. At the end of Engagement, they showed black and white/sepia stained photos of their cast. All of them looked true to the time period, clothes, faces and body language. An amazing film.
Has anyone else seen ‘The Last September’? Has Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith, Fiona Shaw, Keeley Hawes, David Tennant. Set in 1920, immediately post-war, on an Irish estate at the beginning of ‘the Troubles’. A _very_ late teens feel to it, and Hawes’ clothes are very much in that odd transitional phase. Actually, some of them are beautiful (I especially like one particular red dress).
Warning though- it is not an easy movie to watch. Class, politics, interpersonal stuff, and a murder at the end that made me ill. But it is worth it. I saw it on Netflix, seems to be on Amazon too, and in 10 parts on YouTube.
You missed my favorite: My Fair Lady. The film Is supposed to take place around 1913 when Pygmalion was first written.
I LOVE this era. have you seen testament of youth with alicia vikander/kit harrington? the costumes in that are so very beautiful, i’d love to know the accuracy of them! x
There was an exhibition of the Downton Abbey costumes at Winterthur in Delaware a couple of years back (one of the docents described the mood as “Disneyland for grownups!”), and the beautiful gold bodice of Lady Sybil’s Turkish trousers outfit was an actual teens piece. However, it was so fragile that the fabric was cracking in multiple places. Hence, her jaunty akimbo pose–holding her arms down at her sides would have exposed the big cracks in the fabric!
Somewhere in Time!! Apparently the white beaded dress that she wears in the play (when she ad-libs that speech ending “I love you”) got stolen before filming had even finished! Mean people suck.
Goodness, how could you leave off “SOMEWHERE IN TIME” …the most beautiful film set in the teens. And it was nominated for an Oscar, plus it won numerous other awards for the outstanding costumes.
See it, if you haven’t yet.
And then read all about the making of it in costume designer, JEAN-PIERRE DORLEAC’s wonderfully entertaining and revealing book, “THE NAKED TRUTH: An Irreverent Chronicle of Delirious Escapes” that is available as an autographed copy at http://www.jean-pierredorleac.com.
For anyone interested in the actual making of many classic films and TV series, this is the book TO-GO-TO! Not only will you learn of behind-the-silver-screen antics and production problems, you will be entertained by the inside stories of numerous celebrities and have a wonderful laugh, on almost every page.
Check out the dozens of five-star reviews it received on http://www.amazon.com. where it is also available for purchase.
Doctor Zhivago, Lawrence of Arabia and Reds are all set during the 1910s Two of those revolve around the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution.
Stunning era for beautifully crafted clothing that flattered tall, delicately boned women, albeit difficult to dress oneself and I often sympathize the hours of servant maintenance to keep them clean and ready to wear. That being said, visually stunning!