Succession
Looking for inspo on how to dress fashionably formal? Look no further than HBO’s Succession. Succession costume designer Michelle Matland does a stupendous job dressing the characters in formal attire, very much suited to the atmosphere of the show. Her costumes also play a major role in progressing the narrative of the show. In particular, her attention to styling one of the main characters, Siobhan (Shiv) Roy, really comes across in each and every episode. From her loose, relaxed sweaters in Season 1, when she was an independent political consultant, to a bridge between the sweaters and suiting in Season 2, during her transitional period, to ultimately, the sharp-shouldered suits in Season 3, Shiv’s arc can be summed up entirely through her costumes. Heavily featuring brands such as Sergio Hudson, MaxMara and Ralph Lauren among many others, Succession tops the list of our most fashionable watch.
Citadel
The newly released spy series, starring Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden, has already made fashion headlines owing to the clothes worn by the actors in the series. Priyanka’s character, Nadia, sporting a red floor-length Sergio Hudson dress in the second episode of the series is an incredible example of this mindful, yet minimalistic costuming done by costume designer Sara Sensoy. The sharp shoulders give the character a sense of agency and professionalism, yet the cut-outs and the deep plunging neckline also showcase a sense of feminist grace. Citadel is now streaming on Amazon Prime.
Poker Face
Poker Face has successfully brought back the retro, Southwest sort of dressing, but at the same time, possessing a certain layered aesthetic. Citing Stevie Nicks as a huge inspiration for the show, costume designer Trayce Gigi Field wanted to showcase a casual vibe through protagonist Charlie’s character. This involved Field putting Charlie in a vintage brown Yves Saint Laurant jacket throughout the show, along with ochres and flared pants, all of which seem like something Charlie would have found in a thrift shop. The series also throws a challenge at Field by taking place in different locations and involving a host of different characters and incredible scenarios. Field has certainly done a commendable job, as later in an interview, she remarked that a Dolce and Gabbana dress that Charlie had worn in an episode was later sold out post the airing of the episode.
Daisy Jones and the Six
A popular adaptation of a bestseller, Daisy Jones and the Six had almost an immediate stronghold on the fashion sensibilities of the Gen-Z. Following the rise and fall of a rock band in the 70s, Denise Wingate, the show’s costume designer, puts together an impressive roster of costumes which accurately visualises the fashion sensibilities of that period in time. Citing rock legend Robbie Robertson and actor Bianca Jagger as inspirations, Wingate has managed to create authentic yet chic looks for the characters to wear. Wingate, in an interview, said that her favourite look from the show was the vintage Halston dress that the protagonist Daisy wears in the season finale. A metallic gold flowy dress was a perfect match for a rock singer like Daisy as the lights illuminated the dress which made her look ethereal. Wingate also references Stevie Nicks through the final look, as this look is an ode to her song Gold Dust Woman. The series is available to stream on Amazon Prime.
Jubilee
The recently released Hindi web series Jubilee has become a stunning example of period-accurate costuming in the Indian OTT space. Designed by Shruti Kapoor, this project had become a four-year-long affair for her due to the sheer size and magnitude of the project. Designed to echo an ‘old-world glamour’, Kapoor left no stone unturned to channel the ‘glam’ of the time, and being period accurate. It can be safe to say that it was an uphill battle for Kapoor as she had to not only design the costumes of the main cast with utmost intricacy but also had to design the costumes for the junior artistes and spot boys as well, staying accurate to the time period. The series is available to stream on Amazon Prime.
Coming up:
The Idol
No discussion surrounding the most fashionable web series can be complete without mentioning the upcoming Sam Levinson show The Idol. Focusing on the life of pop-star Jocelyn and her rise to fame, the trailer has already showcased an impressive array of costumes adorned by lead Lily Rose Depp, to serve the role. Impressively, throughout the trailer, we have seen that the bright, figure-hugging stage outfits worn by Jocelyn, astoundingly juxtapose the dark, baggy sets that are worn by Tedros, the possible antagonist played by singer-songwriter and co-producer of the show, Abel Tesfaye, also known as The Weeknd. Natasha Newman-Thomas is responsible for the costumes on this show. The show has already premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and is set to release in India on June 4.
Archisha Mukherjee (t2 intern)