Come on, Academy, dammit! I love the book, I loved the movie, and I love films with period costumes. Except for a few which are Just All Bad. It may already be too longβ¦. The movie opens early in the Civil War: is it Christmas ?
Not entirely clear. In the beginning of the story the earliest flashbacks, of Christmas when they take food to the Hummels the girls are, according to the book, 16, 15, 13, and Gerwig said in an interview that she hates bonnets.
Well, ok, but there were lots of things aside from bonnets that could be worn. This above is called an Opera Hood, but made as many hoods and similar head coverings were in a homely knitted version, it would be just the sort of thing the March girls could bundle up in while walking in a cold Massachusetts December.
And in fact, Kirsten Dunst, as Amy in the production, wore just such a headpiece. Moving to indoor fashions, this shot shows the younger three wearing their sontags indoors. Bold geometric trim at the hem was a big trend around , often in a bold contrasting color and often, in fashion plates at least, in more complex designs. See the colored fashion plate above, as well as these illustrations below. I think the idea here is that Meg has, in her modest wayβmodest in funds and modest in aspirations; hemmed in by a desire not to give in too much to vanity and fashionβadded this trim to be more grown-up and stylish.
I know red flannel petticoats were a thing but I have never heard of red drawers. Or perhaps military, which is an area that is foreign to me. Struggling to find a historical basis here. So many old clothes were used this way. Checks on Jo give her a no-nonsense, somewhat homespun look that suits her.
