With the upcoming mini-series remake of Bonnie and Clyde creating hype this week, we can’t help but wonder whether keeping real to truth and fact where costume design is concerned is a wise move.
What began as a historical depiction commissioned for viewing on the History Channel has exceeded its goal and surfaced it’s way up to prime-time viewing, but have they taken their credentials of historical accuracy too far, is costume design without restraints another form of viewing pleasure?
Inspired by photographic records of the real Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, the costume design of the series takes special consideration to this and incorporates them into the costumes with a faithful reconstruction that is almost flawless to the original.
The striped ensemble worn by Bonnie (Holliday Grainger) is a direct influence from the design seen during the height of the criminal’s reign.Using the identical tone and material for the cardigan and sweater top, the strong linear design is recognisable to the real Bonnie Parker, but at what cost to the creative potential to experiment with the costumes?
Also taken directly from the original costume is Bonnie’s black,A-line skirt. Although this may be an impractical choice for a gun wielding robber on a quick getaway, this IS 30’s midwest America after all, and for a lady to wear trousers would cause more alarm than donning a balaclava.
Refusing to add even a slight twist on the original clothing, we can’t help but wish for a little experimentation rather than a straight copy.
Bonnie’s desire to create attention, while committing the most dangerous of crimes calculates a deadly mix that sets her on a path for self-destruction. “She was somebody who really wanted to be a celebrity. She wanted to be a singer, she wanted to be an actress, she applied to all the movie studios. All she wanted was to become famous and, at the end of the day, she didn’t really care why she became famous.”
With every detail, from the T-bar design of her shoe, to the exact tone of her nail polish controlled by the director’s desire for reality, does this impend costume design’s ability for exciting storytelling far more than it needs?
Inspired by the silhouette style of the 1930’s; cigar in hand, feminine power stance and slim fitting black clothing – that’s Bonnie. Key to her style is her black beret, an influence from the French new wave style that gets her noticed as a quirky character, especially in small-town America.
As the the photographic records of Bonnie Parker limits the outfit choices, decisions need to be made for where the costume should go now. Incorporating tones of mustard into Bonnie’s style, and finishing the look with a red slick to her lips and a flick of polish to her nails, at last this is an independent turn away from the limitation of reality. How long will it last?
