For the past few weeks, I have been eagerly looking forward to rocking my baby to sleep during her morning and afternoon naps just so I can sit down to watch the BBC mini series House of Elliot. Filmed in the 1990s, I am not sure why I had never seen this show before. The series turned up at my local library while I was researching 1920s fashion.
The series is about two sisters in 1920 who suddenly lose their father and find themselves penniless and without any hire-able skills, except for their thriftiness in making their own clothing. Fast forward a few months and the Elliot sisters begin their adventures in running a couture fashion house in England. The show goes on to span three seasons, each capturing the early ’20s, mid ’20s, and late ’20’s fashion and trials of running a business. The costuming is exquisite. I wouldn’t be surprised if most of the clothing was antique. Every bit of the tattered rags of the poor street folk to the sisters’ wor wear and the very elegant couture evening dresses are all amazing works of art. Oh, how I wish I could spend a hew hours in the wardrobe room, let alone let the Elliot sisters fashion me a ’20s couture evening gown.
Here are a few of my favorite clothes from the series:
Oh how I wish I could have a collection of 1920’s hats like these
a woman’s evening suit
Another fine evening ensemble from about 1927
Beautiful hand beaded evening dress from the mid 20’s
Gasp! Bead and Embroidery evening cape! In the House of Elliot
Emerald green beaded gown to go with the green cape above.
Late 20’s formal dresses
Excellent examples of Men’s 20’s clothing are plentiful in the House of Elliot
Even the “bad guys” are dressed very well
The Elliot sisters in their finest gowns
If you have not watched the House of Elliot, you can see some clips on YouTube or buy the entire series on Amazon. And visit my friends’ blog for more pictures of House of Elliot fashions.
Now my only question is what do I watch next? What are your favorite period miniseries?
Debbie Sessions has been teaching fashion history and helping people dress for vintage themed events since 2009. She has turned a hobby into VintageDancer.com with hundreds of well researched articles and hand picked links to vintage inspired clothing online. She aims to make dressing accurately (or not) an affordable option for all. Oh, and she dances too.
