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Wednesday 30 July 2014

Style Inspiration: Maggie Gyllenhaal in The Honourable Woman



My gorgeous friend Edward K. Gibbon was the costume designer on BBC series The Honourable Woman; Maggie Gyllenhaal is brilliant as the Anglo-Israeli businesswoman Nessa Stein, and is currently being hailed as 'the best-dressed woman on TV'. I'm a Gyllenhaal Family fan and so when I bumped into Edward filming his latest project in Shoreditch, this week, I had to ask him what it was like working with Maggie, 'It was an amazing experience, Maggie was so engaged on every level and really collaborative and generous with her talent. We spent a lot of time together; talking, shopping, fitting, trying to work out who Nessa was. Maggie completely threw herself into creating the character putting all vanity aside.'



On creating a modern, power wardrobe for Gyllenhaal's character, Edward added,' Nessa is a very complicated, multi-layered character and how she looked was very important. She is a powerful woman from a very privileged background but also highly cultured and engaged with the world. We never wanted to present a stereotypical version of a powerful woman who may dress to intimidate men. Maggie was keen to keep it much rawer than that and not to disguise the sexuality of the character. She uses clothes like armour to keep a layer between herself and the world, and the story unfolds we see it quite literally being stripped away.' 




Edward and I were student flatmates in Manchester, in the olden days, and I am not exaggerating when I say that he changed my life; he was much cooler, cleverer and more cultured than I was - and he worked behind the bar at the Hacienda, so was very good at sorting out the free drinks.

Edward in The' Ditch

Since then Edward has worked on many TV programmes (he did the wardrobe for Channel 4's Skins) and films, and with some brilliant actresses including: Olivia Coleman, Lindsay Duncan, Claire Skinner and Billie Piper - and I'm so pleased that he dressed Maggie Gyllenhaal in a couple of  Merkel/Clinton-inspired pant suits.


Who's wardrobe have you been watching?




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11 comments:

  1. What if I wore it the first Time30 July 2014 at 12:06

    I was so impressed with Maggie's on screen wardrobe. That green leopard print dress was a particular favourite. I have to say I have always coveted Robin Wright's wardrobe in th US version of House of Cards. I also think the clothes that were being worn by the actresses in th detective series Scott and Bailey were covetable too

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  2. Unknown30 July 2014 at 12:39

    Love this wardrobe & this actress. Whose wardrobe have I been watching - well, does anyone know who dresses the character of Joan Watson in 'Elementary'? I love most of what Lucy Liu wears in that.

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  3. Pam @ over50feeling4030 July 2014 at 12:54

    Thank you for the post! I was not familiar with the series but would love to see it now...she looks fabulous and I love what he said about power dressing and the messages the character sends as she strips the layers away. I am not really watching anyone now, except some of the bloggers I admire the most. Must find this series though

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  4. Patti30 July 2014 at 13:35

    She is so talented and gorgeous, and your friend Edward looks like a true talent as well. I hadn't heard of this series, but now I am looking for it. I'm currently watching "The White Queen", so I'm craving 15th century gowns and jewels : >

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  5. Val30 July 2014 at 16:00

    I can't wait to see this! I wonder how long we'll have to wait for it in the States - I hope it comes soon!

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  6. Sue Burpee30 July 2014 at 17:35

    I love Maggie in that peach blouse...with the short hair and no jewellry. Beautiful.
    I also pay attention to the clothes on the detective series Scott and Bailey. Their outfits (esp Scott's) are always interesting.

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  7. Style At Every Age30 July 2014 at 21:17

    I've been loving this series and Nessa's outfits. I will always miss getting ready for work in a City office, I like the corporate look x

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  8. Anonymous30 July 2014 at 22:35

    Oh wow, Maggie Gyllenhalls clothes were beautiful and hats off for a very convincing accent.
    I like Gillian Andersons clothes in "The Fall"and an honourable mention to telly historian Lucy Worsley and her use of colour.

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  9. Young at Heart31 July 2014 at 23:23

    Love love love Maggie....... finding the show a bit of a challenge!!

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  10. Unknown1 August 2014 at 14:35

    I am really enjoying the programme, its is also very thought provoking particularly given the situation in the middle east at the moment.

    All the women's clothes are great. Maggie Gyllenhall's clothes are excellent, she looks the way I have always wanted to look, but on that figure a bin bag would look great! So elegant and stylish a hymn to les being more!

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  11. isabelle3 August 2014 at 16:26

    Love Maggie!

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