Little Women 2019 and 1990s movies vs reality: Meg March

 

 

 Whilst the new 2019 Little Women was an interesting film, fresh and new with a whole different style to any other version of the beloved tale we have seen before… one finds oneself distracted by the strange decisions of the director to A. have the timeline completely out of wack and B. to have the costume design so that one would hardly know what era it was in if not for a mentions of the war and knowledge of the book that keep it in place. But I am here for the costumes... 

 

Anyway, let us start with this picture and specifically Meg, the oldest sister and the one who wants to "fit in"(quote Michara Tewers). The first thing you notice is her big neon green scarf - wow, you think how is that historically accurate? But sorry to say it IS in fact an available dye in this time period… but characteristically it makes no sense. Although the designers wanted green and purple to be Meg's colours so to speak, I think from the books you get a different impression of her dress. Nearly every reference to Meg's clothing colours in the first book is varying shades of silver, grey or blue. It seems like L.M. Alcott actually had a theme running with her clothes.

 

I see characteristically the designers might have wanted to emphasise her soft womanly character but if that was so, why didn't they ditch the neon scarf that makes her look so babyish? And if that was so, why didn't they put her hair up and give her a bonnet?! Also the red ribbon in her hair is such a contrast it looks out of place and Meg is supposed to care about what she looks like; not ignore all sensible fashion rules. People just don't dress this bad. Even in modern society there are certain ingrained fashion rules on what colours look good together which we instinctively abide by.  

 

Look at the square neckline on Meg’s green dress here - that is at least 5 years ahead of the current fashions!

 

Compare the outdoor styles to the sweet, grown-up modesty of 1994 Meg with her bonnet on!

Meg’s morning dress in this scene is plaid common for the early 1860s.

 

Meg’s in another plaid dress here… This one appears to have an 1850s style point to the bodice, which shows that the dress is slightly out of date. That may be why the fabric is so pretty. Theory: they had the dress when they were rich and it got handed down to Meg.

 

 

 

This is one of the design sketches for Meg 2019. I like the colour length and skirt style on this dress and only wish the wider skirts had made it into the movie. But the tight sleeves they seem to always give Meg in this version just aren't fashionable in the early 1860s, where the sleeves were usually quite wide at the lower arm.

 

In the 1994 version they do seem to be historically accurate. However, I wish they would acknowledge that bright colours were a part of the 1860s too, as long as they fit with the character. I especially think in the scene pictured below they could have given them brighter accessories - like a bright red scarf for Jo or a some bright trimming on the bonnets. For while coats were usually sensible colours, the accessories could be quite bright.

 

 

 

Lovely, slightly outdated dress on Meg here… Practical for the house but elegant as well.

 

Now this outfit of Meg’s reminds me of Jenna Colman in the Victoria TV series (itv) - set in THE 1840s!! And the hats are completely unfashionable, which makes no sense for anyone but Jo… who in the book is given a wide brim hat by Laurie and wears it to meet his friends; to show him she didn't care.  But meg and Amy, ohhh! They would care, both would pride themselves on looking their best. Also Beth gets the longest and most period-correct dress, despite being the second to youngest. And Meg gets an old-fashioned short dress that shows her ankles at her age of abooout 17-18! VICTORIAN SCANDAL!

 

Bit of a dull dress for Meg and it looks like it came from the 1840s, too.            

 

Ooh, this one almost looks almost accurate 1860s getting there slowly… Oh they never get there... what a disappointment!

 

And look! Hoopskirts! But oh no, it’s ruined by the lack of fabric in the skirts, making it look stiff and ugly. It still looks 1840s on top.

 

I have not addressed the hair in this post, because it can all be summed up in one sentence.

 

2019 - rubbish; 1994 - amazing. :D

 

(Though Aunt March and Amy were not too far off in some parts, they still missed the mark).