Strict style: Robin Wright's "House of Cards" wardrobe
Among the many entertaining aspects of Netflix' "House of Cards" is Robin Wright's character's sublimely strict wardrobe. Any woman in a busy print looks like a bad sofa standing next to Claire Underwood, and they both know it.
Episode 4 in Season 2 gives a three-second glimpse of of Claire's closet, as she selects a dress for a climactic TV interview, not one bright colour in sight. She considers a dress, and murmurs, "Too neutral?" Her advisor, looking on, says "Whatever you wear, you'll look great", and I thought, Well, who wouldn't, in Zac Posen custom-fitted to a fabulous body? (See the Washington Post feature here on the character's clothes.)
What can the average woman learn from Underwood's haute armor?
The key message is that fit, always a requisite on camera, counts in real life, too. I see some lovely women in uneven hemlines and baggy busts. It's not that they don't care, but the bridge or "better dress" offerings are more carelessly made year by year.
To do better than an approximate fit, we have to upgrade via sales or consignment, sew very well, or find a pro. Tina Chow had one designer piece copied in many fabrics by a local tailor, for years.
We also need to reclaim fit relative to our bodies. If you cannot feel your body in a dress, it's not earning its keep. I don't mean garments should be tight; Robin Wright's are, but "House of Cards" is entertainment. However, the piece ought to define something: shoulder, waist, hips.
Then, there is the matter of cut. Wright's dresses are longer than what is shown on e-shop or catalog models; the length is in proportion to her frame, but also a more elegant, grown-woman effect. With legs like hers, she could wear a much shorter skirt—and she does not.
In shops, women are often told, "Oh, you can wear it that short", but I believe that's often a sales line: that's the skirt the shop has. (And dadgummit, I am so tired of the suggestion that I put leggings under a too-short dress I could just shreik.)
Whether you have a figure like Wright's or not (is there anyone who wears a pencil skirt better?) we all have collarbones; showing even a glimpse of that feature reinforces the vertical.
And finally, don't ever sit down (kidding). Wright attended the premiere party for the current season in a black silk outfit that devolved to a lapful of wrinkles by the evening's end. In real life, even a star is not followed by minions with steamers.
There is hardly any jewelry on the character; the lack of adornment is a visual reference to her high control. When we see Claire Underwood in Anna Wintour's collet necklace we'll know something's up.
Just one piece of distinctive jewelry, like a pair of antique-style earrings or a horn bracelet, warms up a woman. (Shown, silver, 18k gold, diamond and white sapphire fleur de lis earrings from Beladora, $795.)
Pearls? She wears a calm and collected version:
But for those women who want a looser, lighter image, I'd choose the "Lavender Queen" keshi necklace from Kojima Company; price, $630. (And Kojima Company has a 20% off sale from today to June 1 with discount code KOJIMAPEARL).
In real life, I've met a few "Claire Underwoods", their intelligence evident, their humanity compromised by smiles that don't involve the eyes, and I try to get out of there as soon as I can. But I do admire the wardrobe!
Episode 4 in Season 2 gives a three-second glimpse of of Claire's closet, as she selects a dress for a climactic TV interview, not one bright colour in sight. She considers a dress, and murmurs, "Too neutral?" Her advisor, looking on, says "Whatever you wear, you'll look great", and I thought, Well, who wouldn't, in Zac Posen custom-fitted to a fabulous body? (See the Washington Post feature here on the character's clothes.)
What can the average woman learn from Underwood's haute armor?
The key message is that fit, always a requisite on camera, counts in real life, too. I see some lovely women in uneven hemlines and baggy busts. It's not that they don't care, but the bridge or "better dress" offerings are more carelessly made year by year.
To do better than an approximate fit, we have to upgrade via sales or consignment, sew very well, or find a pro. Tina Chow had one designer piece copied in many fabrics by a local tailor, for years.
We also need to reclaim fit relative to our bodies. If you cannot feel your body in a dress, it's not earning its keep. I don't mean garments should be tight; Robin Wright's are, but "House of Cards" is entertainment. However, the piece ought to define something: shoulder, waist, hips.
Then, there is the matter of cut. Wright's dresses are longer than what is shown on e-shop or catalog models; the length is in proportion to her frame, but also a more elegant, grown-woman effect. With legs like hers, she could wear a much shorter skirt—and she does not.
In shops, women are often told, "Oh, you can wear it that short", but I believe that's often a sales line: that's the skirt the shop has. (And dadgummit, I am so tired of the suggestion that I put leggings under a too-short dress I could just shreik.)
Whether you have a figure like Wright's or not (is there anyone who wears a pencil skirt better?) we all have collarbones; showing even a glimpse of that feature reinforces the vertical.
And finally, don't ever sit down (kidding). Wright attended the premiere party for the current season in a black silk outfit that devolved to a lapful of wrinkles by the evening's end. In real life, even a star is not followed by minions with steamers.
There is hardly any jewelry on the character; the lack of adornment is a visual reference to her high control. When we see Claire Underwood in Anna Wintour's collet necklace we'll know something's up.
Just one piece of distinctive jewelry, like a pair of antique-style earrings or a horn bracelet, warms up a woman. (Shown, silver, 18k gold, diamond and white sapphire fleur de lis earrings from Beladora, $795.)
Pearls? She wears a calm and collected version:
But for those women who want a looser, lighter image, I'd choose the "Lavender Queen" keshi necklace from Kojima Company; price, $630. (And Kojima Company has a 20% off sale from today to June 1 with discount code KOJIMAPEARL).
In real life, I've met a few "Claire Underwoods", their intelligence evident, their humanity compromised by smiles that don't involve the eyes, and I try to get out of there as soon as I can. But I do admire the wardrobe!
Comments
Once again you've found the best jewelry pieces!
Btw I think wrinkles on silk or linen are part of the effect...right now I have my linens out for summer and I love the fabric even slightly crinkled.
Of course Robin Wright looks phenomenal, but the character's whole schtick is about discipline, knowing and owning your core look and never straying from it. So much of the 'style blogosphere' focuses on creating variety, re-mixing, keeping up with trends (whether or not you like them or think they flatter you), adding color, sticking out for the sake of sticking out, etc.
Which is fine, and i really enjoy it on other people, but it's never been my own approach or concern. I'd rather look the same and fantastic as opposed to different all the time but an 8 or 9 rather than a 10; and i'm very interested in using discipline to cultivate a coherent, cohesive style.
So while CU's elegant, urban minimalism is stlylistically at almost complete odds with my own rugged, utilitarian chic i am enjoying the discussion around her style very much! steph
unefemme: I read that the fabrics have stretch. They are still very close, but there is give, at least in the narrow skirts.
materfamilias: She is written to make women cringe and men cringe and, uh, admire.
LPC: The costume designer changed from s1 to s2 but so did CU's role; and when she worked in a nonprofit (S1) her clothes were ore casual. Now that she is the VPs wife, very 'lady'- if Babe Paley were still here this is what she would wear.
frugal: Just depends on the milieu. I once toppled over on rising after a 2 hr interview (leg had fallen asleep)- and got the job.
hostess: I don't mind linen wrinkled at all, but prefer silk either smooth or twist-tied to be all crinkles.
steph: The coherent vs the "fun" or "visible" aesthetic is quite a broad continuum. I've long been drifting to the discreet end, partly because of a wish to not own too much, or things I don't wear.
If I had the money and the social occasion, I'd choose at least some of CU's wardrobe, but with more jewelry.
Still a bit more colour and a few more accessories would be more me. I'm not a complete mimalist, at all!
trim but not clingy fit? check
skirts to the knee? check
superior fabrics? check
cut over embellishment? check
But I'm surprised no one mentioned her hair. Controlled, yes, but with natural movement. I think it's an essential part of the "plus strict" look -- at least how it's interpreted on Robin Wright -- and I think it's fabulous.
I can attest to the importance of fit and cut. Just yesterday, I wore a skirt that fit so well that it looked like I had a flat stomach, and believe me, I don't. And I wasn't wearing shapewear, either. I was completely surprised! (It was an Eileen Fisher washable crepe pencil skirt with a high-placed, wide waistband I picked up at Nordstrom Rack for half price).
And yesterday I saw two women on the street who really stood out from the rest, and both were wearing well-fitting, knee-grazing dresses, one with black pumps and the other with black flats. Both were tall, and slim, and both had longer hair, but it was natural looking and neat. Both dresses were neutral -- one was black and white tweedy print, and the other was black -- and both had great bags on the large side (one was a large Prada cobalt soft leather, and the other a more structured black leather of unknown provenance). There was just something about them.
It seems, with the women you admired, that they were dressed like grown women, not in junior-y little dresses in "cute prints" or "fun pops of colour".
Oh I would like to have your skirt ;)