Agent Carter Fashion: Time and Tide
Marvel's Agent Carter costume Designer Giovanna "Gigi" Ottobre-Melton shares the inside scoop on the wardrobe seen in episode 3, "Time and Tide."
In this episode Peggy has moved into The Griffith, an upscale hotel for "proper" women. How did the setting influence the wardrobe for these scenes?
The Griffith is based on the real Barbizon Hotel in New York. The women's hotel was famous for housing some of the most beautiful girls in the world. Parents would send their daughters there for safe keeping under the watchful eye of chaperones while working or attending college. Men were always attempting to sneak in above the first floor.
When Peggy is surprised by one such fella searching for his gal, we get to see her in a beautiful vintage black and coral rayon crepe robe with cord embroidery and a vintage crème silk and lace nightgown.
The next morning, we meet many of the Griffith residents all ready for the day at breakfast. No one shows up in P.J.s or curlers in the dining room! There was a high expectation of proper attire.
It was great to see Angie out of her uniform again and wearing her vintage blue sweater and skirt.
We also meet Dottie, fresh from Iowa, in a vintage burgundy hand-knit sweater, sage green blouse, dark green A-line skirt, and green suede pumps.
Tell us about Peggy’s business suits in "Time and Tide."
In the episode’s first office scene, Peggy wears a grey check flannel suit. Paired with an A-line skirt, the 1940s inspired double-stacked collar and oversized carved wood buttons give a nice design edge. Her peach silk blouse with gathered front and darts and carved mother of pearl buttons compliments the feminine shape. Both the suit and blouse are custom-made.
The following day, she wears a vintage red plaid nipped-waist jacket, grey silk blouse, and coordinating brown skirt.
The grey check flannel is paired with the hand-dyed blush colored silk for the blouse and beautiful oversized carved wood grey buttons.
As part of her undercover work, Peggy ends up in a lot of interesting situations, like skulking in the sewers. How do you make that work in terms of wardrobe?
Mixing and matching was a girl’s best friend in this period. Closets were small then, but with good key pieces many outfits could be created.
For her night mission into the underground sewers, Peggy wears her brown wool plaid high-waisted check pants, previously seen in the premiere. She pairs the pants with a matching plaid shirt, belt, and brown brogue style boots. This created a fashionable yet very practical jumpsuit for her.
Belts were worn with almost all outfits in the 40s -- waists for both men and women were defined.
Jarvis protected his suit with fisher stripe belted coveralls for this mission. Both outfits were custom made.
The brown plaid fabric for the two-piece pant and shirt is paired with a leather buckle and oversized carmel celluloid buttons.
Tune in TUESDAY JAN 27 9|8c for the next installment of Marvel's Agent Carter. Plus, come back each week for Gigi's behind the scenes look at the incredible fashion of Marvel's Agent Carter.
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Agent Carter Fashion: Inside thePremiere
Tune in Tuesday JAN 27 9|8c for the next episode of Marvel's Agent Carter. Plus, come back each week for Gigi's behind the scenes look at the incredible fashion of Marvel's Agent Carter.