Oh dear, I have a bit (o.k. alot) of a period drama obsession. There is simply nothing better than sitting down on a Sunday evening and watching a foray into Charles Dickens, Jane Austen or Elizabeth Gaskell (amongst others). So, imagine my delight when B.B.C gifted us with a new adaptation, Emma.
So, it’s not as brilliant as the 1996 version with Gwyneth Paltrow but it is still an excellent adaption. What is great about this one is the use of setting and costume. The beautiful location simply makes you want to step back in time and live in the regency period, and the costumes, wow. Of recent years i think this has to have some of the best costume, and seemingly some of the most accurate. There is one garment which stick in mind ( i have attempted to screenshot it but it’s not great) it is a stunning spencer jacket worn by Mrs. Elton whilst she is in church. it is just beautiful, it has stunning short puffed sleeves, which have been slashed to reveal the pink lining very reminiscent of Elizabethan clothing which are attached to slimline (what i reckon is some kind of velvet) sleeves. The stunning pink lining is then highlighted by the use of pink buttons all down the front. It’s the combination of colours in the jacket too which i love, the pink and yellow remind me of a old fashioned rhubarb and custard sweets. Things like this just make me want to go and live in a period drama, and so remind you that this period wasn’t drab in terms of colour as people often thing but vibrant, exciting and playful.
(image screenshot from www.http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00nfpsf/Emma_Episode_3/)