Sandy Powell’s costume design in Carol has very much left its mark and while most of the attention has been placed on the standout pieces which Cate Blanchett as the titular character wore – and rightly so as they are incredibly captivating – it is actually Rooney Mara’s Therese Belivet who really caught my eye. Yes Carol gets to wear the most sumptuous items which make her the focal point of any shot, but it is Therese’s style which feels like it could easily be transferred from 1950s New York to now and that is why I have become slightly obsessed by it. Seriously I need her polka dot pajamas and winter coat in my life. And also her hat (especially as it is finally getting colder).
Which brings me to Gilmore Girls and right on schedule after mentioning how I needed to get back to watching this show for the first time, I did so this morning and much to my delight Rory ends up wearing something very Therese. It is in a completely different context and the item in question is meant to be a comedic focal point at first. Rory is joining her grandfather at his fancy golf club for some bonding time (and so she can choose a team sport for her fancy new school) and she doesn’t really have any golf attire; she dresses in a simple lilac shirt and beige chinos – how very 2000. Her grandmother gives her a colorful striped bobble beret and there might have been a slight yelp of excitement from my end when Rory puts it on.
This is the hat worn by Rooney Mara as Therese in Carol and the very first still I saw of Mara in the film. Like Carol and Therese across a department store floor, I fell in love in an instant.
And this is Rory’s, which caused the yelp of Carol related recognition joy.
Vertical versus horizontal stripes, but other than that I don’t think it is a reach in seeing a similarity; this isn’t just a case of wearing Carol tinted costumed design glasses.
Give her a hair chop, a camera and the right winter coat and she’s pretty much there as Luke’s place has a very retro feel to it.
As the episode progresses and Rory feels more comfortable in her environment she warms to her new headwear and she only takes it off when her mother makes fun of it. Lorelai later contends that it is “kinda cute” but this conversation is about far more than knitted berets. That will be saved for when I discuss this episode and others with Julie Hammerle in our TV Rewind series. I personally heart the hat as my notes so vehemently say and this is why there is a whole post dedicated toward it. Now to find a version of my own.
For thoughts on the first two episodes of Gilmore Girls head here.
TV Ate My Wardrobe 
3 Responses to “Rory Gilmore’s Very “Carol” Knitted Hat”