Welcome to TV Ate My Wardrobe’s “Best of 2016” costuming series and rather than doing a straightforward countdown we’re going to do a variety of posts that look at which costumes and shows have made a huge impact this year. From items we want in our own wardrobe to pieces that got everyone talking; we want to celebrate the work of television’s best costume designers.
First up we took a look at our best show of the year and how the Jennifer disguise on The Americans points to Elizabeth’s emotional journey. This was followed by the first part of the “Best of the Rest” list, which featured costumes from Game of Thrones, Stranger Things, Halt and Catch Fire, Broad City and Good Girls Revolt. Today we will be adding to this with some standout costume moments from some of our other favorite shows of the year including Fleabag, Outlander, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Jane the Virgin and Westworld.
For a slightly different end of year ‘Best of’ that I am taking part in check out the Observer tvDownload Superlatives series kicking off with Cutest Couple, Most Improved and Class Clown.
Like Looking in My Own Wardrobe Award
Fleabag is a Top 3 show of the year and it tops the ‘comedy that is also a gut-punch‘ category. Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s character (also Fleabag) also happens to dress pretty much as I do with stripes and collars like the one above (which bears a strong resemblance to my Twitter profile pic) dominate my own wardrobe. This is a pretty self-centered award.
The lipstick used on the show – “Dare You” by MAC – is now in my collection and also featured on the Gift Guide I produced for Collider.
Biggest Range
On Timeless they travel to different decades and centuries with very little time to prepare so it makes sense to have racks of clothes from different periods on hand. Getting a peek at the way their costume department is laid out is a fun meta nod to the IRL costuming team and so far their missions have included Union garb, WWII era ensembles, berets, Bonnie & Clyde styling, ’60s, ’70s and revolutionary attire. 
Most Exciting Wardrobe Change
There wasn’t much room for character clothing changes on Westworld so when Dolores ditched her blue dress for the more appropriate cowgirl pants look I definitely clapped my hands. This costume by Ane Crabtree also proved to be quite symbolic romantically in regards to Dolores’ relationship with William and was another key to the mystery of Westworld.
Best Non-Cowboy Cowboy
iZombie was one of my favorite catch-ups of the year and this very fun show gets to mess around with costuming thanks to the brains Liv ingests. In “Even Cowgirls Get the Black and Blues” Ravi plays the supportive friend as Liv embarks on a brief singing career and he very much dresses the part.
Fanciest Gown
Outlander went all out in season 2 in the incredible gown department to match the lavish French location and this dress by costume designer Terry Dresbach was used as part of the striking promotional material; it was somehow even more jaw dropping in the second episode of the season “Not in Scotland Anymore.”
Most on Point Accessory
Quite literally as Princess Margaret is wielding a sword in this scene from episode 8 “Pride & Joy” of The Crown. The Crown is Netflix’s most expensive TV series to date and it is quite clear as to why from what we see on screen.
The costuming by Game of Thrones maestro Michele Clapton is exquisite from the intricate formal gowns to the more casual looks such as the blouse and skirt combo in the above scene. The way lighting is used in this shot is equally impressive and everything Margaret was the most compelling part of this first season.
Wardrobe Most Coveted
BrainDead is a special show that barely anyone watched; it was the kind of show 2016 needed and in a way it makes sense that is over after one season. The chemistry between Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Aaron Tveit earned all the flames emojis I used when talking about this show, it was funny, weird and had the most bizarre sex scene I have seen on TV.
Laurel also had a closet full of pattern clashing delights, super cool office wear, pussy bow blouses, blazers and ankle boots. All of which I would like in my own wardrobe and The Good Wife’s costume designer Daniel Lawson continues to crush the jacket game. 
Best Kroll Show Tribute
Krystal was a new clone on Orphan Black last year and she appeared on the 2015 version of this list because of the Kroll Show influence; technically this is a repeat, but I miss Kroll Show’s PubLIZity. Plus, Tatiana Maslany is so good in this role (as she is in all of them) giving Krystal so much personality while also nodding to the original influence particularly in her choice of drink. 
Most Dapper
So technically this is a 2015 TV moment, however this amazing song and dance number from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend scores a place because I only caught up with this show in 2016. In a very hard week in July I sat down and binged the first season and TV really is the best distraction.
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend takes inspiration from numerous genres; on this occasion looking to Fred and Ginger in styling as Greg proposes an offer to Rebecca. The whole sequence blends the funny with the charming and it also won an Emmy for the choreography for this song (and I’m So Good at Yoga” and “A Boy Band Made Up of Four Joshes”).
Dangerous Yoga Position
This year I also finally watched all of Gilmore Girls in preparation for the big revival Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. One of the main highlights in this new batch of episodes as well as in the original series is Paris Geller; her bathroom meltdown including this impressive in heels maneuver almost made up for the Rory Gilmore’s stunted character growth.
Show That Made Me Want to Watch Rear Window
Okay so Rear Window is on my most watched list (I find it weirdly soothing and is my ultimate bedtime movie) and the Jane the Virgin midseason finale looks to Hitchcock as part of the fantasy sequences. Where Crazy Ex-Girlfriend understands a huge range of music genres better than any other show on at the moment, Jane the Virgin is an expert in storytelling techniques using this to explore Jane’s creativity and expand on the telenovela.
As you can see from the outfits above, costume designer Rachel Sage Kunin has got the Kelly and Grant thing down (even if I’m more partial to Kelly and Stewart).]
For more from the TV Ate My Wardrobe Best of 2016 series head here.
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