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the_scent_of_lilacsSORRY, EVERYONE! This morning, I thought I was deleting a duplicate of this post on my own journal, but instead accidentally deleted my original post here, and all of the comments that were made.
I've now re-posted my original essay - and good news! I was able to retrieve the deleted comments bleodswean and smokingboot made, along with my responses, and have added them all back to the comment section.
Again, sorry for the mix-up!
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Victorian era wedding gowns, as envisioned for two different films, and for two very different characters. Evocative for any vampire's bride.
The beautiful period costumes for Nosferatu 2024 were designed by Linda Muir. She aimed for accurate historical 1830's fashions, in order to contrast the everyday life of the characters vs the supernatural horror of Orlok. And she succeeded brilliantly.
Ellen Hutter is clad in a very demure white bridal gown that I'm assuming is the one she wore for her wedding to Thomas. A very innocent look, it perfectly symbolizes the concept of "Death and the Maiden". And while Ellen plans to sacrifice herself in order to destroy Orlok, and thus save Thomas and the city, it's nevertheless ironic that she choses to wear this gown to her final rendezvous with the count. In effect exchanging her living bridegroom for a dead one.
I've now re-posted my original essay - and good news! I was able to retrieve the deleted comments bleodswean and smokingboot made, along with my responses, and have added them all back to the comment section.
Again, sorry for the mix-up!
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Victorian era wedding gowns, as envisioned for two different films, and for two very different characters. Evocative for any vampire's bride.
The beautiful period costumes for Nosferatu 2024 were designed by Linda Muir. She aimed for accurate historical 1830's fashions, in order to contrast the everyday life of the characters vs the supernatural horror of Orlok. And she succeeded brilliantly.
Ellen Hutter is clad in a very demure white bridal gown that I'm assuming is the one she wore for her wedding to Thomas. A very innocent look, it perfectly symbolizes the concept of "Death and the Maiden". And while Ellen plans to sacrifice herself in order to destroy Orlok, and thus save Thomas and the city, it's nevertheless ironic that she choses to wear this gown to her final rendezvous with the count. In effect exchanging her living bridegroom for a dead one.
Concept Art by Linda Muir, showing the gown's full details.
The next bride is Lucy Westenra (the best friend of Mina Murray), as depicted in Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992). Her elaborate wedding outfit was designed by Eiko Ishioka. With no pretense as to historical accuracy, it's pure gothic fantasy - a symbol of Lucy's fall from grace, and her transformation from a normal young woman into a ruthless predator. The high frilled lace collar evokes the Elizabethan era, but also imparts a decidedly reptilian look, while the strange headdress has a medieval feel. It's all quite striking, but also extremely creepy, albeit quite appropriate for a vampire.
And there's that. The unfortunate Lucy never becomes an actual bride, as she is murdered by Dracula before she can wed her fiancé Arthur Holmwood. Instead, she's doomed to become a vampire - and a not particularly nice one, at that.
And in her tomb - No longer flirty, but definitely dangerous.
While Ellen and Lucy are both lovely in their own way, they're quite different in temperament. Unlike the haunted and serious minded Ellen, pre-vampire Lucy comes from a privileged background. She's frivolous, fun-loving, and popular, as well as sexually curious. She even has three handsome suitors vying for her attention, before she finally chooses one.
That said, both women will eventually succumb to the temptations of the undead, and the consequences for each will be devastating.
The next bride is Lucy Westenra (the best friend of Mina Murray), as depicted in Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992). Her elaborate wedding outfit was designed by Eiko Ishioka. With no pretense as to historical accuracy, it's pure gothic fantasy - a symbol of Lucy's fall from grace, and her transformation from a normal young woman into a ruthless predator. The high frilled lace collar evokes the Elizabethan era, but also imparts a decidedly reptilian look, while the strange headdress has a medieval feel. It's all quite striking, but also extremely creepy, albeit quite appropriate for a vampire.
And there's that. The unfortunate Lucy never becomes an actual bride, as she is murdered by Dracula before she can wed her fiancé Arthur Holmwood. Instead, she's doomed to become a vampire - and a not particularly nice one, at that.
Pre-vampire Lucy flirting, as she models her gown for one of her suitors (Dr. Seward).
And in her tomb - No longer flirty, but definitely dangerous.
While Ellen and Lucy are both lovely in their own way, they're quite different in temperament. Unlike the haunted and serious minded Ellen, pre-vampire Lucy comes from a privileged background. She's frivolous, fun-loving, and popular, as well as sexually curious. She even has three handsome suitors vying for her attention, before she finally chooses one.
That said, both women will eventually succumb to the temptations of the undead, and the consequences for each will be devastating.
no subject
Date: 2025-03-30 01:12 pm (UTC)bleodswean:
Thought-provoking! And in Coppola's version (as well as others) the sisters are referred to as the brides. Their costuming is fantabulous!
I love the symbolism of Ellen wearing a bridal gown. What was Mina wearing in the bedsit when Dracula visits her as mist, then transforms into the bat when they are interrupted?
This post reminds me that I want to talk about the terrible disservice Lucy has been given in film versus her characterization in the novel.
And my response:
Thanks, E.!
The sisters' costumes in the film were stunning. I especially liked the Medusa aspect of the sister with snakes in her hair.
Interesting that you asked about Mina's attire. For this scene (which I've always thought of as the wedding scene between Mina and Dracula), she wears a demure ivory-color nightgown, very delicate, and reminiscent of a bridal gown. Quite apt.
no subject
Date: 2025-03-30 05:09 pm (UTC)And we should post a photo of the brides - monica especially!
no subject
Date: 2025-03-30 07:04 pm (UTC)I can't find a full length pic of Mina's costume, but did locate a couple pics of it that I'll share.
Found a couple good ones of the brides, will post that too!
no subject
Date: 2025-03-30 01:46 pm (UTC)A very interesting post, thanks for posting it.
Ellen's bridal dress make sense to me, in that whole becoming the bride of death tradition.
But I am always puzzled by Lucy's dress. Honestly, I don't what it is meant to represent, beyond a complete contrast to her sensual attire in the garden!
My response:
Thank you - you're most welcome.
Lucy's wedding gown is the most historically inaccurate of the film's costuming, and frankly, I always thought it was hideous.
That said, I think it's supposed to symbolize Lucy's transformation from normal to monster. The outfit's certainly creepy, and thus perfectly fits the tomb scene in all its horror.
no subject
Date: 2025-03-30 01:57 pm (UTC)Re the treatment of Lucy, that's been on my mind too.
Coppola turns her into an eager trollop wannabe, the girl who gets what she deserves, I guess as a contrast to Lucy and a moment of titillation and horror together. It's no surprise that in the film her hair is red and her night attire is red. If we consider the colour use pointed out by earthspirits, the only other person strongly connected to that colour is old Drac as courteous host and living Drac in his armour.
My response:
I agree that Lucy is presented as a contrast to Mina. The red lingerie she wears in the infamous werewolf scene (the least Victorian nightwear I've ever seen - lol) directly connects her to blood and her fall from grace with Dracula.
Unfortunately for Lucy, Dracula doesn't love her - she's just a means to an end, and a particularly appalling act of revenge, in the wake of Mina leaving him for Jonathan.
A stark contrast to the prince's feelings for Mina, who he sincerely respects and loves.
As for Book Lucy: She's presented as a bit of a flirt, but very innocent. While she does have three suitors, she doesn't display the heavy-handed seductiveness depicted in the film.
Book Dracula is not sexy or romantic - very much the opposite. Stoker does hint that something "unthinkable" occurred when Lucy was attacked by him (besides the obvious blood drinking), but this is never explicitly revealed.
Stoker knew his audience. Victorian readers certainly enjoyed such racy titillation.
no subject
Date: 2025-03-30 05:07 pm (UTC)Okay, let's take these comments and extrapolate in a novel discussion.
no subject
Date: 2025-03-30 07:16 pm (UTC)Ohhh, novel discussion sounds FUN!
no subject
Date: 2025-03-30 07:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-03-31 12:15 am (UTC)