If you are a huge Sex & The City fan, like myself, than you have probably already discovered Lipstick Jungle on NBC. It has been widely debated this winter, which (if either) new tv series satisfies fashionable career driven women post Sex & The City; Lipstick Jungle (based off the Candace Bushnell novel), or Cashmere Mafia (produced by Sex & The City producer, Darren Star). However when it comes down to best in fashion, Lipstick Jungle wins hands down in my opinion.
While nothing can compare to what Patricia Fields did as costume designer for Sex & The City (and yes I know, she’s on Team Mafia), Lipstick Jungles wardrobe is fresh, fabulous and perhaps most importantly, so very wearable. The three main characters are best friends Nico Reiley, Wendy Healey, and Victory Ford, all powerful career driven women in New York City. Daniel Lawson was brought on to Team Jungle as Costume Designer, and collaborated with Fashion Consultant Amanda Ross. The two were presented with the important task of designing the perfect wardrobe for the three very different and, extremely successful women.
Nico and Wendy are both at the top of their media game at the same firm; Wendy as a successful movie executive, and Nico as editor-in-chief of a popular fashion magazine, “Bonfire”. Wendy tends to stay on the classic and feminine side of businesswomen, but her wardrobe also has a glamorous old Hollywood feel to it. Nico adds a bit more sex appeal and fierceness to her wardrobe that comes off as effortlessly chic.
My favorite character, and the “Carrie” of the show in terms of wardrobe, is Victory Ford. Despite the characters name, that is in fact a name of a car dealership in my hometown, I am in love with this character and her fantastic wardrobe. It is no surprise that the character with the most drool worthy wardrobe, plays a well known New York fashion designer. In Lipstick Jungle the core concept for Victory Ford, is that she only wears Victory Ford. So not only did Lawson have to create a wardrobe for Victory Ford, but essentially her whole line of clothing. He portrayed Victory and her line as fun, flirty, feminine, trendy, and sophisticated. “I based her on a modern day Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn from Breakfast at Tiffany’s ), not so much on the black sheath dress but on her outlook on life,” Lawson says. “She marches to her own drummer and looks fabulous doing it. … As a designer you could see her stepping out of her brownstone and taking inspiration from the people all around her. People in New York are not afraid to show their unique looks and she’s inspired by that.” Peter Som’s line was chosen as being most similar to what Lawson wanted for Victory Ford’s line.
One of the great things about this show and the show’s website, is that it gives style tips on how to get the women’s three different looks. Now although I don’t agree with people aspiring to look EXACTLY like their favorite celebs, I do think its nice to pick up little pieces of the wardrobe and style that attracts you to the character. The website is jam packed with extras like “ Shop Victory/Wendy/Nico”, or the “Shopisode Archive” both allowing you to search for clothes and accessories from the show. The website also has a weekly issue of “ Bonfire” magazine, the fictitious magazine Nico Reilley works for. The issues are short, usually 12 pages, but whats inside is what makes it a nice little bonus.
So are you Team Mafia or Team Jungle??
Till next time Fashion Lovers,
Jodi
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