The Gilded Age: The Secret Meaning Behind The Characters' Costumes Explained
It is no secret that the costumes of The Gilded Age are gorgeous, but there is a secret in The Gilded Ages costumes. The Gilded Age has done well to show the remarkable changes of the era, with innovations like the electric light bulb, telephone, and the beginnings of motion pictures—not to mention the arrival of the railroad. However, the most impressive display of the era’s changes are not seen in technology and transportation but rather in the beautiful dresses adorning the characters of the show, the dresses’ bright colors a dazzling revolution brought about by new artificial dyes.
The Gilded Age begins with Marian’s character discovering that she has been left penniless following her father’s death. She moves from rural Pennsylvania to New York City to live with her Aunts, Agnes and Ada, who embody what is known as New York’s “old wealth.” Meanwhile, New York City is seeing the rise of “new money” like the Russells, Marian’s Aunt’s new neighbors. By the time Marian arrives, battle lines have been drawn and Marian finds herself in the middle of a war without knowing which side she is on.
Related: Gilded Age's Four Hundred Club & Downton Abbey Connection Explained
The Gilded Age captures a turning point in American history, not only economically and socially but also sartorially, with the new artificial dyes producing bolder colors and the city’s “new money” (like the Vanderbilt-esque Russells) bringing European influence to the style. Because of this, The Gilded Age’s costume designer, Walicka-Maimone, gave the main female characters each a specific palette that speaks to their personality and helps the audience identify their characters’ personalities. Here’s a breakdown of which palettes belong to which character
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