Business suits and ’60s dresses are out, and full-length lace gowns and tweed hunting jackets are in… that is, if you’ve heard about the most talked about snub of the 2012 Emmy Awards nominations. For the first time in five years, Mad Men didn’t get a nominations for Best Costume, despite what was arguably costume designer Janie Bryant’s strongest season yet. Remember Jessica Pare, aka Megan Draper’s, black chiffon sleeved minidress, better known as the “Zou Bisou” dress? Yeah, so does EVERYBODY. Bryant’s influence in the fashion industry as a whole has been undeniable, especially with Banana Republic blatantly doing a Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 Mad Men collection. So why did she get overlooked this year? Blame it on the ’60s and our collective disappointment that Mad Men is no longer set in the elegant late ’50s, or blame it on TV newcomers like Downton Abbey who are giving us reason to get inspired, style-wise, by much earlier decades.
Downton Abbey‘s early 20th century British aristrocracy style has already caused a stir in the fashion industry. Ralph Lauren even used the show’s infamous theme song in his fashion show for his fall 2012 preview. And have you noticed that opulence is one of the major themes of fall/winter 2012-3? We’re pretty sure we have Lady Mary Crawley to thank, and of course the show’s costume designer Susannah Buxton, for this fall’s Edwardian influence. No other show is currently influencing the fashion industry to the same degree as Downton Abbey, which is why we think the show will be the likely winner of Best Costume category, despite being up against Boardwalk Empire, The Borgias, Game of Thrones and Once Upon a Time.
Do you think Downtown Abbey has replaced Mad Men has the most influential show in terms of fashion on TV? Who would you rather dress like, Megan Draper or Lady Mary?
Still on Team Megan?: Copy Jessica Pare’s Mad Men Necklace
Photos Courtesy of: HBO, AMC and PBS
Tags: Boardwalk Empire, Downton Abbey, Downton Abbey Ralph Lauren, Emmy Awards Costume Design, Emmy Awards Outstanding Costume Design 2012, Game of Thrones, Janie Bryant, Lady Mary Crawley, Lady Mary Style Icon, Lady Mary vs Megan Draper, Mad Men Banana Republic, Mad Men Emmys, Once Upon a Time, Susannah Buxton, The Borgias, TVs most stylish shows