NEWS: Murder in Style: The Costumes of Sweeney Todd

CULTURE: Murder in Style: The Costumes of Sweeney Todd

Much like the streets of London after sundown, some fashions are best enjoyed dark, foggy, a bit romantic and utterly dramatic. Like many of you darlings, some of my favorite movies growing up were Tim Burton films. I love dramatic clothes, and let me tell you -- after watching Beetlejuice I was convinced that someday I'd have huge hair, wear exceeding amounts of dark eyeshadow and own a huge red tulle confection of a dress. Hey, I'm halfway there! For me, the best part of Burton's films have always been the wonderfully extraordinary costumes and styling... and what could possibly be better for his medium than romantic fashion and murder with unorthodox weapons?



I can't speak for everyone, but if I had to guess I'd say it's been much too long since we've seen Johnny Depp well-dressed, pale-faced and wild-haired. Too long has he been tan, dreadlocked and filthy, stumbling drunkenly around decks. While there may never be another Edward Scissorhands, Tim Burton and long-time colleague/costume designer Colleen Atwood bring back the hotness with some top-notch, Victorian-inspired costuming in Sweeney Todd.









Johnny Depp as Sweeney Todd



Dressing wasn't too easy for the Victorians. While some of you today bemoan the necessity of underpants, even the poorest men back in the 1840s had to concern themselves with things like flannel undershirts, not to mentions neckerchiefs and hats.









Alan Rickman as Judge Turpin



It could be said that they really knew their layering. Men knew how to suffer for their style, too; right up until Sweeney Todd's times they wore stiffly starched collars up and the [slightly more gentle] folded tips you see here were just coming into fashion.









Sacha Baron Cohen as Signor Adolfo Pirelli



Though, overall, menswear in the Victorian times only became interesting for the rich. They could indulge in things like pocket watches, silk ties, canes with secret compartments and revolvers... while the working class was stuck with cotton shirts and straight-razors.









Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett



The costumes here are, without a doubt, more Burton than Victoria, but would anyone be quite as excited about seeing the gorgeous Helena Bonham Carter in a plain cotton dress and apron instead of her sexy, black corset-bodice and tulle ruffles? Tim Burton's films are above all fantasy, and the clothing looks as stylized as the pale and shadow-eyed actors themselves. Victorian accuracy can relax a bit and let pinstriped pants and big hair take over this Christmas, when Sweeney Todd comes out in theaters.