Reading the Text: Shallow Thoughts on "The Good Wife"
Having recently viewed several pieces on YouTube about wardrobe selection on “The Good Wife”, I have been watching the show with an even greater attention to detail. (As if I didn’t already have enough to keep track of, with the complex story arcs, sharp dialogue, and dynamic acting!) The thought that goes into dressing the show’s ensemble of characters deserves some appreciation, so here are a few observations on the aesthetic choices in the latest episode...
In "Great Firewall", Cary and Kalinda meet in the lobby of her new apartment. I love the way they dressed Kalinda in this scene. She was still sporting her standard uniform (dark attire and, of course, The Boots), but the leather was limited to a simple trim on her coat. The heavy leather pieces she wears often lend the effect of armor; toning that down signaled a change in her emotional accessibility. The lavender silk scarf around her neck was another lovely and revealing choice. The delicacy of the material and the warmth of color around her face served to soften her look and added to the sense of vulnerability for her character.
And now, we enter fangurl conspiracy theory territory: I would never have noticed this if I hadn’t downloaded “Great Firewall” in glorious HD off of iTunes, but…In Kalinda’s scenes the next day at LG&B, we see her wearing a black skirt and blouse with detailing along the bodice and around the cuffs - a colorful, abstract print material peeking through black cut-outs. It’s probably just an optical illusion created by the angle and the lighting, but in a couple of shots, the design near her cuff takes on the shape of a heart. As in, she is literally wearing a heart on her sleeve.
(And yes, at this point I realize that it may appear I have too much time on my hands…If only that were the case. I’m just extraordinarily talented at discovering new methods of procrastination.)
Next, can I just say how thrilled I am that they got rid of Cary's helmet hair from last season? The change perfectly complements his character’s transition, from a conservative comb-across while working for a wealthy private firm to a new tousled look that matches his scrappiness as a public servant. Plus, this style actually does justice to the hotness of Matt Czuchry! (He’s not really my type, but I find him quite irresistible and charming in interviews like the Paley Center roundtable!) It’s also rather adorable that he’s got some attempts at stubble going on (albeit very fair, almost invisible attempts), hinting at his rebelliousness in defying authority to help Kalinda.
Finally, Becca and Jackie bonding in the Florrick kitchen was creepy enough even before I noticed that Becca was wearing a pearl necklace - just like Jackie. The implication that she had the forethought to don the accessory for the occasion is perfectly in line with all we know about her machinations. Add to that the way her jacket coordinated with Jackie’s scarf, and their matching Cheshire grins completed the frightening clone vision. Run, Zach! RUUUUUNNN!!!
In "Great Firewall", Cary and Kalinda meet in the lobby of her new apartment. I love the way they dressed Kalinda in this scene. She was still sporting her standard uniform (dark attire and, of course, The Boots), but the leather was limited to a simple trim on her coat. The heavy leather pieces she wears often lend the effect of armor; toning that down signaled a change in her emotional accessibility. The lavender silk scarf around her neck was another lovely and revealing choice. The delicacy of the material and the warmth of color around her face served to soften her look and added to the sense of vulnerability for her character.
And now, we enter fangurl conspiracy theory territory: I would never have noticed this if I hadn’t downloaded “Great Firewall” in glorious HD off of iTunes, but…In Kalinda’s scenes the next day at LG&B, we see her wearing a black skirt and blouse with detailing along the bodice and around the cuffs - a colorful, abstract print material peeking through black cut-outs. It’s probably just an optical illusion created by the angle and the lighting, but in a couple of shots, the design near her cuff takes on the shape of a heart. As in, she is literally wearing a heart on her sleeve.
(And yes, at this point I realize that it may appear I have too much time on my hands…If only that were the case. I’m just extraordinarily talented at discovering new methods of procrastination.)
Next, can I just say how thrilled I am that they got rid of Cary's helmet hair from last season? The change perfectly complements his character’s transition, from a conservative comb-across while working for a wealthy private firm to a new tousled look that matches his scrappiness as a public servant. Plus, this style actually does justice to the hotness of Matt Czuchry! (He’s not really my type, but I find him quite irresistible and charming in interviews like the Paley Center roundtable!) It’s also rather adorable that he’s got some attempts at stubble going on (albeit very fair, almost invisible attempts), hinting at his rebelliousness in defying authority to help Kalinda.
Finally, Becca and Jackie bonding in the Florrick kitchen was creepy enough even before I noticed that Becca was wearing a pearl necklace - just like Jackie. The implication that she had the forethought to don the accessory for the occasion is perfectly in line with all we know about her machinations. Add to that the way her jacket coordinated with Jackie’s scarf, and their matching Cheshire grins completed the frightening clone vision. Run, Zach! RUUUUUNNN!!!