Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street premiered in 2007 and was directed by Tim Burton. The musical, written by Stephen Sondheim, tells the story of a man who kills people in search of revenge, then discreetly disposes of the bodies by turning them into meat pies and selling them on the streets of London. Set in the 19th century, costume designer Colleen Atwood had her work cut out for her. Atwood was faced with the challenge of combining Tim Burton's unique style and darker vision with the style of the era. Combining lots of black and dark colors with period Crinoline clothing, the film has a defined and easily recognizable style. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayCrinoline, the period of costume history from 1840 to 1865, is the time period in which Sweeney Todd is set. One defining feature of this period is missing from most of the film, the Crinoline. Crinolines were the main change from the previous period, and these undergarments kept dresses up to enormous, even extreme, dimensions. The film's protagonists don't particularly follow all the traditional crinoline styles, but the ensemble members come pretty close. For example, in the song “Pirelli's Miracle Elixir” there are many times where the camera focuses on the ensemble and they were all dressed according to the era. The women had their hair in the traditional coiffure and bonnets, but the leading women never wore their hair as such or wore bonnets. This film, while successful with its ensemble costumes, doesn't truly replicate the time period. What one must remember about the film is that it is stylized and the costumes contain period elements without fully meeting the requirements of a realistic period piece. The vintage Crinoline had a very special silhouette, smaller at the top with a wide flared skirt. The overall silhouette is a bit like a bell. Sweeney Todd, however, does not completely meet this requirement. Women's dresses slightly resemble a bell, but are not large enough in the skirt, thanks to the lack of crinoline. The best example of a bell shape would most likely be found in the chorus of extras rather than the main cast, but among the leads the best example would be the blue dress worn by Johanna, played by Jayne Wisener. This dress falls from the shoulders and flares out from the waist, then falls in large waves to the floor. This dress gives Johanna the bell-shaped silhouette that was desirable during the Crinoline period. The women's hair in this film never helps the silhouette. Both female protagonists, Johanna and Mrs. Lovett (played by Helena Bonham Carter), wear their hair in styles that suit their personalities rather than the period. Mrs. Lovett's hair is pulled back into a strange, yet bizarre, hairstyle that rises from the back of her head. Johanna's long blonde hair falls loose down her back. Neither hairstyle matches (or even resembles) the twisted bun that rests on the lower half of a woman's head, held there by a small net called a Snood, the style that was worn at the time. The men's silhouette is pretty simple these days, so it wasn't too difficult to replicate. The male silhouette is easily visible in the main male characters, with few exceptions in terms of costumes. Sweeney Todd, played by Johnny Depp, never wears a top hat, even when he's outside. Todd also wears an open, ill-fitting jacket, which is out of keeping with the time period. One moreOnce in a while, the males who make up the ensemble wear appropriate top hats and jackets. Regardless of stylistic choices, the costumes in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street were beautifully constructed. One costume that seems carefully constructed is the aforementioned blue dress that Johanna wears. The dress falls almost from her shoulders, and at the top hem there is a line of white lace, popular during the crinoline period. In the bust of this beautiful blue dress you can clearly see the structural work done with stitching and stitching. Even in the bust you can see that there is only the hint of a corset underneath. The fabric this dress is made of looks luxurious and expensive, which would be accurate considering her foster caregiver is a well-known judge. Also, if you look closely, you can see a small print on the fabric, especially on the bodice. The print would be true to the Crinoline's time period due to the advancements of the industrial revolution. Stylistic choices can make any film more interesting, unless you are watching the film for the purpose of analysis and criticism. Some stylizations add character, others detract from it. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street featured incredibly stylized and different costumes compared to the Crinoline period in which the film is supposedly set. The greatest examples of structural changes would be found in the main characters, Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett. The most prevalent and honestly surprising stylistic choice would be the fact that Mr. Todd wears a leather jacket throughout the film. During this time period, men wore tight-fitting frock coats, usually with tails. These coats were made of fabric, not leather. When you sit down and really think about why Ms. Colleen Atwood would include this drastic choice, this inconsistency with the story can make sense. Sweeney Todd is the hero of the story, but if this story were true and we read it in a history book, Mr. Todd would be seen as an antagonist. Leather jackets, and the automatic assumptions that come from seeing someone wearing a leather jacket, give off a sense of being reckless or tough. Sweeney Todd would definitely be the definition of reckless and murderous while we're at it, so in a way it makes sense to give him a leather jacket. The leather jacket is part of his character, although completely inaccurate. Otherwise, Mr. Todd wears a well-fitting vest and white shirt with Leg-O-Mutton-like sleeves. Lovett's costumes were more accurate, in some respects. Her main costume somewhat resembled a punk Raggedy-Anne doll with slight crinoline embellishments, such as a corset worn on the outside of her clothes à la Clara Barton. The corset looks properly and well made, and is obviously a fashionable corset rather than one that is supposed to push all the organs together for the "beautiful" wasp waist effect. His main costume also includes black, fishnet fingerless gloves, which look like they're from the '80s and were obviously out of place. Ms. Lovett's main costume also includes combat boots that, regardless of personality, no woman in this period would wear. His other costumes are more period accurate while still remaining true to the character. For example, her final costume is made with more lace and is more elegant (there is some sort of shiny fabric around the bust area and it looks, and makes her look, more expensive), simply because her business is now picking up and she is making more money. His new outfit reflects his new social position and shows that he is gaining wealth and is now “successful.” Under her “rich” dress, there is a hint.