Introducing The Gilded Age
Peggy Scott: Denée Benton
Costume Designer: Kasia Walicka-Maimone
Pitched as a prequel series to his massively successful Downton Abbey, Julian Fellows soon took his idea and made it it’s own stand-alone period drama. Set in New York City during the 1880s “The Gilded Age” premiered on HBO, January 24, 2022.
It has an ensemble cast featuring stars from Broadway. While many of the storylines focus on the New York’s super elite in-crowd— “The 400”— made up of old money and the new people trying to push in, not every character’s narrative center on the frivolity of high society.
(post contains affiliate links)
Who is Peggy Scott?
Offering a fresh perceptive in a period drama is Peggy Scott. Peggy is member of the black elite from Brooklyn. She is
smart well-educated and very ambitious. After a falling out with her father, Peggy meets Marian and lands a job with
Agnes van Rhijn as a secretary but Peggy has aspirations to be a published writer.
Peggy’s costume reflect her drive, ambition and her affluence
Owning to her drive, ambition and intelligence many of Peggy’s costume are smart, chic and very stylish. She wears a lot of dresses with plaids, which were very popular in the era. Many of her dresses of recurring in throughout season one but it’s a case of quality over quantity as none of her looks are outlandish or unflattering. However it would have nice if she got some stunning evening gowns.
This page is a ranked list of Peggy’s 7 best costumes from Season one of The Gilded Age. The costumes were ranked by aesthetics, memorability and how well they reflect Peggy.
List Subject to Change
Spoilers for Season 1
7. The Muted Plaid Dress
This plaid dress is what Peggy wears when she first meets Marian in episode one under her brown traveling coat. She wears it several times throughout season one with different accessories.
It’s a brown and gray plaid over a light dove gray. Down the front of the bodice are metal buttons. The sleeves are three-quarter and trimmed with white lace. It has a bustle with draping at the front.
It’s a cute yet smart look.
6. The Yellow and Brown Striped Dress
While a brown striped dress could be a dour and dull look, the shock of yellow satin of Peggy’s costumes livens it up.
The yellow color matches the stripes giving the look harmony. Peggy wears this costume a few times. The yellow satin have a very dynamic draping at collar and down the front and also used at the cuff. The brown stripes does have a slight pattern which also offers a surprising detail. The skirt is also in an fashionable bustle.
It is a great combination of showcases her energy with sophistication.
5. The Red and White Plaid Dress
Another smart look for Peggy is her red and white plaid dress. Like many of her other costumes it has a drape front skirt and bustle.
She compliments the look with a darker red hat and black lace shawl.
4. The Purple Floral Dress
One her other floral looks that she wears a few times in season one is a purple dress. While it is floral there is also a tonal purple wide vertical stripe pattern to the material. It’s from trimmed black lace giving a refined elegant that is perfect for an up-coming young writer.
3. Pink Floral Dress
One of the most memorable scenes in season one is the turning on the lights at the New Times Building. Much is made of this event and Peggy is there covering the event for an article for the Globe.
Her dress is a pink floral dress with charming ruffle draped asymmetrically at the collar. There is a sheen to fabric with buttons down the front. The skirt has a bustle and is opened at the front revealing an underskirt that matches the color of the flowers of the pattern and has pick-ups.
She styles it with a hat, earrings and gold brooch.
This dress is worn again in season two and season three. It’s a favorite among her wardrobe with good reason, it’s so pretty. It’s always nice to see costume repeats throughout the seasons.
2. The Black and Silver Dress
One of Peggy’s floral dresses in season one is her black floral with a floral silver inset. The silver fabric is elegantly drape and pleated. The silver fabric is also used at the cuffs. The black material looks like it’s made from maybe a velvet and is only uses for the top while the bustled skirt is made from a solid black.
It’s a very chic yet understated look for Peggy.
1. The Bright Red and Plaid Dress
This dress is a combination of lush bright red satin with a smart white and brown plaid inset, cuffs, trim down the red skirt and used as the under-skirt. The red over-skirt is also bustled.
This dress is a daring combination that reads as energetic and very elegant which perfectly reflects Peggy’s character.
This is among one the best costumes of season one.
