Introducing The Gilded Age
Gladys Russell: Taissa Farmiga
Costume Designer: Kasia Walicka-Maimone
After the success of Downton Abbey, Julian Fellows was considering doing prequel series. That series soon became its own story. “The Gilded Age” set during the gilded age of the 1880s premiered on on HBO, January 24, 2022.
The premise is a juxtaposition of the elite New York Society or “The 400” made up of wealthy blue bloods from old family against the New money people.
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Who is Gladys Russell?
One of these “new people” is seventeen year old Gladys Russell. She is the daughter of George Russell, a super wealthy robber baron and Bertha, who is cunning and ambitious. Bertha keeps Gladys under tight guard and control as she has high standards for the type of people Gladys should associate with and few are good enough. As a result Bertha delays Gladys coming out into society until she can fill the ballroom with the right people.
Gladys’ costumes reflect her mother’s control
As Bertha keeps Gladys under tight control it’s Bertha who dictates Gladys’ fashions. All of Gladys’ costume in season one are girlish and doll-like. Some have liken her wardrobe to little Bo Peep. Gladys does sport looks that more 18th century rather then late 19th century. It’s hard to know what Gladys herself really likes but she young, naive and does often cave into her mother’s authority. She does try and push back but she is invariably thwarted.
Her signature color is purple many soft lavenders but she wears keeps to soft tones.
This page is a ranked list of Gladys’ 7 Best Costumes from Season one of The Gilded Age. The costumes were ranked by aesthetics, memorability and how well they reflect Gladys.
List Subject to Change
Spoilers for Season 1
7. The 18th Century Blue Dress
An example of one of Gladys’ 18th century looks is her blue brocade dress. This soft light blue dress is trimmed with dark red pleated ruffled ribbon which goes down the front with a little bow. The trim is also used at the cuffs along the sheer white flounces.
Her under-skirt tiered and made from a brighter blue lace.
She wears a necklace that has pearl which further emphasizes her innocence and youth.
6. The Purple Evening Dress
As Bertha wants to get in with the elites, she throws an informal party to show-off her grand house. Gladys has to beg to be included but her mother relents, though not without some persuading from her father and her older brother Larry.
Her evening dress is light purple and seems to be medieval revival in style, a Pre-Raphaelite inspired look.
The costume is composed of purple sheer overlay with multiple puffed sleeves trimmed with purple ribbon. The wide waist sash is pleated with a bow. The sheer layer is bustled in the back with a solid purple under-skirt.
She wears a white beaded necklace, which could be pearls.
This costume is odd and slightly childish but it’s also romantic and unique.
She rewears this look during a dinner while in Newport.
5. The Lavender Day Dress
As means of getting into society Bertha offers the use of her ballroom to Mrs.Morris and Mrs.Fane for a charity bazaar.
They ultimately snub her offer and instead opt for a hotel. As revenge George buys-out the entire bazaar shortly after it began. Gladys attends the event and watches as her father gets even with the society ladies.
Gladys’ outfit is white floral silk with a lavender silk pleated front panel at the bodice. There are touches of blues in this dress but it mostly reads lavender, which is Gladys’ signature color.
The skirt is bustled and is lined with a solid purple.
Gladys wears a straw hat with flowers and a wide lavender ribbon securing the hat to her head.
She rewears this dress when she is showing her family’s ballroom to her friend Carrie Astor in preparation for Gladys coming out ball.
4. The White Floral Dress
For Gladys’ coming out ball, Carrie Astor convinces Bertha that they should perform a Quadrille for the guests. As they all practice Gladys wears a charming white floral outfit with a green fabric tuff at the collar, a yellow sash which matches the flowers of the dress and lace trim on the skirt and the cuffs. The skirt is bustled as it was the style and the under-skirt is made from tiers of lace.
This dress still reads childish but it’s more in vogue design than her rococo styles.
3. The Pink 18th Century Dress
Another one of Gladys’ 18th century looks is her pink dress. It has a tonal pink on pink design with horizontal stripes.
It’s accented with green bows at the center front, at the cuffs and one at back. The striped layer is sheer adding soften.
The front panel is trimmed with darker pink lace and green ribbon.
It’s very doll-like but quite pretty all the same.
2. Purple and White Lace Dress
Gladys is first induced to Carrie Astor a Doll’s Tea, an odd party concept hosted by Mrs.Fish. The two young ladies bond over their difficult mothers and become good friends. It’s Carrie that helps prompts Bertha to finally set a date for Gladys’ debut ball.
To the tea Gladys wears a purple look with a white dotted sheer layer, trimmed with white lace and accented with darker purple details.
She wears the same hat as her bazaar outfit.
It’s a prim yet very pretty look that suits Gladys perfectly
1. The Purple Ballgown
Gladys has three looks for her ball but it’s her final look that both memorable, rather pretty and builds off her established color palette.
As is her signature color her final ballgown is a light purple. It’s embellished with silver crystal beading with frothy tulle at the shoulders, draped at the neckline and at the skirt. One of her skirt layers looks like it’s made from a lavender brocade.
She wears a sparkling necklace with matching earrings and hair adornments.
This gown is worn again in season three to the opera just with different tulle details at the neckline.
Shout-out to her Silver Ballgown which is briefly shown.
