Jessie Mei Li plays Alina Starkov in “Shadow and Bone”
Alina Starkov of Shadow and Bone
Alina: Jessie Mei Li Costume Designer: Wendy Partridge
The second season of Netflix’s Shadow and Bone dropped March 16, 2023. Where the first season focused on the first book of Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone trilogy, Season 2 covers books two and three, with characters from the Six of Crows duology woven in. There are a lot of differences between the books and the series, so it’s best to look at each as separate stories.
Jessie Mei Li plays Alina Starkov in “Shadow and Bone”
Alina Starkov of Shadow and Bone
Alina: Jessie Mei Li Costume Designer: Wendy Partridge
Based on books from The Grishaverse by Leigh Bardugo, the Netflix TV show “Shadow and Bone” combines the first book of The Shadow and Bone trilogy and weaves into it the characters from the Six of Crows duology.
The premise is Ravka is a country that is figuratively and literally torn by war and a dark accursed shadow region filled with monsters called “The Fold.” Grishas, special humans that have powers to help manage the fold however only one fable Grisha has the ability to tear down it, The Sun Summoner, a grisha who can manipulate sunlight. However there are those who want to use the Fold for their own ambitions.
Winona Ryder as Mina Harker (née Murray) wearing the red, V-neck bustle gown designed for her by Dracula in wears green throughout “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” (1992)
Red – Passion, Danger and Energy
Red is a primary color that comes from multiple shades and tones. It’s a color of passion, danger and energy, a bold color that stands out and can make the heart beat faster.
Because of that, I’m focusing on costumes that feature bright, vivid reds. Think cherries and tomatoes, not wine. Cherry is primary red, whereas burgundies, crimsons, and scarlets are darker shades of the color.
This ranking is only for fantasy and science fiction movies. Costumes from period and modern movies have their own rankings. Also, undergarments, cover-ups, sleepwear, outerwear, swimwear etc are not included.
The costumes are ranked by aesthetics, memorability and how well it suits the character/film. This list aims for objectivity but no list truly is.
Satine in her iconic Red Gown from Moulin Rouge (2001)
Red – Joy, Passion, Danger, & Energy
Red is a primary color that comes from a variety of popular shades and tones. It’s a color of joy, passion, danger and energy. It’s a bold color that stands out and can make the heart beat faster.
It is also an auspicious color and is used as a bridal color in many cultures.
This ranking is all about costumes that are bright and vivid reds. Think Cherries and Victory Red lipstick and not wine.
So that primary red shades and not burgundies or scarlets or darker shades of reds, those shades have separate rankings.
Julia Roberts’ red dress in “Pretty Woman” (1990) remains one of the most iconic bright red costumes in modern movies.
Joy, Passion, Danger and Energy
Red is a primary color that comes from a number of shades and tones. It’s a color of joy, passion, danger and energy. It’s a bold color that stands out and can make the heart beat faster, thus increasing blood flow and stimulating appetite. It is also an auspicious color and is used as a bridal color in many cultures.
This ranking only considers costumes from modern movies—in this case, movies more or less set in the modern world, even if not the 2020s precisely. Period costumes and fantasy/sci-fi costumes have their own rankings. Undergarments, cover-ups, sleepwear, outerwear, and swimwear are not included.
This ranking is all about bright or vivid red costumes. Think cherries and tomatoes, not wine. Or primary red, not burgundies, scarlets or crimsons. The costumes are ranked by aesthetics, memorability and how well they suit the character/film. This list aims for objectivity but no list truly is.
The third season of “The Gilded Age” premiered summer 2025. It picks up six months after season two closes, roughly in early spring of 1884.
Season three finds Gladys in an extensional battle with her mother, Bertha. Gladys wants to marry for love and her father, George, and her brother, Larry, are on her side. However Bertha is determined for her to marry Hector Vere, The Duke of Buckingham.
This dynamic of Gladys’ marriage is the cause for much of the drama for the members of The Russell’s family as both Larry and George feel betrayed by Bertha’s ruthless at the cost of her family’s happiness and their desires for their lives and well-being over social standings.
HBO’s third season of the “The Gilded Age” premiered in June 2025. It picks up six months after the end of season two, roughly early spring of 1884.
After quitting her job at the Globe due her romantic vibe with Mr. Fortune, Peggy is more of free agent who focused on her stories and her getting chapters published in newspapers. Along with her writing, she is still a secretary at Van Rhijn/Forte household as well getting involved in the Women’s Suffrage movement which is very passionate about. However Peggy’s main storyline is her romance with Dr. William Kirkland, who is from prominent Newport Family.
Louisa Jacobson as Marian Brook “The Gilded Age” Season 3 Ranking Costumes, Gowns, Dresses and Outfits
Marian Brook: Louisa Jacobson Costume Designer: Kasia Walicka-Maimone
HBO’s third season of the “The Gilded Age” premiered in the summer 2025. It picks up six months after season two, roughly early spring of 1884.
Marian poised to be more than Debutante
The Third Season finds Marian in a blossoming relationship with Larry Russell. In light her past romantic failures of the past two seasons plus the drama with Gladys and the Duke, Marian is overly cautious with advancing her relationship with Larry.
Carrie Coon portrays Bertha Russell in “The Gilded Age,” Julian Fellowes’ prequel to “Downton Abbey” set in 1880s New York City. Russell’s costumes reflect her new money and power play with New York Society.
The third season of “The Gilded Age” premiered in the summer 2025. It picks up six months after season two, roughly early spring of 1884.
Bertha Poised to Take Over the World
After her triumph in the opera wars Bertha is angleing another victory for her family, the marriage of her daughter Gladys to a member of the British aristocracy. This match would put her family in an unquestionable position as the leaders of American Society, more so than they already were with their seemingly vast wealth, but it comes at the cost to the overall happiness of her family. Unfortunately for Bertha she has a tunnel vision when it comes to this match.
The Second season of HBO’s “The Gilded Age” premiered on October 29th 2023. Much like the title suggests the series is set during 1880s in New York City. It features an ensemble cast with many of the actors being stars of the stage.
Season two opens on Easter of 1883 and is primarily set against the ‘Opera Wars’ which saw the opening of Metropolitan Opera against the exclusive Academy of Music.
