The most interesting aspect of the fashion in the BBC series Gentleman Jack, that just aired its second season on HBO, are the style choices made by costume designer Tom Pye for actress Suranne Jones, playing 19th century lesbian landowner Anne Lister, master of Shibden Hall in Halifax, West Yorkshire. Pye had designed the costumes for a TV movie also created by Sally Wainwright, To Walk Invisible (2016) about the Brontë sisters.
Suranne Jones as Anne Lister- Photograph by Aimee Spinks/HBO
The work of the costume department was complemented by the hair and makeup team led by Lin Davie.
Albane Courtois as Eugénie Pierre, Suranne Jones as Anne Lister (c) Matt Squire/HBO
As detailed in the title sequence of each episode that shows Miss Lister getting dressed, she wore a corset, as women did in 1832 England, and ankle-length skirts, however she copied the man’s clothing style for items like shirts, vests, ties, jackets, overcoats and hats.
Amelia Bullmore as Eliza Priestley, Peter Davison as William Priestley (c) Matt Squire/HBO
See the contrast in the men and women clothes worn by Eliza Priestley (Amelia Bullmore) in a lace bonnet and her husband William Priestley (Peter Davison) in a man’s overcoat.
Suranne Jones as Anne Lister- Photograph by Aimee Spinks/HBO
Suranne Jones as Anne Lister-Photograph by Aimee Spinks/HBO
Suranne Jones as Anne Lister-Photograph by James Stack/HBO
Lister wore mostly black outfits, and favored military references in her clothing, but occasionally sported feminine gowns for dressy occasions, such as the white dress with large epaulettes and birds-of-paradise feathers in her hair.
Suranne Jones as Anne Lister, Sophie Rundle as Ann Walker (c) Aimee Spinks/HBO
Sophie Rundle as Ann Walker-Photograph by Aimee Spinks/HBO
Gemma Whelan as Marianne Lister-Photograph by Aimee Spinks/HBO
Gemma Jones as Aunt Anne Lister-Photograph by Aimee Spinks/HBO
Lydia Leonard as Marianna Lawton-Photograph by Aimee Spinks/HBO
See the women styles of the period for Lister’s companion, Ann Walker, (Sophie Rundle), her sister Marian (Gemma Whelan), her Aunt (Gemma Jones), her former lover Marianna Lawton (Lydia Leonard).
Albane Courtois as Eugénie Pierre-Photograph by Aimee Spinks/HBO
See also how a woman from the servant class dressed, Lister’s French maid Albaine Courtois (Eugénie Pierre).