I Love Lucy, Behind the Seams with Gavia-Baker Whitelaw logo, The Brady Bunch, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Friends, and Wandavision on stacked television sets

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‘WandaVision’ and the secret language of sitcom costume design

From 'I Love Lucy' to 'Friends,' sitcoms have a very specific visual language.

 

Gavia Baker-Whitelaw

Internet Culture

Posted on Feb 12, 2021   Updated on Feb 19, 2021, 7:20 am CST

With WandaVision reviving everyone’s love of vintage sitcoms, we decided it was time to take a closer look at the genre. This week’s Behind the Seams video delves into the history of sitcom fashion, beginning with black-and-white shows like I Love Lucy, and covering sitcoms like The Brady Bunch, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Friends, and The Good Place.

Sitcoms have their own visual language, opting for bright lights and a colorful palette to emphasize their lighthearted tone. They invariably look very different from the grey, serious color scheme you see in crime dramas. They’re also a lot more trendy. As we explain in this video, sitcoms love to include fashion choices that quickly go out of style—partly because contemporary costumes are relatable, and partly because they’re funny. That’s why vintage sitcoms often look so rooted in a specific era—and why they’re a great choice for a genre-savvy homage like WandaVision.

In each episode of Behind the Seams, we explore a different element of cinematic costume design, whether that’s a deep dive into a specific movie like Mad Max: Fury Road, or an examination of a popular trope like Disney princess ballgownsClick here to subscribe!

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*First Published: Feb 12, 2021, 11:01 am CST