Nanny McPhee

Nic Ede designed the costumes for Nanny McPhee, which is set in a "picture-book" late Victorian, in a small village at the edge of London. The color scheme is very vibrant, like a great big Easter party.





The dad has a green suit and brown vest. It is very clean and fit.
The rich Aunt is the one who gives them money, and certainly dresses like she has money.
The dress she is wearing here looks like a corset and very Victorian. She is all about etiquette and what is proper. She dresses very proper.



Here they are wearing more muted colors, but they still follow the style.




Nanny Mcphee always wears black. She wears the same thing the entire movie. She has her crooked cane and a cape, but the most notable feature, the one that changes, is her face. Her warts, crooked teeth, and her giant nose, all disappear and she becomes more beautiful as the children progress.

The children are wearing blue, yellow, and pink. It adds to the magical feel. The colors are very alive.




On the left is Mr. Brown in a gray suit. It's very plain. He has the most simple outfit. His bride-to-be is probably the most outlandish. She has a bit of a bo-peep look (with a sheep and everything). Definitely not a traditional wedding dress. Her dresses have a corset and come out full on the skirt.
The aunt looks suitable for a wedding in a light blue and Victorian dress and hat. The children match the bride in bright, springy green and pink ribbon.
On the right is the maid. She was taken in by the aunt (who thought she was one of the children) and taught how to be a lady. Before, she wore pale colors and an apron. Now she wears a shiny blue dress and white gloves. She walks tall and proper.
On the far right is the cook. She has an apron and wears a striped white and orange shirt with rolled-up sleeves. Her hair looks like she has been working hard, under a military-looking hat (she was once a cook in the army).





In the end scene, snow starts to fall and everyone's clothes turn white. The maid is now the bride, and her dress now looks like a beautiful wedding gown. The only one not in white is Nanny Mcphee. The white is such a big contrast. It could symbolize things being complete or starting over, with a clean slate, like a new beginning.

Overall, I really liked this movie. Costume-wise it was really nice that they differed from the norm and entertaining to see how far they would go with color. Most of the time the costumes helped develop the characters, but occasionally it was just a distraction.
I was wondering why they wouldn't have Nanny McPhee change clothes at all, which I hadn't really noticed before (except in the last scene where she is the only one not in white). Nanny McPhee doesn't change like the other characters do. Her clothes reflect that she stays constant. Her face changes, which is in reflection of the Brown family, but she doesn't learn anything new or have a change in heart. She is basically the same person from the beginning of the movie to the end, and her clothes are a reflection of that.


Emma Thompson's makeup:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xrhzmo_emma-thompson-becomes-nanny-mcphee_shortfilms