Move over, Villanelle! Ruth Wilson’s His Dark Materials character steals the crown for most stylish TV villain with her vintage-inspired wardrobe full of jewel-tone dresses and luxurious satin
- His Dark Materials is airing on BBC1 – and clothes are stealing the show
- Ruth Wilson’s villainous Mrs Coulter is wowing viewers with her wardrobe
- Character dresses in vintage-inspired pieces in luxurious fabrics and jewel tones
- Fans take to Twitter to say they ‘want it all’ and are ‘obsessed’ with the looks
In the 18 months since Killing Eve’s premiere, Jodie Comer’s deliciously evil Villanelle has been hailed the most stylish villain on television.
But it appears she now has some serious competition for the title.
Viewers of BBC1’s His Dark Materials have taken to Twitter to praise the wardrobe of chief baddie Mrs Coulter (Ruth Wilson), hailing it ‘the best thing on TV’.
Viewers of BBC1’s His Dark Materials have taken to Twitter to praise the wardrobe of chief baddie Mrs Coulter (Ruth Wilson), hailing it ‘the best thing on TV’. Pictured, Mrs Coulter in last night’s episode (left) and slinking around her house in a satin robe in an earlier installment
Luxurious fabrics like satin and velvet are common in Mrs Coulter’s eye-catching wardrobe. Pictured, the character reclines on a sofa in a sumptuous blue blouse and skirt
Costume designer Caroline McCall has drawn heavily on vintage-inspired shapes to create the silhouettes for Mrs Coulter. Pictured, in a flattering dress and a maroon skirt suit (right)
As the action has moved to the snowy North, Mrs Coulter’s outfits have become heavier and more practical. Pictured, in an oversized hat and classic ribbed jumper in an earlier episode
From the first episode, when Mrs Coulter strode into an Oxford college in a teal blue velvet blazer, fashion fans knew they would be in for a treat.
The hits have continued episode after episode, taking in everything from liquid satin night gowns, meticulously tailored suits and a jaunty berry-coloured beret that has several fans on its own.
Last night’s installment – the sixth of eight in this first series – was no exception, with Mrs Coulter striding into her secret lair in a dramatic fur-lined coat.
Underneath the look was just as a dramatic: a deep red, high neck dress with three-quarter sleeves that boasted a fashion-forward split on the lower arm.
For a party scene, Mrs Coulter was dressed in this elegant dress in a gorgeous shade of emerald green. Costume designer McCall said she wanted the outfits to be enticing
Fans have responded with enthusiasm to Mrs Coulter’s amazing looks. One declared she ‘wants it all’, while another said the outfits have ‘won the show’
The stunning outfits were enough to impress UK-based journalist Lauren Smith, who posted a selection of her favourite looks alongside the caption: ‘Ruth Wilson as Mrs Coulter outfit appreciation post #hisdarkmaterials.’
Other excited fans have responded with similar enthusiasm. One declared she ‘wants it all’, while another said the outfits have ‘won the show’.
Even those who confess to finding issues with the drama, an adaptation of Philip Pullman’s beloved Northern Lights novel, confess that they can’t resist the allure of Mrs Coulter’s ensembles.
From the first episode, when Mrs Coulter strode into an Oxford college in a teal blue velvet blazer fans of the show knew they would be in for a treat. Pictured, Ruth Wilson as Mrs Coulter in the outfit with Dafne Keen, who plays her daughter and main character Lyra Belaqua
For an outing to an explorers’ society, Mrs Coulter wore a green skirt and matching blazer
Even when lounging, as seen above, Mrs Coulter is the epitome of classic glamour
Much of this is down to the sumptuousness of the fabrics.
Viewers have watched Mrs Coulter slink around her penthouse in satin, storm through the Arctic in heavy faux fur or shake up academics in embellished velvet.
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph last month, costume designer Caroline McCall told how these materials were deliberately chosen to make the character even more appealing to unsuspecting children, including her own daughter Lyra Belaqua (Dafne Keen).
She explained: ‘The textures of her clothing are tactile, and that velvet jacket has a twinkle and sparkle that children might be drawn to. There’s a softness to her clothing, at least in the beginning.’
McCall, who designed the costumes for Downton Abbey, added that she drew heavily on the shapes and silhouettes of vintage clothing when creating looks for Mrs Coulter, who stands out for the power she holds in a patriarchal society.
‘We looked at clothes from the 1910s to 1950s, ultimately choosing pieces that created a timeless feel,’ McCall continued.
‘They still shape a sense of glamour for modern women.’
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