FASHION FIX

Fashion on screen

Grace & Mabel was established in Bristol in 2007, and they soon followed on with a boutique in Bath. Their fashions were recently showcased in the BBC’s production of Chloe, which was filmed in Bristol. This gripping psychological thriller saw many of the production’s clothes sourced in the region. We asked Grace & Mabel owner Daniela Benson about the creative collaboration and look at their distinctive spring/summer designer collection

No matter how sophisticated your Google searches may be, it can be tricky to track down and purchase your favourite on-screen looks. Whether it is Daphne Bridgerton’s tulle lavender gown, Villanelle’s gauzy feminine pink dress or Anna Delvey’s Alaïa dresses, these looks have often been hand-stitched by established costume designers who know exactly how to add a certain pizzazz to an actor’s outfit.

Much to our delight, however, this was not the case for Chloe, the six-part pyschological thrillercreated by Alice Seabright for BBC One, which garnered outstanding reviews from critics and viewers alike. The makers and creators were determined to not only feature iconic locations in the region, but also to shine a light on local artists, musicians and talent, including that of Grace & Mabel.

Grace & Mabel fashions are renowned for pieces that have been individually handpicked from the world’s top designers. The much-loved local indie has attracted the attention of multiple award-winning costume designers in its time, including Charlotte Mitchell (Killing Eve, Harlots), who turned to Grace & Mabel when dressing the characters of Stephen Merchant’s BBC One crime thriller comedy The Outlaws. This is not so surprising because the Clifton boutique’s hand-picked pieces from world-class designers attract attention, and would be a welcome asset in any wardrobe.

Chloe follows the life of a young woman (played by The Crown’s Erin Doherty), who becomes obsessed with one particular picture-perfect Instagram account. As her obsession intensifies, drama very much ensues. The clothes in Chloe were a crucial expression of the deception of the protagonist Becky who absorbs different identities. With appearance at the heart of this story, costume designer Matthew Price (Catastrophe, Unforgotten, Behind Her Eyes) wanted a distinct look for the main characters.

“[Matthew] knew exactly what he wanted for each character in the series,” says Daniela. “We made sure we were able to provide him with the pieces he needed, which meant ordering a few bits from designers like Baum Und Pferdgarten, Munthe and Stine Goya.”

Matthew’s outfit choices brought the designers’ signature prints and psychedelic shades to centre stage. Eager to see what more Grace & Mabel has in store, we took a closer look at its spring/summer collection... n

Erin Doherty wore Stine Goya’s Jasmine Dress in episode two of Chloe