What will replace ‘Mad Men’ as the most fashionable TV show? Here are four contenders
As the entertainment industry gathers for Sunday’s Emmys to toast TV’s best and brightest — and bid a final farewell to the style-influencing period drama “Mad Men†— it’s worth taking a moment to look at the fall schedule to see what sartorial splendor is in store. Here are some shows we’re betting will fascinate us with fashion, on screen and off.
“Empireâ€
“Empire†is our odds-on favorite to inherit the throne abdicated by Don Draper and his pocket-squared ilk, and it’s not just because Lee Daniels’ series landed two costume design Emmy nominations right out of the gate (though it lost out in the contemporary costumes category to “Transparent†when the Creative Arts Emmys were awarded Sept. 12). And it’s only partly because the Lyons’ den is teeming with deliciously over-the-top wardrobe choices — think Lucious (Terrence Howard) with his deep bench of neck scarves, ascots and pocket squares; Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) and her menagerie of animal prints.
It’s mostly because the show has proved incredibly popular, making it an appealing partner for fashion brands. That style synergy was evident earlier this month when Saks Fifth Avenue filled the windows of its New York City and Beverly Hills flagship stores with an “Empireâ€-inspired curation of designer goods including studded leather MCM handbags and backpacks (in the $1,000-plus range), Jimmy Choo shoes (including a pair of high-heeled, animal-print, calf-hair boots priced at $1,895) fine jewelry from Alexis Bittar and women’s clothing from Cushnie et Ochs.
And we’d bet the Saks “curated/inspired-by†effort won’t be the Lyons’ last roar in the fashion arena. As fans of the show might point out, the “Empire†empire dabbles in more than music, and there have been oblique references to some kind of fashion-related division within the company too, which opens the door to all kinds of possibilities. Right now there hardly seems a better bet than team Lyon to turn a plotline into a clothing line. (Season 2 of “Empire†premieres Sept. 23.)
“American Horror Story: Hotelâ€
The show’s serious — and seriously spooky — sense of style comes as no surprise. Costume designer Lou Eyrich has earned a pair of Costume Designers Guild awards for the show, as well as winning both this year’s Emmy for period or fantasy series costumes and last year’s for miniseries (both shared with Elizabeth Macey and Ken van Duyne). The potential double-down game-changer for Season 5? That would be Lady Gaga as the Countess — she of the glamorous, floor-length fuchsia gown and the chic-deadly accessory of a single silver metallic, chain-mail-like glove that ends in ornate filigree fingernails as pointed and deadly as daggers. Throw in a recently announced limited-edition fashion collection themed around the upcoming season — set to drop at Hot Topic on Sept. 28 — and the single-glove-as-style-statement could be back to a level of popularity it hasn’t enjoyed since the days of Michael Jackson. (“American Horror Story: Hotel,†premieres Oct. 7 on FX)
“Scream Queensâ€
When it comes to making a fashion statement, this “Heathersâ€-meets-â€Scream†mash-up with “Cluelessâ€-worthy clothes is certainly throwing its cat-ear beret into the ring. The comedy-horror (from the creators of “Glee†and “American Horror Story,†which means costume designer Eyrich is on board here too) centers around a killing spree and a sorority house and appears to boast a label count to rival its body count. Far in advance of the premiere, fashion magazines (and at least one dedicated blog “Scream Queens Fashionâ€) have been dishing on everything style-related, from one character’s two-story, white-lacquered walk-in closet to the high-low mix of brands that appear on screen. These include Nasty Gal, Christian Siriano, Alice + Olivia and the occasional vintage Chanel handbag for the girls and a deep bench of Brooks Brothers preppy staples for the boys.
The show also manages to make some sly fashion references along the way — like the handful of girls with the same first name; Chanel Oberlin (played by Emma Roberts), Chanel No. 2 (Ariana Grande), Chanel No. 3 (Billie Lourd), Chanel No. 4 (Lindsey Shaw) and, you had to know this was coming, Chanel No. 5 (Abigail Breslin). There’s even a “Coco†(Anna Margaret) thrown in for good measure. (“Scream Queens†premieres Sept. 22 on Fox.)
“The Royalsâ€
We have to admit that the first season of E! Entertainment Television’s soapy series, centered on a fictional modern-day British royal family, was barely on our radar when it debuted in March, but with Elizabeth Hurley as a cleavage-baring Queen Helena, whose go-to designers include Victoria Beckham, Vera Wang and Dolce & Gabbana; a Goth-tinged, mini-skirted Kate Middleton clone (Alexandra Park’s Princess Eleanor); and a royal dandy (Jake Maskell) whose taste runs to vintage scarves and bold Vivienne Westwood suits, costume designer Rachel Walsh is giving viewers an amped-up, over-the-top look at what today’s real royals lack. It’s pure fashion fascination — no fascinators required. (Season 2 of “The Royals†premieres Nov. 15 on E! Entertainment Television.)
