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Style Profile: Bertie Wooster

Connemara

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As a devoted fan of the brilliant BBC adaptation of P.G. Wodehouse's "Jeeves & Wooster", I thought it would be a boon for those SF members unfamilar with the show to have a look at what I consider the greatest costuming ever done for a television program.

Hugh Laurie (now in an entirely opposite role as Dr. House) made a splendidly buffoonish Wooster. His clothing was absolutely spectacular. It's very easy to admire the classic English gentleman style carried off so well by Wooster, always proper in both town and country attire. The following stills are from a single episode...more shots will be added in future postings.


Warm weather suiting
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On board the ship; navy DB blazer, blue repp tie, pinned collar.
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A smashing DB:
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Dark grey shooting jacket, complete with bellows pocket at chest:
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Mid-grey SB with peak lapels and a DB vest:
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Connemara

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Some more from a block of three episodes (similar costuming):

Splendid DB flannel:
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Silk dressing gown:
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Another shot of that great SB peak lapel grey number:
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I had trouble getting a good shot of this fellow, but I have to post the photo. He is very Astaire-esque. Note the spectators and discreet ascot. Fantastic.
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saint

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Not only is Jeeves and Wooster available on DVD, but the 70s BBC series Wodehouse Playhouse is also now available for hardcore P.G. Wodehouse fans.

Hugh Laurie was also outstanding in the Black Adder series.
 

Virginia Dandy

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Originally Posted by Connemara
It's very easy to admire the classic English gentleman style carried off so well by Wooster, always proper in both town and country attire.

Easy to admire - yes - but those familiar with the television series and the books will recall the running theme that some aspect of Wooster's attire was frequently improper - to the dismay of Jeeves.
 

Aaron

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Connemara, thanks for posting the pic's. The actor in the ascot and spectators gave me an idea for an outfit. Who is the actor playing Jeeves, he's a rather big comedic actor in Britain, correct?

Originally Posted by saint
Hugh Laurie was also outstanding in the Black Adder series.
I love the skit with Byron, Keats, and Shelley discussing syphillis.

A.
 

Lucky Strike

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Originally Posted by Aaron
Connemara, thanks for posting the pic's. The actor in the ascot and spectators gave me an idea for an outfit. Who is the actor playing Jeeves, he's a rather big comedic actor in Britain, correct?
Stephen Fry. Also writes funny novels and columns.
 

skalogre

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Originally Posted by Lucky Strike
Stephen Fry. Also writes funny novels and columns.

Who also was in Blackadder

"Potato?"
"No thanks, I don't"
 

Connemara

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Originally Posted by Virginia Dandy
Easy to admire - yes - but those familiar with the television series and the books will recall the running theme that some aspect of Wooster's attire was frequently improper - to the dismay of Jeeves.

This is quite true. In the episode those pictures were pulled from, Jeeves kept tut-tutting Bertie for wearing his "American hat"--a white wide-brimmed fedora.
 

Associate

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Originally Posted by Connemara
This is quite true. In the episode those pictures were pulled from, Jeeves kept tut-tutting Bertie for wearing his "American hat"--a white wide-brimmed fedora.

(Jeeves unpacking, holding the white hat with concerned expression): "Sir, I believe this item has somehow found its way into your wardrobe...

That's nothing compared with the one where Jeeves discovered monogrammed handkerchiefs in Wooster's closet (Jeeves: I thought practice was limited to those in danger of forgetting their own name...)
 

LabelKing

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While very pleasing in aesthetics, the important thing to remember is that Jeeves & Wooster was intended, in the best British tradition, as a rather scathing depiction of the middle, and upper classes.
 

aarghh

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There was an incident with spats, was there not? Lavender spats?

Psmith is my favorite Wodehouse character - I love his idea of communism - "Grab what you can, and sit on it".

He also makes reference to his trouser crease "being acquired by the mattress on which I tossed and turned all night long".
 

aarghh

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Originally Posted by LabelKing
While very pleasing in aesthetics, the important thing to remember is that Jeeves & Wooster was intended, in the best British tradition, as a rather scathing depiction of the middle, and upper classes.

I don't know - Waugh was scathing (Vile Bodies). Wodehouse gave them a rather affectionate treatment.
 

LabelKing

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Originally Posted by aarghh
I don't know - Waugh was scathing (Vile Bodies). Wodehouse gave them a rather affectionate treatment.
While Wodehouse was affectionate his writing was not particularly complimentary.
 

Tomasso

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Originally Posted by LabelKing
While very pleasing in aesthetics, the important thing to remember is that Jeeves & Wooster was intended, in the best British tradition, as a rather scathing depiction of the middle, and upper classes.

And that was the thrust of the genre, in general.
 

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