why Helen McCrory's leather jacket is TV's latest cult fashion item
We may be in the midst of a heatwave but thanks to Fearless- ITV's new drama starring Helen McCrory- a conker-shiny leather jacket is currently top of the
nation's wish list. "Frantically googling where I can get Helen McCrory's fierce
leather jacket," read one tweet during last week's kick-off episode.
It might seem like madness but it makes sense too. Not only is it one of those perfectly luxe-but-lived-in leather jackets which we all aspire to
eventually own but find impossible to actually track down, but it helps to
encapsulate the fiercely determined attitude of the character who inhabits
it.
McCrory plays Emma Banville, a determined human rights lawyer who follows in that modern TV tradition of female crime solvers whose style helps define their
captivating narrative; think Stella Gibson in The Fall (silky shirts and sleek
tailoring), Sarah Lund in The Killing (that homespun knit) or Saga Noren in The
Bridge (spunky leather trousers).
"We really wanted to keep Emma's look minimalist," explains Marianne Agertoft, Fearless's costume designer, adding that the idea of one key piece was
always an important principle for the character "She needed to look accessible
but also have a sense of individuality and simplicity."
Research began with vintage pictures of Patti Smith and although Agertoft says that the focus soon turned away from that route, the reference doesn't seem
a million miles from Banville's functional, cool and tomboy-ish look. Instead,
it was a raid on McCrory's own wardrobe which uncovered a leather jacket as the
piece which the rest of Banville's wardrobe would orbit around.
"Helen is an amazing dresser, and her wardrobe is full of gems," Agertoft remembers. "We tried on so much stuff, she is no snob so had everything from
amazing pieces by unique designers to great high street buys. Then we found this
old black jacket from Topshop which proved to be brilliant inspiration."
Having decided that black would be too harsh a colour for the look they were after, Agertoft sought out a ruby-hued kid leather which would complement
McCrory's 'beautiful jewel eyes'.
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