#outfit repeat

The third ensemble of "Murder and Mozzarella" (Season 3, Episode 3) is a return to Miss Fisher's classic cat burgling outfit, complete with a long dark coat, b&e beret, silk blouse and pants, along with earrings to match.

Her dramatic black velvet coat is perfect for sleuthing, with a full-length silhouette, folded collar with pointed lapels, and series of loops that fasten the top half. Another 1920's piece from Marion Boyce's personal closet, while it's often used for sneaking (1x10, 2x03, and here), this coat has also appeared as an elegant flourish while confronting Renee in 1x07 and to her cemetery outfit in 2x02, as well as in a promotional photo shoot. A visually similar shorter jacket also appears in other episodes as part of her cat burgling ensemble (1x05, 2x01, 2x12).

The black silk blouse has a v-neckline and a tie of the same material loosely fastened in the front, matching her black silk faille wide-leg pants and dark double strapped Mary Jane heels. Her onyx teardrop earrings help add a fashionable twist to her illicit adventures.

One of the most reused pieces in the entire series, this marks the seventeenth appearance of her 'breaking and entering beret', which is worn six times in season one (1x05, 1x05, 1x06, 1x09, 1x10, 1x10), ten times in season two (2x01, 2x03, 2x04, 2x05, 2x05, 2x06, 2x07, 2x11, 2x12, 2x12), and sadly only this time in season three.

Season 3, Episode 3 - "Murder and Mozzarella"

The eighth and final costume of "Unnatural Habits" (Season 2, Episode 12) is the triumphant return of Phryne's remarkable rooster kimono.

While it's impossible to tell which of her pajama sets Miss Fisher is wearing underneath, her rooster kimono serves as an elegant yet minimal outfit for her vulnerable talk with Jack late at night. The dressing gown itself is made of a black satin that serves as a backdrop to the intricate embroidery that adorn the shoulders and cover the back. A wide variety of threads paint a picture of a flowering tree branch going up from the hem of the kimono and reaching up to her shoulders, while two roosters battle it out in the air.

Essie Davis mentions the dressing gown specifically as her favorite item of clothing in both a video interview with Acorn TV as well as a written interview with NPR:

"I do have a favorite," she acknowledges. "Because I love the simplicity and the extraordinary detail of this beautiful black satin dressing gown that is in chinois embroidery, and on the back of it, are these two embroidered fighting cocks. And I think it is the most perfectly tongue-in-cheek piece of costume, and I love putting it on, 'cause I love the idea that there are fighting cocks." And then she cackles.

This is another item from costume designer Marion Boyce’s personal collection, and according to the Costume Exhibition Catalogue was “one of the last pieces that came out of China before they closed their trading borders in the 1920s”.

“I bought this years and years ago from a retro store, Gollyester in Los Angeles when I was doing Crocodile Dundee 3… it was the most beautiful thing I had seen. I’ve got a passion for Chinoiserie.” - Marion Boyce in the Series One Costume Exhibition Catalogue.

One of several robes designed for nightwear, this is certainly one of her most memorable ones, appearing in the very first episode, 1x01, and then showing up in 1x04, 1x06, 1x10, 2x08, before being bookended at the end of season two here.

Season 2, Episode 12 - "Unnatural Habits"

The first costume of "Dead Air" (Season 2, Episode 11) is a return of Phryne's classic at-home ensemble, with her knit cardigan, white sleeveless blouse, and white silk faille pants.

Worn while listening to the radio with Dot and Mr. Butler at home, Miss Fisher's sleeveless scoop-necked blouse can be seen in 1x01, 1x10, and 2x08, each seen underneath one of her comfortable sweaters. Her cream lace cardigan has been seen multiple episodes, 1x01, 1x02, 1x03, 1x04, 1x05, 1x06, 1x08, 1x10, and twice with different blouses in 2x07. The cardigan is made from white silk rayon fabric that the designer Marion Boyce had owned for years, and only decided to cut into it for Phryne's wardrobe.

Phryne pairs this with her wide-leg silk faille pants, decorated with a silver art nouveau buckle that can be seen in 1x01, 1x03, twice in 1x06. The buckle features a woman reaching up with one hand amidst decorative leaves and scrolls. The buckle itself is an authentic 1920′s piece, and is most likely a nurse’s buckle, historically given to nurses by hospitals once they completed their training. Traditionally, they are made of two symmetrical pieces that clasp together in the middle. Since we know Phryne served as a nurse in the First World War, this is a truly impressive and subtle nod to her history.

Her beautiful earrings are green crystal teardrops, topped with pearls, with a gold ring of jewels embedded near the end.

Season 2, Episode 11 - "Dead Air"

The third outfit we see Phryne don in "Unnatural Habits" (Season 2, Episode 12) is a beautiful blue lace jacket over a navy camisole and dark pants, complete with amber collar clasps.

One of Miss Fisher's ensembles that works both in and outdoors, this fabulous coat is sheer netting with blue rosettes set throughout. With double layers of fabric at the sloped standing collar, the coat also has tiny amber beads sewn above the sleeve cuffs, adding a touch of elegance and depth to it. Amber clasps with long beads hanging off them connect the coat to her matching navy camisole, detailed with small scallops along the top.

She finishes her look with dark pants and matching amber teardrop earrings, as well as a large brass flower ring inset with a green stone, worn most memorably with her Cleopatra costume in 1x12. This entire outfit is almost an exact repeat from earlier in the season in "Marked for Murder" (2x06), with the only changes being the addition of her velvet hood and exchanging her flower ring for matching gloves. The high quality promo photos from that episode also show the incredible difference lighting can have on color, turning this darker navy outfit to a bright cerulean blue.

Season 2, Episode 12 - "Unnatural Habits"

The fourth outfit of Dead Air, (Season 2, Episode 11) features Miss Fisher's black crochet sweater, with matching camisole and pants as she discusses the clues so far with Jack. She elevates the ensemble with her large green jeweled necklace and her black onyx teardrop earrings.

As per usual for Phryne's at-home outfits, she's wearing her classic black silk faille pants, with wide legs and pockets, and a black sleeveless blouse underneath her crochet sweater. Her blouse also has a loose matching tie on either side of of the v-neckline.

We've seen her sweater with fine crochet detailing, made of differing thread widths, four times so far - in 2x05 with her black camisole with scallop edging, twice in 2x08 over a white blouse and again over this same sleeveless shirt, and here in 2x11.

She adds a touch of glam with her elegant onyx teardrop earrings, worn many times throughout the series, and a statement green jeweled pendant. Above the large jewel framed by gold sits a element with smaller green gems set into gilt filigree that Miss Fisher also wore in the fashionable season two premiere, "Murder Most Scandalous" (2x01).

Season 2, Episode 11 - "Dead Air"

The fourth outfit we see Phryne wear in “The Blood of Juana the Mad” (Season 2, Episode 8) is her classic rooster kimono, thrown over her pink lacey nightgown as she fights off Beatrice’s attacker.

Her kimono is made of black silk with a pink blush lining. It’s decorated with a variety of red blossoms and branches, along with a main tapestry of two roosters fighting each other. This is another item from costume designer Marion Boyce’s personal collection, and according to the Costume Exhibition Catalogue was “one of the last pieces that came out of China before they closed their trading borders in the 1920s”.

“I bought this years and years ago from a retro store, Gollyester in Los Angeles when I was doing Crocodile Dundee 3… it was the most beautiful thing I had seen. I’ve got a passion for Chinoiserie.” - Marion Boyce in the Series One Costume Exhibition Catalogue.

While this is its first appearance in season two, the kimono was regularly seen in season one, showing up in 1x01, 1x04, 1x06, and 1x10 before this episode.

Season 2, Episode 8 - “The Blood of the Juana the Mad”

The third outfit of “Blood of Juana the Mad” (Season 2, Episode 8) is Phryne’s pink nightgown, though only seen briefly, and later worn under her distinct fighting rooster kimono.

While Miss Fisher has worn a variety of pajamas and negligees, this particular nightgown is a soft blush pink with lace detailing inset into the shoulders that comes together in a flattering v-neckline. As we can see from the Costume Exhibition, it looks to be made of silk and falls nearly to the floor, with princess seams creating a beautiful silhouette along the front. 

As one of the staples of Phryne’s wardrobe, and a great example of luxurious fabrics as part of even her sleepwear. We’ve seen this nightgown three separate times in season one: 1x01, 1x02, 1x04 and 1x06 before appearing here in 2x08.

Season 2, Episode 8 - “Blood of Juana the Mad”

The final outfit of “Blood at the Wheel” (Season 2, Episode 7) features the reappearance of Miss Fisher’s sophisticated home ensemble of her gold beaded cocktail bolero with a wide black band of silk tying it together over her black camisole and paired with her silk faille pants and gold heels.

Her beautiful lace bolero is crafted from gold beads on a black net worked onto  a floral design and is actually made of leftover fabric from Costume Designer Marion Boyce’s wedding dress. She’d always held onto the scraps and had just enough to create this cocktail bolero. Underneath, she wears her black camisole with small scalloped edging. We’ve seen this near exact outfit before in 2x02, with the addition of her banded sheer illusion blouse.

Phryne pairs this with her classic black silk faille pants, gold heels, and elegant jewelry as well. The large silver filigree necklace is an original 1920′s piece also owned by Marion Boyce, with a crystal drop pendant and small crystals in the chain of the necklace as well. It’s been seen three times so far, in 1x03 and twice in 1x12. Her brass swing earrings have been worn multiple times, and pick up on the metallic colors in her bolero and necklace beautifully.

Season 2, Episode 7 - “Blood at the Wheel”