YELLOW is a recurring color in almost all of the characters’ costumes; sometimes in very obvious ways, such as Mrs. Elton’s two yellow dresses and the focus-pulling yellow coats of both Mr. Knightley and Mr. Churchill. And also sometimes in very subtle ones (check Jane’s shoes).
The reason for that can be found in the film’s most eye-popping look for its main character: costume designer Alexandra Byrne revealed that she paid homage to the iconic yellow outfit worn by Alicia Silverstone in the Emma update Clueless with this design. And like Silverstone’s costume, it positions Emma as the sun around which all of the other characters rotate in the story.
Which brings us to one Miss Harriet Smith, who is presented in this film as Emma’s most important relationship, even above her romance. Like all the other characters, she’s got at least one yellow look in her wardrobe […] it’s so interesting to see what both characters wore in their final scene together in the film, as Harriet asserts herself, declares her intentions and announces her birthright proudly. Emma has been humbled and in her penitence, she is not only dressed in a demure, simple, relatively unadorned white dress, but so is Harriet. Their costumes call back and forth to each other constantly throughout the film, but this is the only time they are pictured as two people on equal footing – with one telling, cheeky detail: Harriet’s bright yellow gloves. Their friendship’s been tested with Emma learning humility and Harriet learning to look out for herself, but she will always remain just a little bit in awe of her wealthy, smart, socially superior friend.
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