Most of us want to make a good impression. We’d like to have people think we’re better than we are, and, for better or worse, a lot of that judgment comes from outward appearances. Few people know that better than Dahlia Malloy, who does everything in her power to look the part on The Riches, airing Tuesdays on FX.

Of course, things are not always what they seem. When we first met Dahlia (played by Minnie Driver) last season, she was just getting out of jail. Before we knew it, she was shedding her Traveller ways and assuming the identity and wardrobe of Cherien Rich in the idyllic world of Eden Falls. But the Traveller lifestyle is hard to shed, and The Riches costume designer, Mynka Draper (CSI: Miami, Nurse Betty), spent a great deal of time researching the habits of real-life Travellers and adjusted Dahlia’s style accordingly.

“They are over the top,” she says. They wear every piece of jewelry they own, every piece of clothing they own. They love the over-the-top mobster wife, trashy look.”

But by the middle of last season, Dahlia got a credit card and bought herself high-end clothes.

This season, she’s gone back to her Traveller self, but she still has a wardrobe worth emulating. Draper has found that designers such as Roberto Cavalli and Dolce & Gabbana work beautifully. In fact, Cavalli has that trashy attitude Travellers love already built in.

“Trashy-flashy” is a term Draper likes to use when describing Dahlia.

“We used a lot of Dolce & Gabbana when she was doing more of the mobster wife thing,” Draper says, “and more Cavalli once she was starting to edge more toward hippie.”

Another perfect label for blurring the lines between trashy and hippie is Vivienne Westwood, which Draper found perfect for Dahlia.

“It’s so over the top and yet still looks great on her,” Draper says.

But Dahlia also spends a lot of time in the house having various emotional crises in her underwear. You’ll notice she wears a lot of slips and undergarments while hanging out. For those moments Draper uses lots of Dolce & Gabbana lingerie – specifically lace with satin insets.

For casual clothing that actually goes on the outside, Dahlia wears pieces from Hard Tail Forever, a small label of premium sportswear out of Southern California, and a significant amount from Catherine Malandrino, although that feels much more mainstream and higher-end.

One of Draper’s favorite looks on Dahlia this season is a black Cavalli long-sleeved dress with a deep V-neck. To that she added knee boots from Charles David and a gray metallic trench from Burberry. And, of course, every piece of jewelry she owns.

Comments

loved the black and white striped jacket/cardigan Dahlia was wearing in last nights (4-23) episode.

Who is the designed??

sharon skinazi | Apr 23, 2008 6:19:56 PM | #

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