Anna Karenina: A fashionista’s dream

Celebrated and derided in equal measure by critics, the most recent film version of Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina starring Keira Knightley was always destined to be a hot topic of debate. Tackling the almost impossible task of reconstructing one of the world’s most famous novels, director Joe Wright chose to literally stage the play in a theatre. Whether you loved or hated the final product the visual effect was stunning not least the elaborate pre-revolution style costumes. Coinciding with a trend for Russian style fashion, not to mention the excitement of winter closing in (11 weeks until Christmas) the effect of the film’s wardrobe was inspiring. Let us walk you through what we’d all be wearing if money, practicality and feminism were not obstacles. 

Like any successful and beautiful actress, Knightley has her fair share of haters. Those who take an irrational dislike of her famous face can take comfort in the fact that she looks like a young Helena Bonham-Carter in this film; something to do with the thick brows and pervading air of craziness. Her barefaced make-up look is enviable and we will be spending winter trying to emulate it with a thousand different products along with the wild curly hair and hysterical eyes. Anna’s fashion moments are numerous, but our favourites are her fur-trimmed white glittering gown at the opera, and the dark red embroidered dressing gown she wears slowly falling apart at the seams

Portrayed throughout as an example of the purest beauty, Kitty is mainly seen in a palette of pastels. Through her unwavering admirer Levin’s eyes she appears first like an angel behind a set of clouds. The antithesis to Anna, she is all lightness and blonde hair. Her fashion moment? Seen from afar by Levin asleep in the window of her carriage, blue and white ribbons trailing from her bonnet.

Previously playing plain Jane Eyre and a ruthless psychopathic murderess in Luther, flame-red hair to match, Princess Betsy was a complete change of image for Ruth Wilson, and our absolute favourite costume-wise. Sporting ice-blonde hair and eyebrows to match, Princess Betsy is a vision in blue toned pastels and dead-pan sarcasm. We’re going to try and update the mint green ice-skating look in leggings and an angora sweater, but it won’t be the same.

Although she’s not on screen for long, Princess Myagkaya’s powder blue dresses left a lasting impression. And we’ve never seen anyone look so natural with a fan.

Yes, we know he’s a man, but he looks too pretty in his blue military suit to be left out of the proceedings. Contrary to the other men in the film who are all generally dressed in dark and somber colours, Vronsky continues the trend for a cast who look as if they live in a box of Laduree macaroons.

We don’t know about you but this winter we’ll be on the search for as much pastel-coloured fur as possible, ribbons in abundance and some kick-ass eyebrow pencil. We’d advise you to do the same.

Sarah Cleaver