PUSHING DAISIES (2007)

WHY PUSHING DAISIES IS THE PERFECT SHOW

• film noir fairy tale vibes
• body horror
• romantic rivals turned bffs
• star crossed lovers
• puns used as plot devices
• immortal golden retriever
• saturated monochromatic design schemes
• retro/kitsch-chic costumes
• the costumes
• the costumes????
• the costumes!!!!

Pushing Daisies is one of the strongest examples of costume design used as characterization. Robert Blackman did a phenomenal job of using colors, patterns, and textures to distinguish the individual personalities of the show's cast while giving them an innate sense of belonging in the highly stylized, hyper-realistic world of The Pie-Maker.

CHARLOTTE CHARLES

Also known as: Lonely Tourist Charlotte Charles, her childhood nickname "Chuck", and the sole reason for my prolonged Hat Period in high school, Charlotte is the show's de facto heroine, and as such has the most expansive and gorgeously outfitted wardrobe. 

Charlotte's style has an easy glamour and timelessness, inspired by the '40s and '50s. While not afraid to take risks on patterns, the color palette of her wardrobe is pretty uniform - very warm, lots of yellows, reds, oranges, and rich greens. 

Her design is a sharp contrast to...

NED

(Who apparently doesn't have a last name)

Ned, also referred to as The Piemaker, is the show's protagonist and narrative counterpart to Charlotte. Interestingly, he has maybe 1/4 of the wardrobe selection. Ned's clothing has a very narrow range - simple t-shirts and collard shirts, blazer optional. All in solid neutrals. This is partially a design function (to ensure that Ned is distinguishable from his story-book surroundings) and partially a reflection of his character (the reserved, emotionally distant dreamer). 

OLIVE SNOOK

"Olive often imagined there was an orchestra in her heart, music heard only by her, except when her heart broke open and it spilled out into the world."

The link is not costume related but it does show the flawlessly talented Kristin Chenoweth killing my favorite scene from the entire series, so, you know.

If Charlotte's wardrobe is more classically vintage, Olive's influence comes from the vibrant, poppier world of the '60s and '70s. Her color palette is brighter and citrus-y, with strong oranges, greens, and pinks. 

LILY AND VIVIAN CHARLES

Former synchronized swimming duo and arguably the most fashionable agoraphobic shut-ins of all time, Lily and Vivian Charles have some of my favorite costume moments in the entire series. Probably pieced together from their years of traveling the world as the Darling Mermaid Darlings, their wardrobe is eclectic and somewhat threadbare. Easily the wildest use of prints and silhouettes in the show. I love how complementary their costumes are - I don't know how Blackman pulled it off because logically it shouldn't work, but no matter what they were, there's an element of continuity between any two outfits, even when the two are at odds, their clothes emphasizing their co-dependent relationship.