‘Sense and Sensibility’ Costume Designer on Blending Historical Accuracy and Modern Styling for the Dashwood Sisters: ‘We Want to Do Jane Austen Justice’

The most distinct chapters, from Snell’s costuming perspective, are the country and the city. First, the Barton Cottage chapter, shaped by the Devonshire landscape. There, behind closed doors, the relationship between the Dashwood sisters is at its most intimate.

Then, the London chapter, where Elinor and Marianne’s presentation to society takes on a different palette. Snell says the sets, weather and changing seasons inspired her work in the different phases. Austen’s debut novel begins with the Dashwood family — sisters Elinor, Marianne, Margaret and their mother — settled at Norland Park, their Sussex estate.

It’s set between the Georgian and Regency eras, in what Snell calls an “unusual transition period” as fashion began to “massively revolutionize” into the simpler style associated with Austen. Snell’s costuming inspiration, however, pulls from an array of eras, from period-accurate paintings and archival costume pieces to family portraits from the 2000s. In those photographs, “I really homed in on the intimacy that is within a family,” Snell says.

At the onset, Marianne is 19, Elinor is 16 and Margaret is 13. They’re stealing clothes from each other. There’s being inspired by each other and reimagining clothing,” Snell says.

We do rework some of the fabrics so that the garments look that they have a life themselves and how garments are loved and shared and borrowed within a family.” Inspired by those family photographs from the early aughts, as well as some runway looks from the ‘80s and ‘90s, Snell styled the film with a more modern take. Part of that was based on a desire to make the period piece feel more accessible. Snell, who studied historical dress at university, brought a dress historian on board for three weeks of research.

Snell used brighter colors in controlled ways, mainly for the supporting characters. At the same time, she had to manage the entire costume team. There’s a lot to juggle, so the first challenge “is within yourself and your own head,” she says.