I have watched the entire first series online about a month ago now and I was absolutely hooked from start to finish. There is a definite “300” “Sin City” feel to the graphics but it is not overpowering. The abundance of hard core violence (and the plethora of breasts no doubt) mean it's primary market is men. One particularly brutal scene shows a gladiator in training cutting off the face of his opponent and wearing it as a mask (see above). This is not for the faint hearted.
Bosoms and brutes aside an element of the show that will appeal to the fashionably aware are the magnificent costumes. The shows costume designer Barbara Darragh (Bridge To Terabithia, River Queen, The Frighteners ) creates the most sumptuous dresses intricately adorned with gold thread and meticulously accessorised with fabulous jewels. The ladies outfits are crafted from the finest Indian silks in a rainbow of colours. The traditional stola is not to be found here but rather a more colourful, decadent design always meticulously colour coordinated.
From pastel pinks and blues to jewel tones of ruby reds and emerald green the dresses are quite magnificent to behold especially in HD. Accessories play a vital role for the women of high society. Every outfit is laden with jewels to match the wearers dress. Earrings, necklaces, rings, bangles, bracelets and belts are all worn together, adding to the women’s stature and opulence. The costumes are so beautiful and the women look so regal that you start to wonder why we don’t accessorize like them now?
The colour co ordination in each episode was another element that stood out. Sapphires for a sky blue dress, rubies for a rouge madame and always always gold in some form. It is rare these days to see such dedication to a colour palette. Often we wear a contrasting colour so we don’t look too “done”. But once in a while the effect can look quite striking.
If all this Grecian glamour is too much for you mere mortals then fret not. As with all major tv show styles, the public often take one universal element and introduce it into their wardrobes. A smokey eye for the Skins look, beachy waves for that O.C obsession and as many designer jeans as your bank account could manage to mimic those Desperate Housewives. I predict after Spartacus airs this summer it will be all about the hair.
Ribbons and beads and curls galore. I can see music buffs braiding coloured ribbons into their chilled out coifs at festivals all over the world. Granted they’re not going to have access to hot curlers but accessorising with brightly coloured ribbons and beads seems very carefree and chilled out-look to Diane von Furstenberg for inspiration.
A summer wedding would be another fantastic place to show off a Roman do. By matching your dress to the ribbons you use and maybe sewing in a pearl or two you can achieve a completely unique and regal look. Serena Van der Woodsens hair looks terribly Spartacus like here.
Add interest to your updo by pinning sections back in curls leaving some tendrils free around your face. An every flattering side pony gets a grown up twist perfect for a date night.
The Italians are often lauded for their attention getting and at times gaudy styles (Dolce and Gabbana ads featuring Madonna spring to mind) but perhaps we should have been taking their style advice instead of the French? Chanel said to take one thing off before you leave the house, the Romans say put one thing on and make sure it matches.
See if you aren’t seduced by the Italian styles after you watch Spartacus- and remember “When in Rome....” you might surprise yourself with elegant results.
Background story of Spartacus Blood and Sand as outlined on bravotv.co.uk
Betrayed by the Romans, forced into slavery and reborn as a gladiator, Spartacus (played by rugged UK-born actor Andy Whitfield) is a rebellious soldier in the Roman Auxiliary who is taken prisoner and torn away from the woman he loves. Lucy Lawless (“Xena: Warrior Princess”) is cast as Lucretia, who along with her husband Batiatus played by British actor John Hannah (“The Mummy,” “Rebus,” “Four Weddings and a Funeral”), own the slave Spartacus and the gladiator camp. The former soldier is then condemned to the ways of the arena fighter – under the brutal hand of trainer Doctore, played by Peter Mensah (“The 300,” “Avatar”) – where blood and death are primetime entertainment, and treachery, corruption and sexual allure will test him to the limit.
