Emma, En Pointe

THE POSTERS WERE the first to tip off fashion observers. Emma (played by rising starlet Anya Taylor-Joy) wears a high-neck top in pastel pink with statement sleeves and a hand muffler. One poised foot sticks out en pointe from under her billowy white skirt, a gesture of confidence and authority.

The tagline reads "handsome, clever and rich", the description Jane Austen gives for her heroine in the first paragraph of her eponymous 1815 novel. And this new 2020 film adaptation certainly takes these adjectives seriously - particularly "rich" and "handsome".

Over the course of its two hours, Emma appears in a variety of dresses in unusual silhouettes and elaborate details. Their bubblegum colours and floral motifs change to reflect the season. Their witty details and chic trimmings make them runway-ready even for today - not just for the Regency era (1811 - 1820) in which the story is set.