By 
Last Updated on January 5, 2023 by Dominique de Merteuil
Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries is undoubtedly my favourite newly-discovered costume drama. Set in 1920s Melbourne, portraying the adventures of the glamorous, fearless, sharp-as-a-tack, boundary-breaking and at times outrageous, lady detective, the Honourable Miss Phryne Fisher, played brilliantly by Essie Davis.
The ABC Australian TV show is based on the series of detective stories entitled Phryne Fisher Mysteries written by Kerry Greenwood, and continues to be as much of a success now as it was in 1989 when “Cocaine Blues” the first novel of the series was published.
I have no intention of spoiling it for you by revealing the actual storyline but I promise, that you will not be disappointed if you choose to indulge yourself in watching what I call the sexiest detective drama ever filmed.
I put the blame for my addiction to watching and re-watching Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries on my Australian mother-in-law who introduced me to the show, probably as an attempt to get me hooked on all things Australian and to tempt me to spend some time there, writing about Australian fashion and beyond.
Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries Wardrobe
The temptation is indeed more and more difficult to resist and I’m already planning the trip starting, of course, with building a lavish wardrobe inspired by 1920s fashion and Miss Fisher herself.
It’s not going to be an easy task considering that in those days outfits were designed to be part of an ensemble so that everything matched perfectly, from the shoes, hat and gloves to the actual dress and underwear, after all, it’s what’s underneath that counts most!
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg when you take into consideration that different outfits were required for different times of the day, a true sense of occasion that’s not at all apparent in our times.
If I do end up in Melbourne, I will definitely make an attempt to meet up with the talented costume designer Marion Boyce who is responsible for the incredibly beautiful and dazzling wardrobe of Phryne Fisher, which consists of over 120 pieces.
Some original 1920s items, others designed and made by Miss Boyce with the assistance of her talented team, including the milliner Mandy Murphy and Gareth Blaha, whose hats should definitely be in a museum or in my own wardrobe.
“I don’t look for crime, crime finds me”
“I’d never presume to judge a woman on the basis of her morals. I’m only interested in solving a murder case.”
“Intelligent women do have their uses, Inspector.”
“A woman should dress first and foremost for her own pleasure.”
“I’m concealing a lot of things. That’s what a lady does”
“My sins are too many and too varied to repent. And frankly, I intend to continue sinning.”
“There is nothing more divine than the touch of silk lingerie caressing the skin.”
“Oh, yes. When it comes to seduction, the East have a few thousand years’ heads start on us.”
Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries Marvelous Wardrobe
Sylvia
June 26, 2021Fabulous clothes! Do you know of any contemporary brands inspired by Miss Fisher’s wardrobe?
Dominique de Merteuil
June 28, 2021Yes, I do. Send me an e-mail and I will give you the list.
Anonymous
March 6, 2017I love the clothing on the “Miss Fisher’s Mysteries” series-but I do have one complaint. There is entirely TOO MUCH orange in Phryne’s and Dot’s wardrobe…Even the darker shades are russet, rust, maroon (true maroon-which is not a blue red but a deep brownish red)…I actually choke on so much, salmon, apricot, peach, orangey dull rose tones, russet and rust and orangey reds-Maybe it’s how it’s filmed…contrast the wardrobe tones there with another series set in the twenties for a large part of its run the Agatha Christie Poirot Mysteries” where there are dazzling garnet, true navy blue ,wine reds, beet reds, true blue red lips and nails…now I am not sure that it’s not the filming process but even the lipstick Phryne Fisher wears is a brownish red. I do believe Essie Davis (actress who plays the character) is a natural blonde which could be why her palette is not as intense as you would expect for a true brunette (in certain scenes you can see the lighter hair color just a little at the roots and the dark hair color is translucent on her and not solid-just perhaps the effects of dying light hair dark?) But overall, too many colors worn by Phryne and Dot seem to be too orange-based. Otherwise, I really must say the wardrobe and fashion design for the show IS really incredible…and I love the character.
Goatsby
October 2, 2015I always enjoyed the graffiti at the old Menzies Hotel Melbourne on the dunny (lavotoriY) walls . “Edith Head Gives Good Wardrobe” wonder if Marion Boyce saw it.
Goatsby
October 2, 2015I always enoyed the graffiti at the old Menzies Hotel Melbourne dunnies (lavatories)
“Edith Head gives good wardrobe” wonder if Marioan boyce has been there ?
Nancy C Lea
June 28, 2015Here I am again! I majored in textile design, so am also loving the fabrics used, both on clothing and for interior decoration! Watching the show makes me almost wish I’d opted for clothing design LOL..I did take a lot of the garment-construction courses as my electives, so have enjoyed very much making ‘period” outfits for myself, mostly from the “Folkwear” collection…a favourite being their “Rosie the Riveter” blouse! The twenties and thirties produced the MOST scrumptious clothes, tho. It’s pretty easy to piece together the “look” using current patterns and a little imagination.
The legendary Edith Head once commented that, if a woman wants to be TRULY stylish (as opposed to “fashionable”) she either needs her own dressmaker or learn to sew for herself! “Phyrne,” of course, has the best “private dressmaker” on the planet, it seems!!!
I posted on the FB page today about an item in the current “THREADS” magazine, featuring a pants-suit that would be perfectly at home in Phryne’s closet!!! Might make it for my niece…I’m a little past looking great in something without sleevess (sighs, deeply) There’s also an adorable top that “Dot” would love.
Such fun if you can sew…the sky’s the limit!
Nancy C Lea
June 28, 2015am still trying to figure out how that lovely little capelet, lacy, with circles all over it, was made. I did several screen-captures of it, but cannot really figure out whether the circles are crocheted or what. grrrrrrrrr
Dominique de Merteuil
June 29, 2015Dear Nancy,
Thank you for your comments on the topic of Miss Fisher’s wardrobe! I’m a big fan of Edith Head and Andrian and agree wholeheartedly that a stylish lady should have her own dressmaker! One of the reasons why I love haute couture – detest high-street fashion- is the craftsmanship that goes into making a dress.It’s all in the details and choice of fabrics! I’ve recently found a millinery in Warsaw who has been making hats for the past 40 years and is the third generation of millineries in her family and I’ve decided to commission her to make me a 1940’s inspired hat. I’m still looking for a good seamstress and a corset maker and who knows perhaps in a near future I will start wearing only bespoke clothes. Dx
Nancy C Lea
June 29, 2015I took the hat-making class at F.I.T. (the Fashion Institute of Technology) as one of my electives and, the big “surprise” was when our teacher told us that ALL hats are based on the beret. Subsequent researching and learning on my own have proven to me that she was absolutely right. Altho I’ve not made any elaborate hats since, I have made several berets for myself and others, and it’s great fun, very simple. Master milliners have my awe-sticken respect, having learned what goes into building a hat! If you ever get to NYC, do not miss the Museums at FIT! The school started expanding to a graduate division some years ago and has a fabulous collection as well as offering a degree in Museum Studies. We got to handle and examine some marvelous hats during our course…it was exciting. (And I’ve always wondered if the school’s founders worked to get the initials of a fashion-industry college to spell “fit” LOL)
Roberta Lou Holland
March 15, 2015I think that instead of the awful, never ending, boring stuff they give us during the PBS or EDU fundraising, why not Miss Fisher’s hats! I would love to replenish their coffers with $ for her hats, than all the other stuff they they hawk with such enthusiasm. Maybe a word from you might move them forward in this great direction?
Roberta
Nancy C Lea
June 28, 2015Why PBS hasn’t picked up the series is beyond belief.
Nancy C Lea
June 28, 2015don’t know about your PBS but the fundraising “begathons” around here and in Florida feature the same tired old reruns of LAWRENCE WELK (for gawd’s sake) a FOUR-HOUR hommage to “doo-wop”…more more more tired old stuff that we see EVERY fundraiser. If they’re after money, catering to the Welk generation is kind of pointless…they’re all living on social security and aren’t spreading it around like they used to…(and some of us are waiting in the wings for that) WETA in DC does a great job of picking up overseas shows (I THINK they show Miss F. I know they show “PIe in the Sky”) PBS picked up ‘Anzac Girls” and I nearly dropped all my teeth in amazement. Why they overlook “Miss F” and “Doctor Blake” is a mystery in itself! I could ramble on and one, dropping the name of one amazing UK or Aussie or Canadian series after another, but, what’s the point…they will NEVER “get it.”
Patricia Plummer
July 28, 2014Thanku, I love the show and the clothes miss Fisher wears and the shoes so elegant.
Dominique de Merteuil
August 8, 2014I hope that women will get inspired by miss Fisher and her immaculate style! Hats, gloves and summer parasols is what we need to see more of!
Nancy C Lea
June 29, 2015stop by New Orleans sometime and you will see women out with parasols…aside from protecting one from the heat and damage of the sun, they’re great “second-line” accessories !!!
this bride and groom get down with it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHuuOMtYXn0
Nymphashion
January 19, 2014Thank you for introducing me to this show, I’ve never heard about that and I’ll definitely try to watch it. The customs seem to be incredibly interesting and the fact they used some actual pieces from the 20s makes the show even more valuable to my eyes.
Have a wonderful week Dominique,
xxx
Arianna
Dominique de Merteuil
January 20, 2014I thought you would like it!!!
Dominique xxx