Friends, have you seen the new Little Women movie?

I have and still get the warm fuzzies when I think about it. I grew up watching (and loving) the ’90s version with Winona Ryder. I read the book in elementary school because it was a bajillion AR points. I visited Orchard House (the March family home) years ago when I was in Boston. All that to say, Little Women is very much up my alley, but when trailers released for this newest version … well, I’ll admit I was excited but not completely sure it needed. Here we go, aaaaanother remake I probably said while rolling my eyes. 

Well, let me roll my eyes AT me rolling my eyes because I stand corrected, friends. Completely, totally, reverentially. That film — what Greta Gerwig and the cast created— is simply stunning. There’s warmth and wit and humor in every scene. Gerwig explored pockets of the March sisters’ stories that weren’t captured in the 1990s film (I can’t remember the actual book — my fourth grade brain apparently didn’t soak it up like 2019 me did). The dynamics between the characters, especially the March sisters, are spellbinding. And the versions of the iconic characters that Greta Gerwig wrote are more well-rounded with a saturated hue compared to the 1990s movie. A review I read on the movie talked about how this Jo could be passionate and fierce with her life and still feel lonely. This Amy could have a vision for beauty and live a life far beyond what her sisters get to experience and still feel like she never measures up to Jo. This Meg could want a family and home, and still ache for something more, something beyond. This Beth could be quiet and shy and still bring joy and light to those around her. (The scene where she goes to play the piano at Laurie’s house and Laurie’s grandfather sits on the stairs listening to her – it so accurately captures the bittersweet of loss: a reminder of the daughter he lost, memories flood back and the ache wells up … all in the tinkering of piano keys). For two hours you sit in the March family home and watch them whirl about with their passion and dreams and joy. And as a woman, I watched amazed and inspired as the March sisters lived whole-heartedly and even defiantly to the society and world who tightly bound them with certain expectations and ideas: wear this, do that. You only go this far. Here is your place and don’t go stepping beyond it. Oh, the light and warmth of that movie spilled out of the screen and into my heart with every scene – I swear it. And lest we forget: the movie gives us the excuse to stare at Timothy Chalamet’s hair for two hours. Yes, please.

 I could go on and on about the movie. — I think it’s one I’ll regularly watch the rest of my life — but for now, what I want to showoff is the incredible costumes. Y’all, I cannot stop thinking about them! I heard in an interview that each March sister has a signature color and their mother, Marmee played by the adomable Laura Dern, is wrapped in all four colors throughout the movie. Also, I now want to wear kerchiefs with everything (note to self: YouTube how to tie a kerchief ‘round the neck). I want Saorsie Ronan’s hair and her pom-pom beret. I love that Jo and Teddy swap vests throughout the movie. I know there was so much restriction to women’s wear in that day – corsets and hoops, layers upon layers – but feast your eyes upon the beauty of these images and just enjoy. These costumes play a silent but powerful role in this intricately beautiful film. 

Enjoy.

P.S. Here’s a great piece about the film’s costume designer, Jacqueline Durran, and how she creates a “lived in” feel to all her costumes. Also, a Q&A with Vogue.