Inspired Outfits: Les Miserables

Les Miserables. Whether you're familiar with it by way of the hit musical or by way of "the brick," as it is affectionately known in some circles, it's a great work. The characters are fascinating and evocative. And, as such, they can be a fruitful inspiration for clothing.

Jean Valjean. I wanted this to be fairly nondescript and classic based on the way the character lived after breaking parole. A white undershirt bears his infamous brand which would, on a daily basis, be concealed by the white button-up. Silver for the gift of the bishop, a candlestick for the physical and crosses for the spiritual. Chains across the tights and the shoes for his time as a captive of his past. Flats because they make running easier.

Inspector Javert An outfit inspired by the inspector himself. Yes, it's a women's outfit, but I wanted to capture the same rigidity that the character has. I hope I succeeded.

Cossette I've never really been a fan of Cosette as a character. She's really the Christian idea of purity condensed into human form, which never seemed to me to be a recipe for a particularly compelling character. But here I have attempted to throw together an outfit inspired by Cosette and her purity. White and silver and light. "She gave anyone who saw her a sensation of April and of dawn. There was dew in her eyes. Cosette was a condensation of auroral light in womanly form."

Eponine, mostly inspired by the musical. The bird necklace, though, is for my favorite quote from the book: "Among animals, the creature born to be a dove is never changed into an osprey, that is only possible with men."

Thernardier. Not exactly the character you'd look for to find fashion inspiration, but... he's just so delightfully disgusting in the musical. This necklace chosen because, well, "add it to the pile, add it to the stock..."

The Students. This is probably the most conventionally fashionable, but it works for me.

Lovely Ladies. Okay. I've got a soft spot for the irreverent hookers in the musical. I really do. I've also got a soft spot for ragamuffin looks and corsets. It all works out.

Just another string of outfits inspired by the media I love. "Here's to them and here's to you..."