It’s Carol season! And not the singing kind
BY ALEX BRUGMAN, IMAGE BY 2015 STUDIO CANAL LIMITED
Since it came out in 2015 Carol has been a staple Christmas movie for queers everywhere. The heart-warming and heart-breaking tale, based on the book by Patricia Highsmith, tells a story of forbidden love between Carol and Therese. And it’s set at Christmas, so that makes it a Christmas movie right? And Carol? I mean how much more Christmassy can you get?
Apart from the enthralling queer love story, the aesthetics of this 1950s world are to die for. I’ll be leading you round the story, picking up on some of the most iconic pieces, and helping you find some dupes of your own.
The “accidental” glove abandonment
The moment that sets off the chain of events leading Carol and Therese together is, of course, the iconic glove scene. Leaving those gloves on the counter for Therese to pick up was one of the smoothest moves ever made in the history of lesbian pick-ups.
You can get the Etude Check Gloves (Collectif London, £17.99) here.
Walking in New York
As Carol weaves her way around New York, this vision in red is a look that says, “don’t mess with me” and we respect that.
You can get the Swagger Jacket Red (Vivian of Holloway, £149) here.
You can get the Acorn Branch Brooch (Collectif London, £11.99) here and the Charlie Cat eye Sunglasses Brown (Monsoon, £12.00) here.
The Café
As a thank you for returning the gloves ever so graciously, Carol invites Therese out for lunch in a darkly lit New York café. The two women eat creamed spinach and drink martinis, sneaking demure looks at each other over the rim of the glass. Therese opts for this casual yet classy monochrome layered ensemble for her first proper meeting with Carol.
You can get the Poppy Blouse (The Seamstress of Bloomsbury, £45) here and the Cable Knit Slipover (The Seamstress of Bloomsbury, £29) here.
In front of the fire
At the café, Carol invites Therese to her country home outside of the city. Carol asks what she does on a Sunday (read: “come over to mine and play piano for me in front of the fire”). Therese plays piano in the lounge while Carol wraps presents. The tension rises as Carol casually strolls barefoot across the room and gently places her hands on Therese’s shoulders as she plays. She’s wearing a teal pencil skirt, an elegant yet comfortable choice for any queer woman looking to make her crush fall in love with her.
You can get the Caterina Plain Pencil Dress (Collectif London, £54.99) here.
The Road trip
Carol invites Therese with her on a road trip heading west. The two drive for hours, with Therese mostly snuggled up in the passenger seat next to Carol or practising her photography skills on her new favourite subject. The huge fur coat is a statement that screams Christmas winter aesthetic. Perfect choice for an insta Christmas photoshoot.
You can get the Striped Pattern Faux Fur Coat (Beyond Retro, £55) here.
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