Ben-Hur and Ancient Rome Inspire Royal Style
On my radar is upcoming film Ben-Hur, adapted from the 1880 novel “Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ” by Lew Wallace. It’s a remake of the 1959 film of the same name starring Charlton Heston (The Ten Commandments). To coincide with its release, I’ve been tasked with a mission to uncover looks that capture the essence of the film and Ancient Rome. The film follows the life of Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston), a prince falsely accused of treason by the Roman army. While the plot of the dethroned prince sounds absolutely intriguing, on my mind is the regal dress of Ancient Roman women. Some may be drawn to the alluring style of modern royals Kate and Pippa, but I’m intrigued on how a socialite in Ancient Rome might dress today, and designers she might favor.
Color was a factor too. A reddish purple hue ranging from a bright magenta to a deep burgundy was the color of choice for high society ladies. They also ostentatiously adorned themselves with glitzy accessories including decorative sandals, golden jewels, and a hair band or crown. The higher a woman’s social rank, the more ornate her hair would be with curls and some type of headdress.
Burberry Prorsum Fringed Herringbone-Jacquard Wool-Blend Cape | Elizabeth and James ‘Greer’ Asymmetric Layered Brushed Silk-Satin Dress | Valentino ‘Rockstud’ Embellished Leather Sandals | Rosantica ‘Cleopatra’ gold-tone quartz headband | Kenneth Jay Lane Serpent Ring | Christian Louboutin Beauty Sheer Voile Lip Colour in Mexicatchy | Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Palette Colour-Coded Eye Shadows in The Rebel
Release date: August 19th
Image source: Paramount Pictures
