Miss Havisham from Victorian artists eyes.

I can also get an idea of how others have interpreted Miss Havisham closer to the time when the piece was written. These will be more historically correct.

 Charles Green 1877Greta Expectations Gadshill editoin. Charles Dickens.

 This perception of Miss Havisham was created by successful artist Charles Green who illustrated for many of Charles Dickens books. He lived through the Victorian era so would of been able to grasp a Victorian ideal of the character. The surroundings of the room look messy and ragged. Miss Havisham in this image looks aged in the face. Her cheekbones appear to be very prominent. Her eyes sallow, her mouth drooped. Her facial expression she looks deep in thought. Her arms are positioned as if she is bored. She is surround by luxurious items for that period, glamorous dressing table, jewelry box; showing her wealth.
From this image I can gain that she could be aged. I can keep in mind the facial expression for my model.

Harry Furniss.
The Charles Dickens Museum London.

 In this piece Miss Havisham again looks very aged. Her pose looks very regal showing her class. I like how her head is casting a shadow suggesting the room has little light. The shadow also looks unlike a human could possibly be suggesting that she is already dead? She looks extremely thin as her collar bones, neck and shoulder bones are protruding out. Her waist looks as though it has been exaggerated as it is almost microscopic. To me she looks dead in this image there seems to be no life in the facial expression or body.

http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/
03.02.14

This piece intrigues me as unlike the other illustrations Miss Havisham looks much younger and somewhat attractive. Although she looks thin she does not look ill. She appears to be a powerful character in this image. As she towers over Pip, and she is sitting down! Although Miss Havisham appears to be alt more human like, Pip still seems petrified by her. Could this be proving that Miss Havisham was viewed from a child's perspective? Although pip describes her to look like a waxwork could this be perceived as she looks so perfect that she does not look real? As she spends a lot of time at her dressing table she could have time to work on her appearance. Making me think I do not have one option to make Miss Havisham as old and haggard as possible.

Miss Havisham's influence on fashion.

Since Dickens created one of the most,intriguing  characters not only has she had an influence on wanting to create her on stage, movies and television shows. But her character has had such an impact on high culture, it has also influenced popular culture such as fashion of course. 

Site:http://beauty.popsugar.co.uk/
Viewed:28.01.14

Here is an Akira head piece from Sydney's Mercedes Benz fashion festival . This piece was said to of been inspired by Miss Havisham. The head piece could  not only represent a marriage veil but it could also represent her hair at first glance. As it is big and messy like how I would imagine her hair to be.

Site:www.Thecurrent.scotsman.com
Viewed:28.01.14

Prabal Gurung AW11

Inspired by a sense of decayed elegance, Prabal Gurung's AW11 collection referenced Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, imagining how Miss Havisham might have looked in her youth. Saying he has "always been inspired by books", he described the collection as "lugubrious, savage, Victorian and romantically-disheveled".

site:http://www.stylist.co.uk/fashion/great-expectations-costume-design-interview#image-rotator-1
Viewed:28.01.14

This is the famous Oyster dress from Alexander Mcqueens 2003 Spring/Summer show. This dress looks to me as though it could of been inspired by Miss Havisham by it coloring as though its rather old. the ruffles and rips looks as though it s been worn for quite some time. This dress actuality inspired the Miss Havisham dress worn y Helena Bonham Carter. Showing the impact that art inspires art. Meaning that Miss Havisham will forever inspire people to create art from art it's like a never ending cycle.

Miss Havisham in the BBC tv series

In Gillian Anderson's version of `Great expectations` we can see again that the unforgettable character Miss Havisham has been portrayed very differently from the other two that I have analysed. Both in image, and in character. In terms of character she seems to have a very warming effect. Her voice is soft and gentle. When Pip first sees her she is glowing as if she is a spirit; which initially makes me warm to her. I think the makeup is beautiful in this adaption of Miss Havisham. She does not look as though she is decaying she almost looks like a spirit possibly a implication that she is dead in spirit? The base is flawless, pale, yet the texture is dewy on the cheeks. It looks as though there is no makeup on the eyes, except from brown shades around the eyes, possibly to indicate that she is sleep deprived. Her lips are extremely dry I think this is a nice touch to the makeup, as a kiss represent love, since her lips are cracked it cold be representing that her heart is cracked. For me the hair looks far too perfect, as I do not believe that the ringlets would hold for years.

Miss Havisham in Great expectation films.

site:www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment
viewed:23.01.14

In director Mike Newells version of Great Expectations. Miss Havisham is played by renowned actress Helena Bonham Carter. Known for playing quirky, interesting characters. Analyzing her whole image I think Newells perception of Miss Havisham was perfect!  The pale makeup, and dark eyes indicating she has o daylight. I love the costume design of the dress that looks like a rag. She looks mid fourties not too old which I liked. The big eccentric hair and veil. She really does look ghostly, as if she is living but inside she is dead. Although she does sort of resemble a corpse. I found the fact that she walked around with a walking stick, and she sat in a wheel chair fascinating. As she could of had brittle bones, due to lack of vitamins. Or by not doing everyday rituals leading to her body almost ot being able to handle her own body weight leaving her in a  fragile condition. She plays the part well; as to me sh comes across as an odd but rather lovely woman until the dark side of her is alter revealed. Although for my perception of Miss Havisham I believe she would not settle for having nothing to help escape her misery. Which is why I am going to research alcoholism.

site:www.stylecaster.com
viewed:23.01.14

Another version of Great Expectations that intrigued me was Alfonso Cuarón(1998) contemporary version of the film. Miss Havisham aka Ms. Nora Dinsmoor played by Anne Bancroft. Was an intriguing character. She was mad! In terms of image she looks "Mutton dressed as lamb" She is clearly wearing a wig and has slapped on the heavy makeup. In the film she appears to always have a drink or a smoke in her hand. Which also helped to inspire me to think about alcoholism in the Victorian age. Although she looks rather old about 60 in the film she could be younger. But due to the effects of smoking alcohol and stress could of made her age. Her wearing heavy makeup she could be trying to hide the fact that she is broken hearted. He joyful personality also contributes to hiding her broken self.

site:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1291188/Modern-students-poor-grasp-history-depressing-says-Schools-minister.html
viewed:23.01.14

Where as in David Leans 1946 production. Miss Havisham has a soft look about her. Although she does look a bit elderly with the walking stick and light wispy hair. Her skin leaves barely any traces of any wrinkles. Although the film is in Black and white. So we cannot see as much detail as we would of liked too. From this image I would like to also use flowers in the hair on the wedding day. Not only is that historically correct but adds a nice touch to the overall look.

Miss Havisham in the novel.

Miss Havisham is a character created by novelist Charles Dickens (Great Expectations). She has been an inquisitive character that many people have felt inspired to re-create various, texts ,plays,poems, films,and television productions based on her; or just inspired by her. Her character has had such an influence on popular and high culture there is even named a type of depression after her called `The Havisham effect`. This is a form of depression that can be caused by having a broken heart. therefore they develop gaining pleasure through addictive behavior such as alcohol, drugs, self harming. I guess for Miss Havisham it was to relive the same day.

My first impression of Miss Havisham wow! I was intrigued she is a character that is full of mystery that I wanted to know about. Such as why is she wearing that dress? Why have the clocks stopped? Why the hell does she ask children around her mansion to play? I found her all very odd and wonderful. Of course as I read the novel I found the answer to me questions and more.

Pip describes Miss Havishams mansion as "old,derelict, and separated from the outside world. I found these words to be thought-provoking. These words to me also represent Miss Havisham's life she is seen as old through Pip's eyes, her appearance is not cared for, and she lives her life sheltered away from reality. She is living but metaphorically she is dead. She is living her life like a dead person. Pip also goes on to describe her home "the cold wind seemed to blow colder here than outside [the gate]". Implying to me again that she is like a deceased person, as they loose warmth in their bodies when they die.

Pip also described Miss Havisham to be a cross between a skeleton and waxwork. Since my brain processed those words they have stuck in my mind. My imagination plays on these words creating a figure of  Miss Havisham. Considering the fictional book was written and of course the characters are fictional. I can only create a Miss Havisham from my imagination but using the keywords that I found intriguing to help me create my character.

A Victorian french pleat development.

 We learnt how to create french pleat as many Victorians wore this style. We could use this as a starting point to make a big shape in the hair. As Miss Havisham may of had big hair due to lying around around and not brushing it to tame it.



Here is the back of my classical french pleat. Volume created using padding, and backcombing.

 I added pin curls at the front of the hair to add a extra Victorian element.

From the front this look is a strong, sophisticated look.
I can use this as my starting point for my Miss Havisham. Playing about with colour,texture, and props.

I am not sure if I want to use this for my hair style. As it is very time consuming.

Hair inspiration.

site:http://www.pinterest.com/pin/419890365230267560/
Viewed:06.02.14

 When I first laid my eyes on this image I become infatuated with it. Its such a disturbingly pretty image. I do not know if it was influenced by Miss Havisham but it reminds me of her. The hair is crazy yet looks pretty with the use of props. I really would like to use flowers in the hair maybe like a hairband.

Site:http://www.pinterest.com/pin/419890365230554351/
Viewed:06.02.14

This is a simple,elegant ,Victorian Gibson tuck. I have chosen to use the Gibson tuck due to my partners hair. As her hair is thick yet rather short. I want to do a up do as these were very popular for bridal hair. I feel this will be not too challenging to create neither time consuming which makes it perfect.