I enjoyed this series. Debi Mazar is mesmerising as Magda, playing against type and she nails it. Miranda Otto gives a brilliant nuanced performance. Some of the other characters are a little wooden. It's a fascinating glimpse into 1960's Australian life. The running of the department store, University life and the migrant experience are well portrayed. The fashions were enjoyable however I'm glad we've moved on. The music score worked well. Overall it's a lighthearted series however we feel Magda's angst. It's interesting to be reminded of a the restrictions of a woman's lot and the burden on men to provide in those times. This is handled well and not rammed down the audiences throat.
6 Reviews
This is a period piece
robertfalls5720 June 2024
This is a period piece if you don't like period pieces you will hate it. This drama is set at the beginning of the 60s and you can see the mind set in many of these people. This shows how minds are being changed from very narrow to more worldly. If you liked other period pieces from down under you will like this series. It reminds me of the "The Doctor Blake Mysteries" series in many ways. The language and mannerisms are well done and the "Sexual" problems are well dealt with. A pushy supervisor is dealt with as a simple firing when today they would be arrested and a large settlement would happen. All in all not a bad piece and the next "year" should be better.
Dressed for Success alright!
helenelangford18 June 2024
This is a delightfully light & entertaining yet accurate & dark portrayal of Australia's behaviour to post war immigrants & women seeking financial independence through work.
Set in the early 1960's there are glorious vintage gowns, heritage facades & stylish cars to create a delicious backdrop.
Although filmed elsewhere.. ( regional VIC?) I could have sworn it was filmed in Sydney's iconic Elizabeth Street store.
I remember the piano playing as you entered and took the escalator up to the temple of fashion with its gorgeous gowns kept safely out of reach of young girls greedy eyes & suspected sticky fingers.
As the story of each woman unfolds, we witness the past gender power imbalance & snobbery that was commonplace at the time while being gently soothed by fabulous dresses, hair & makeup.
The fashions may have changed but the memories & bad behaviour sadly linger. I am reminded to be grateful to those who cut a path before me & that everything and nothing changes when it comes to relationships.
Set in the early 1960's there are glorious vintage gowns, heritage facades & stylish cars to create a delicious backdrop.
Although filmed elsewhere.. ( regional VIC?) I could have sworn it was filmed in Sydney's iconic Elizabeth Street store.
I remember the piano playing as you entered and took the escalator up to the temple of fashion with its gorgeous gowns kept safely out of reach of young girls greedy eyes & suspected sticky fingers.
As the story of each woman unfolds, we witness the past gender power imbalance & snobbery that was commonplace at the time while being gently soothed by fabulous dresses, hair & makeup.
The fashions may have changed but the memories & bad behaviour sadly linger. I am reminded to be grateful to those who cut a path before me & that everything and nothing changes when it comes to relationships.
Watch the movie instead
phaserphil8017 June 2024
As someone who watched the 2018 film and enjoyed it... This version in my opinion is really not it.
The 600 characters writing this are sad that this review has to exist. The only interesting thing was cinematography and the stunning shots of the store and the set pieces.
But I feel like even though the movie was in 2018, the decision to make a series 4-ish years on was a rushed one and sometimes it really shows.
It feels slow, characters are wooden and it's just really hard to like. But there are actors who you know and you're like "omg is that?" and yes it is!
Miranda Otto plays Virgina Ambrose brilliantly and is the one of many shining lights in the disappointment of the series.
The 600 characters writing this are sad that this review has to exist. The only interesting thing was cinematography and the stunning shots of the store and the set pieces.
But I feel like even though the movie was in 2018, the decision to make a series 4-ish years on was a rushed one and sometimes it really shows.
It feels slow, characters are wooden and it's just really hard to like. But there are actors who you know and you're like "omg is that?" and yes it is!
Miranda Otto plays Virgina Ambrose brilliantly and is the one of many shining lights in the disappointment of the series.
Don't bother
Alz124 June 2024
Having watched, and thoroughly enjoyed, the "Ladies in Black" movie a few years ago, I was really looking forward to the series. Sadly, it is nowhere near as good as the movie. I won't be watching the rest of it. There was so much potential for a brilliant series and yet it has been completely wasted. It feels as though they thought, "This is a nice idea, let's run with it." However, they haven't actually thought anything through. They've just thrown something together, quickly and thoughtlessly, hoping it works. It doesn't. Nothing in the series remotely resembles the beauty of the movie. So disappointed.
Misses at every possible mark
donotusethisemailaddressplease25 June 2024
Perhaps I wanted more from this series than it could deliver, perhaps I wanted the film to continue into the TV series, whatever, but this just misses, at every possible mark.
The layout of the store doesn't make me believe in it; The re-imagination of the characters doesn't make me believe in them.
The appalling continuity errors in the first episode made me not believe in it.
I tried, seriously I did. I got through episode 1, I got 8 minutes into episode 2 and just went: "I can't do this". Go right ahead and try and make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. It'll still be a sow's ear, and that's what this show is.
Do yourself the favour. Miss it. Go back and watch the film.
The layout of the store doesn't make me believe in it; The re-imagination of the characters doesn't make me believe in them.
The appalling continuity errors in the first episode made me not believe in it.
I tried, seriously I did. I got through episode 1, I got 8 minutes into episode 2 and just went: "I can't do this". Go right ahead and try and make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. It'll still be a sow's ear, and that's what this show is.
Do yourself the favour. Miss it. Go back and watch the film.
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