Designer Crime: Fashion Lessons From Villanelle

Breaking news: the fashion police has a new face – that of the trendy female villain.

Meet our suspect…

Villanelle (Oksana Astankova) – a charismatic Russian psychopath who excels in the art of killing. The danger of beauty or the beauty of danger nuance her lavish lifestyle. A Pisces. Wears the scent of lust and innocence. On a mission to love.

When we first see Villanelle (Killing Eve) on screen, we see a complicit woman who provokes desire, curiosity, and admiration. Then we see carefully assembled designer garments, which are like micro chapters documenting the way the story goes. Oh, and then we see the plot.

Because the clothes dictate the plot. Underneath the outer layers of murders and scams, a naked soul styles her identity through the language of fashion.

Here is the subtle language of female villain fashion, as told by one of the most fashionable ones of our time.

Dress for the part

The most refined art Villanelle has mastered is that of chameleon-dressing. Picking the right clothing for the part and inventing herself through fashion is key to her success.

Villanelle dresses for the job. She morphs into different personalities for the thrill of the kill. She has her signature artistic style of murder, and fashion is a major part of it. Fun and extravagance define it. In the last episode of season three, Villanelle says, “Comfortable is what you make people with a terminal illness,” while wearing a Halpern SS20 suit and chunky platform boots.

Villanelle’s chameleon-like nature manifests not only when she’s performing idiosyncratic murders, but also when she’s going on about her personal life. Her choice of clothes is a direct reflection of her current mood, setting, and mischief that’s brewing in her genius mind. And they’re not always all glamorous; sometimes she wears ragged clothes with just as much sass.

One of her most iconic outfits is the Vampire’s Wife Villanelle Dress in stunning blue floral print. She wore it in season 2, episode 3 “Management Sucks” paired with killer black sandals with an intricate heel.

In season four, the beloved character’s path in life takes in a completely different direction. When she joins the church to repent for all her sins, she walks down the church hall in astonishing religious clothing as if she’s on the runway. And the best part is that she wears her enchantment with such ease and freedom.

Wear it with an accent

One of the most distinctive features of Villanelle is her idiosyncratic accent. It’s notably Russian, yet completely individual and subject to change depending on the situation. We have to commend Jodie Comer, who plays Villanelle in the series, because Russian is not an easy accent to do.

Villanelle has yet another superpower – languages. Jodie Comer, who has a distinctive Scouse accent, talks about her character in an interview: “She speaks so many languages, and depending on the mission she is going on, she will have a set costume, and hair, and like a totally different life that she kind of morphs into.” Languages are a part of her whole façade and a key element of the success of her missions.

Go on a shopping haul

What characterises Villanelle is her love for shopping. The way a shopping bag containing a designer garment can mend her soul is priceless.

Villanelle manages to fill a void with her shopping sprees at every location she goes to. Even her bosses are urging her to indulge in her favourite activity throughout the show. In an interview, Jodie Comer shares:

“That’s all she puts her money into. I feel like when she was younger, she didn’t have these luxuries, and now she has all this money and that’s the way she likes to spend it… She does her kill, she gets her money, she spends her money on what she likes.”

She has fashioned an array of iconic outfits throughout the show, from her bubblegum-pink tulle dress by Molly Goddard that she wore in Season One to her blood-red Lanvin peplum top, matching flared trousers, and a Gucci belt. Nevertheless, fashionably mismatched outfits and sleek suits are her signature looks.

Killing Eve has just ended and has left us with a feeling of excitement, adoration, and a touch of sadness. Villanelle’s idiosyncratic character will forever remain in our hearts, while her iconic style will make fashion history!