Capture Shiv Roy’s style from Succession
After 2 years off of our screens, the prestige tv show Succession has returned with a bang; and many people are already asking how do I replicate the style of Shiv Roy, the cutthroat girlboss we both love and hate, who has become a modern fashion trailblazer. Here we will show you how!
First Principles
First of all, there are general fashion principles that hold true for the whole Roy clan which are worth thinking about before we dive into Shiv’s back catalogue to recreate her look.
Michelle Matland, the show’s fashion visionary said that she didn’t look at the newest collections or magazines for her clothing inspiration, but instead stalks the glitzy advertising agencies on world famous Madison Avenue to see what people are wearing. This was the world that the Roy’s inhabited, so she took direct cues from what people did and didn’t wear, and that is clear to see in what the characters in the show wear.
No characters walk around adorned in logos, because logos as signifiers of wealth and prosperity are not needed when you are born into one of the most famous families in the world. The Roy’s generally dress with little creativity or personality; instead working in a world of beige cashmere jumpers and sleek grey button ups. In their world wealth is not shown, it is assumed. The money they spend pays for the fabric and fit of garments, not the logo or “wow factor” a piece of clothing has.
Shiv’s Fashion Evolution
However just because a piece isn’t bought for its wow factor, that is not to say that clothing within the show won’t knock your socks off, as the cult following Shiv’s Backless cashmere sweater has conjured up is proof of that.
But Shiv did not always dominate the screen with eye-catching and revealing attire, starting off the show trying to distance herself from her father and working in politics, where one’s every fashion choice is torn apart so we find her largely wearing conservative outfits and flat shoes, or wrapped up in a jumper during a family discussion. By the second series, things have changed for her and she has replaced these conservative staples with subtly seductive polo necks which are both functional and show off Sarah Snook’s figure, further accentuated by high-waisted trousers inspired by Katherine Hepburn and power suits that wouldn’t look out of place from Michelle Obama’s wardrobe.
Shiv’s Sex Appeal
As Shiv has changed up her wardrobe, people behind the scenes who are talking about the new series had said that her clothing transformation is reflective of her owning her sexuality and that these ideas are explored in more detail as the show continues. But this is a matter of her personal development, not played as some sort of plot point within the show. The show does not focus on her body or her curves, they don’t define her. But that doesn’t mean she can’t dress them well.
Proof of Shiv’s sexual acceptance comes in the form of her embracing her curves. Whilst conservatism can have its own power, embracing your body for what it is rather than hiding it away is one way to reclaim control in your life. Shiv does this plenty of times, including when she turned heads wearing figure hugging black trousers and a tight silk shirt, which caused Khaliha Hawkins to remark that “The first thing I noticed about Shiv Roy was how great her ass looked in everything. Shiv will definitely be everyone’s fall fashion inspiration, but her butt is definitely my forever inspiration.”. Couldn’t put it better myself!
To accentuate her figure, as well as wearing black silk numbers, she experiments with a rotation of flattering V-necks, hip-hugging trousers and infamous backless tops. On special occasions she will wear outfits that are impossible to avoid looking at, such as the celebration of her father in Dundee where she draws the eyes of many in a backless turtleneck dress, complete with a daring thigh split.
How to recreate Shiv’s wardrobe
How does one emulate the look of Shiv?
The key to replicating Shiv’s outfits on a regular basis, rather than for a one off Halloween adventure, is to mould your clothes collection to a place where it contains a sophisticated stable of classics like high-waisted trousers, turtlenecks, and double breasted blazers (all in block colours) which you can wear in a business meeting but equally show up to evening event in. These can be accessorised with belts, heels, and items of jewellery so to differentiate your outfits constructed from these building blocks.
When buying these essentials, focus on the lines of the clothes. Do they flatter your figure? Focus on the fabric of the garments. Will you be comfortable in this for long meetings or when you need to run errands? Focus on the fit. Does it fit you properly and are you comfortable and confident wearing it?
If you manage to find items that do all those things for you, these pieces will be classics that you keep in your wardrobe long after your interest in the show Succession wanes.
