#rooster kimono

The fourth outfit we see Phryne wear in “The Blood of Juana the Mad” (Season 2, Episode 8) is her classic rooster kimono, thrown over her pink lacey nightgown as she fights off Beatrice’s attacker.

Her kimono is made of black silk with a pink blush lining. It’s decorated with a variety of red blossoms and branches, along with a main tapestry of two roosters fighting each other. This is another item from costume designer Marion Boyce’s personal collection, and according to the Costume Exhibition Catalogue was “one of the last pieces that came out of China before they closed their trading borders in the 1920s”.

“I bought this years and years ago from a retro store, Gollyester in Los Angeles when I was doing Crocodile Dundee 3… it was the most beautiful thing I had seen. I’ve got a passion for Chinoiserie.” - Marion Boyce in the Series One Costume Exhibition Catalogue.

While this is its first appearance in season two, the kimono was regularly seen in season one, showing up in 1x01,1x04,1x06, and 1x10 before this episode.

Season 2, Episode 8 - “The Blood of the Juana the Mad”

Screencaps from here, promotional photos from the ABC Entertains Me Facebook(x,x), and a variety of sources (x,x),costume exhibition photofromBobbin & Baste’s Facebook.