I watched seven episodes recently, and I saw Lucy wearing one outfit on three episodes. It's that beige wool skirt suit, with the oversized collar (almost looks like a jacket). She wore it on the show where she drives everyone crazy in the restaurant by changing her mind. She wore it on the show when Ethel kept telling everyone the same story over and over (how she told the old tenant that she wouldn't kick Lucy and Ricky out over the baby crying). I can't remember the third episode where she wore it.

My thinking is that back in the early days of television, they didn't have a huge budget and that the actors' wardrobes weren't endless. How about the rest of the cast. I haven't watched the show in ages, but I'm starting to get into it, and I'm noticing some recycling of clothes.

Talk to me....Irennnnneeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

I watched seven episodes recently, and I saw Lucy wearing one outfit on three episodes. It's that beige wool skirt suit, with the oversized collar (almost looks like a jacket). She wore it on the show where she drives everyone crazy in the restaurant by changing her mind. She wore it on the show when Ethel kept telling everyone the same story over and over (how she told the old tenant that she wouldn't kick Lucy and Ricky out over the baby crying). I can't remember the third episode where she wore it.

My thinking is that back in the early days of television, they didn't have a huge budget and that the actors' wardrobes weren't endless. How about the rest of the cast. I haven't watched the show in ages, but I'm starting to get into it, and I'm noticing some recycling of clothes.

Talk to me....Irennnnneeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

Lucy's wardrobe was one of the best things about the show! I finally bought the ILL "Paper Dolls" book to find out more about the outfits.

In the first two seasons, which included the outfit you described, they didn't have much of a budget and the clothes were bought off the rack. After that, Lucy's clothes were designed especially for her. Several styles were repeated with slight variations (material and trim). Lucy liked to re-use the outfits because she thought that's what a real housewife would do.

I like the idea of seeing the familiar outfits, but then there would always be a new surprise added. Some outfits were easily recognizable like the dark pants outfit with the V-neck with wide nautical stripes (worn when she rehearses with King Cat Walsh or goes deep sea fishing).

Ethel, Fred and Ricky also had a lot of repeats. A memorable dress of Ethel's is the dark one with white arrows around the neckline (seen when Lucy hires a maid). Ricky's ties reappear, and how many times does Fred wear that shirt with double flapped-pockets? He even wears it with a tie! :)

Thanks Madame X. I noticed that Lucy's house dresses are similiar in style. She had the waist of a 20-year old, and she sure liked to show it off. Of course Lucy had terrific legs too. I recall seeing them in some showgirl episode -- with the fruit on her head if I'm not mistaken.

Ricky's suit were nice, and he looked very distinquised in them. It's too bad we couldn't see their clothes in color. Lucy's polka-dot dress is quite popular, and the one people often wear if they're dressing in costume as Lucy.

Lucy's polka-dot dress is quite popular, and the one people often wear if they're dressing in costume as Lucy.

Janice, it's funny you should mention that dress! The original was in navy blue, but Elois Jenssen designed variations of this dress that appeared in more than 25 episodes. It is also the dress that was created in miniature for the first in the series of Lucy collector dolls. :wave:

I think it's great how they wore the same outfits on different episodes. It shows that yea Lucy and Rick had money but it didn't hurt Lucy to wear the same outfit. Originality! I mean have you watched The Honeymooners lately?! :lol:

When wearing the same clothing repeatedly, it adds to the identity and development of a character. We get to know them and their personalities and feel comfortable with them.

Fake and shallow character development in modern sitcoms provide us with a "fashion parade" of clothing styles to try and keep us interested. It is hard to identify with that.

It is comforting to see Lucy and Ethel in their "ratty old bathrobes," and Fred in his work duds and long-johns. Even when Ricky is in a tuxedo for work, we can identify with him coming home at 2:00am and ripping that damn thing off. That's what we would do.

If you watch the bob Hope special where they do the spoof of I Love Lucy you'll notice that Ethel is wearing that suit. Talk about recycling! And in the Desilu Review Carole Cook is wearing one of Lucy's maternity dresses.

PS to Janice: I love The Soprano's too! LOL

I always remember Ethel saying she only had 3 dresses, but I think she was just kidding. I didn't mind seeing them wear the same outfits on different shows, it was kind of nice, made them seem like the average housewife.

I always remember Ethel saying she only had 3 dresses, but I think she was just kidding. I didn't mind seeing them wear the same outfits on different shows, it was kind of nice, made them seem like the average housewife.

Yep, I think that was the point. Poor Ethel made it sound like she got one dress a year. I am sure she was just kidding because Fred was portrayed as a tightwad. Somehow Ethel got some dresses.

Lucy's wardrobe was one of the best things about the show! I finally bought the ILL "Paper Dolls" book to find out more about the outfits.

In the first two seasons, which included the outfit you described, they didn't have much of a budget and the clothes were bought off the rack. After that, Lucy's clothes were designed especially for her. Several styles were repeated with slight variations (material and trim). Lucy liked to re-use the outfits because she thought that's what a real housewife would do.

I like the idea of seeing the familiar outfits, but then there would always be a new surprise added. Some outfits were easily recognizable like the dark pants outfit with the V-neck with wide nautical stripes (worn when she rehearses with King Cat Walsh or goes deep sea fishing).

Ethel, Fred and Ricky also had a lot of repeats. A memorable dress of Ethel's is the dark one with white arrows around the neckline (seen when Lucy hires a maid). Ricky's ties reappear, and how many times does Fred wear that shirt with double flapped-pockets? He even wears it with a tie! :)
You said it! Sorry I read this thread too late. :lol: I just seen this.

Lucy wanted the viewers to feel comfortable and of course give some reality to the show. Something I find waaaaay ahead of its time considering this was the 50's, the start of television sitcoms and here was this red-headed genius worrying abt how her female viewers would see her.

It was pure genius on Lucy's part, to have the characters wear certain outfits over and over. How many women in America (especially at that time) could afford to have a different outfit everyday? Not many. Even now, it still works. Look at Roseanne. Roseanne wanted to have a show that would be memorable and as succesful as I Love Lucy. Well, Roseanne did it by following the same formula: realism. The Conners didn't wear designer clothes. They rotated their outfits. It gives credence to the characters.

PS to Janice: I love The Soprano's too! LOL
Good taste in television, I see. :) I've watched just about all of the HBO Original Series, from start to finish. Nobody puts out a show like HBO.

You said it! Sorry I read this thread too late. :lol: I just seen this.

Lucy wanted the viewers to feel comfortable and of course give some reality to the show. Something I find waaaaay ahead of its time considering this was the 50's, the start of television sitcoms and here was this red-headed genius worrying abt how her female viewers would see her.

It was pure genius on Lucy's part, to have the characters wear certain outfits over and over. How many women in America (especially at that time) could afford to have a different outfit everyday? Not many. Even now, it still works. Look at Roseanne. Roseanne wanted to have a show that would be memorable and as succesful as I Love Lucy. Well, Roseanne did it by following the same formula: realism. The Conners didn't wear designer clothes. They rotated their outfits. It gives credence to the characters.

Yep! As far as I'm concerned, it is Lucy and Roseanne alone in this concept. Nothing else comes close to what they wanted to accomplish. :nod:

What about that dress Lucy wore that was cut and had pants?She wore it in L A at last.What about that dress Lucy wore over to Tallua Bankheads house on The Lucy Desi Comedy Hour?Lucy got pant all over that dress.What about the pants she wore in The First Stop?Lucy may have been one of the first women to wore pants on tv.Lucy had alot of nice cloth.That was a nice dress Lucy wore in Lucy changes her mind.Lucy looked good in pants.

In The Honeymooners, Trixie is shown wearing a dark floral nightgown and a few episodes later, Alice is shown wearing the same one. Boy, talk about budget cuts. :lol:

One thing I liked about ILL was that just like real people, Lucy Ricardo would wear the same outfit quite a bit and often, too. Plus the same outfits adds a bit of the feeling of one episode being connected to the other -- the continuim (spelling?) was kept.

One thing I liked about ILL was that just like real people, Lucy Ricardo would wear the same outfit quite a bit and often, too. Plus the same outfits adds a bit of the feeling of one episode being connected to the other -- the continuim (spelling?) was kept.
Also, it added to the realism that Lucy and Ricky were not rich, they had financial issues like everyone else. Lucy was on a budget, Ricky didn't want to spend money like crazy, etc. So, it only made sense to see her wear several outfits over and over. Again, the genius of Lucy. :)

Also, it added to the realism that Lucy and Ricky were not rich, they had financial issues like everyone else. Lucy was on a budget, Ricky didn't want to spend money like crazy, etc. So, it only made sense to see her wear several outfits over and over. Again, the genius of Lucy. :)

Lucy's outfits were gorgeous. Most housewives didn't dress like that, but they all had hopes and could identify when she slept, worked, cleaned, etc. She gave hope to every housewife as to what their wardrobes could be.

Lucy helped the average housewife because she had budget problems, meal planning, bills, a baby to raise, a husband who was a workaholic, and a lousy apartment. Add to that an occasional hat or dress purchase, and, omg: if she had to whip up a dinner for an agent, sponsor or boss!

Lucy helped the average housewife because she had budget problems, meal planning, bills, a baby to raise, a husband who was a workaholic, and a lousy apartment. Add to that an occasional hat or dress purchase, and, omg: if she had to whip up a dinner for an agent, sponsor or boss!

Sounds like Ethel. :lol: Although she didn't have a baby to raise or a workaholic husband, she had one lousy apartment. And I always wondered if they were the landlords, why weren't they given the best apartment in the building or atleast lived in the basement like most managers or landlords do?! Just a thought.

Thank you for using realism. That is the word I was searching my mind for yesterday and I couldn't think of it. Just goes to show what a tired mind will do to a person!!!

Sounds like Ethel. :lol: Although she didn't have a baby to raise or a workaholic husband, she had one lousy apartment. And I always wondered if they were the landlords, why weren't they given the best apartment in the building or atleast lived in the basement like most managers or landlords do?! Just a thought.
I know. That is what I had a hard time with. You would think they would have a decent apartment. Maybe their apartment was beautiful at one time, but I find it hard to imagine that Fred was so dirty, disgusting and a pig to let that apartment get to the ugly way we saw it.

I know that it was written for the Mertzes to "not be so rich" or have less $$$ than the Ricardos, but to have them live in that dingy apartment was kinda pushing the envelope I think.

I know. That is what I had a hard time with. You would think they would have a decent apartment. Maybe their apartment was beautiful at one time, but I find it hard to imagine that Fred was so dirty, disgusting and a pig to let that apartment get to the ugly way we saw it.

:lol: Fred ruined it!

I know. That is what I had a hard time with. You would think they would have a decent apartment. Maybe their apartment was beautiful at one time, but I find it hard to imagine that Fred was so dirty, disgusting and a pig to let that apartment get to the ugly way we saw it.

I know that it was written for the Mertzes to "not be so rich" or have less $$$ than the Ricardos, but to have them live in that dingy apartment was kinda pushing the envelope I think.

I think that having the Mertzes living in that apartment just emphasized what a tightwad Fred was. He was so cheap that he rented out the better apartments because he could get the most money for them.

The real issue is that he didn't care enough about his wife to claim the best apartment for themselves. He wanted money from tenants more than securing happiness for his wife.

Fred was funny, but what a jerk!

I think that having the Mertzes living in that apartment just emphasized what a tightwad Fred was. He was so cheap that he rented out the better apartments because he could get the most money for them.

The real issue is that he didn't care enough about his wife to claim the best apartment for themselves. He wanted money from tenants more than securing happiness for his wife.

Fred was funny, but what a jerk!
There apartment was ugly.Lucy and Ricky's was much better. So was there country house. When Lucy :D and Ricky moved to the country Fred and Ethel moved in to there guest house. It looked much better.Fred didn't want to pay rent to Lucy and Ricky when they lived in there guest house but Ethel made him.Fred was so chep it didn't buy his own house in the country.

:lol: Fred ruined it!
:lol: :lol: :lol:

Lucy's wardrobe was one of the best things about the show!
I was watching one of the California episodes today and she had on that light colored dress with the leaves around the waist, and the high collar. I love that dress on her...I wonder what color it was? Maybe white, but maybe like a pale green or something, too. I bet it looked good with her red hair. :)

In The Honeymooners, Trixie is shown wearing a dark floral nightgown and a few episodes later, Alice is shown wearing the same one. Boy, talk about budget cuts. :lol:


You'll notice that on Friends too - especially purses - they had one big "communal" wardrobe of accessories they'd pull from. Sometimes they'd mention that someone had "borrowed" it so the audience probably barely noticed anything.


I like it when a show "re-uses" outfits - it makes it more realistic. Not many of us have a wardrobe where we wear something only once.

You'll notice that on Friends too - especially purses - they had one big "communal" wardrobe of accessories they'd pull from. Sometimes they'd mention that someone had "borrowed" it so the audience probably barely noticed anything.


I like it when a show "re-uses" outfits - it makes it more realistic. Not many of us have a wardrobe where we wear something only once.
True.

A dress of Ethel's that I noticed her wearing in a lot of episodes is the one with what looks like curved arrows around the neckline. Sorry about the description; I'm no fashion designer. My wardrobe consists mainly of Levi's and t shirts. And contrary to Ethel, I have worn blue jeans in the subway, LOL!

Ever see the Lucy paper dolls book? It shows what those terrific dresses looked like IN COLOR. Also, you can see them in Forever Darling, as Lucy wore some of the same outfits in that movie, from the show i mean.

Ever see the Lucy paper dolls book? It shows what those terrific dresses looked like IN COLOR. Also, you can see them in Forever Darling, as Lucy wore some of the same outfits in that movie, from the show i mean.
See it? I have it! It's a cool book for seeing what color the outfits really were.

Yeah, it's a very nice Lucy book, only thing missing is GOSSIP , LOL!