Mrs. Roper's and Mr. Furley's unique, funky looks?

[dee2364]

Something I've been asking around for years is who created the unique "funky
looks for both Mrs. Roper and Mr. Furley? And why were they dressed like that? It's all especially intriguing to me how they were dressed, since the Ropers and Furley was supposed to be representing the old-fashioned older generation. Yet they were dressed "funkier" than the kids in spite of the ones who were supposed to be looking down on them for being so wild and crazy, while the kids were actually more conservatively dressed. Helen Roper dressed like a really "ethnocentric" black person from the 1970s (big afro, kaftans, heavy beads). Mr. Roper was dressed exactly like a 1970s "peacock" (or dandy), right down to the gaudy leisure suits and medallions.

Has it ever been explained why the show decided to dress them so eccentrically, especially Mrs. Roper?

[Hag]

Not sure. Perhaps it was because Mrs Roper was more of a free thinker, chill, type of character so they had her in fun colorful outfits. While I believe Mr Furley was for comedic effect. He believes his outfits are young, hip and trendy. Thought himself to be a regular Burt Reynolds, but it was the 80s and he was kind of a walking neon sign.

[dee2364]

Originally Posted by Hag

Not sure. Perhaps it was because Mrs Roper was more of a free thinker, chill, type of character so they had her in fun colorful outfits. While I believe Mr Furley was for comedic effect. He believes his outfits are young, hip and trendy. Thought himself to be a regular Burt Reynolds, but it was the 80s and he was kind of a walking neon sign.

Yeah, I can kind of see that now with Mr. Furley.

But what of Helen Roper? I really wish someone connected with the show would explain where they got that look from and what they were going for. I think it's kind of underrated. When people think of iconic TV show looks, people think of The Fonz or Ed Norton in his white shirt and vest or Peg Bundy with the big hair but no one thinks about Mrs. Roper. I think her ethnic muumuu and afro needs to be in the TV show hall of fame!

[JackJanetChrissy]

Mrs. Roper was initially more conventional costume-wise. Check out the first pilot where she wears pants and blouses and chomped gum. Audra Lindley was worried that she would come off too harsh and asked that the character be softened somehow, so for the next pilot they changed her look and some of her dialogue, which did the trick.

Len Marcus, the wardrobe guy, was the one responsible for her look. His reasoning behind the muumuu was that because Mrs. Roper was so sex-crazed she'd want to be wearing something that could be torn off in a flash. His mother even knitted her shawls. Some her many gaudy rings came from fans who mailed them in. (I read all this in the book Come and Knock On Our Door by Chris Mann.)

Lindley mentioned that the garish costume informed the whole character—Mrs. Roper went from being a stone-cold bitch to being a warm, open, funky person whose love was thwarted. Personally her outfit really reflects who Mrs. Roper is: colorful and lively. It also provides a comical contrast to drab old Stanley who always wears grays, browns, and beiges. And I agree, her outfit is iconic!

[dee2364]

Originally Posted by JackJanetChrissy

Mrs. Roper was initially more conventional costume-wise. Check out the first pilot where she wears pants and blouses and chomped gum. Audra Lindley was worried that she would come off too harsh and asked that the character be softened somehow, so for the next pilot they changed her look and some of her dialogue, which did the trick.

Len Marcus, the wardrobe guy, was the one responsible for her look. His reasoning behind the muumuu was that because Mrs. Roper was so sex-crazed she'd want to be wearing something that could be torn off in a flash. His mother even knitted her shawls. Some her many gaudy rings came from fans who mailed them in. (I read all this in the book Come and Knock On Our Door by Chris Mann.)

Lindley mentioned that the garish costume informed the whole character—Mrs. Roper went from being a stone-cold bitch to being a warm, open, funky person whose love was thwarted. Personally her outfit really reflects who Mrs. Roper is: colorful and lively. It also provides a comical contrast to drab old Stanley who always wears grays, browns, and beiges. And I agree, her outfit is iconic!

Thank you very much! I've always adored Mrs. Roper's style (I've begun wearing caftans, too) and was wondering who came up with it, the reasoning behind it, etc., etc. This is exactly the answer that I was looking for, and it explains a lot, especially when seeing this:

[JackJanetChrissy]

Sure thing! If you ever get a chance, check out the Chris Mann book. In it are "fashion-focus" sections that cover this kind of stuff. Lots of behind-the-scenes info, too. It's all really interesting!

[Lastkidpicked]

Originally Posted by dee2364

Something I've been asking around for years is who created the unique "funky
looks for both Mrs. Roper and Mr. Furley? Mr. Roper was dressed exactly like a 1970s "peacock" (or dandy), right down to the gaudy leisure suits and medallions.

Has it ever been explained why the show decided to dress them so eccentrically, especially Mrs. Roper?

JackJanetChrissy did a great job explaining the wardrobe choices by Mrs. Roper. Thank you for that, it changes the way I watch her scenes now.

For Mr. Furley, if you know people like him then his outfits make perfect sense. We had a neighbor like him growing up:

Always drove a car he thought was cool. And they were cool cars twenty years before he bought them!

And he always thought he was the first to discover the cool nightspots, the cool dance clubs, the cool restaurants.

The flashy clothes? Oh, yes! Have to let the girls see you, ya know?

So he strutted around like a smooth ladies man. And did anybody tell him that he wasn't? Of course not! He wasn't hurting any body.

[JackJanetChrissy]

Originally Posted by Lastkidpicked

JackJanetChrissy did a great job explaining the wardrobe choices by Mrs. Roper. Thank you for that, it changes the way I watch her scenes now.

For Mr. Furley, if you know people like him then his outfits make perfect sense. We had a neighbor like him growing up:

Always drove a car he thought was cool. And they were cool cars twenty years before he bought them!

And he always thought he was the first to discover the cool nightspots, the cool dance clubs, the cool restaurants.

The flashy clothes? Oh, yes! Have to let the girls see you, ya know?

So he strutted around like a smooth ladies man. And did anybody tell him that he wasn't? Of course not! He wasn't hurting any body.

I gotta know...was your neighbor actually successful with the ladies? I think Furley would get less flack if he had actual game. Though I can't imagine it!

[Lastkidpicked]

Originally Posted by JackJanetChrissy

I gotta know...was your neighbor actually successful with the ladies? I think Furley would get less flack if he had actual game. Though I can't imagine it!

No he wasn't, and that is what made him so charming.
Just like Mr. Furley, he was totally harmless.

And this is one thing I really appreciate about Three's Company. Larry knew just how ridiculous Mr. Furley was, but he allowed Mr. Furley to believe he was "hip" like the cool kids. Larry even called him "R.F." because it made him seem cooler. I like that.

[TheLittleFaerie]

To me, Mrs Roper's outfits were more like lounging outfits/muumuus. I always thought it indicated how she rarely ever went anywhere. I have some muumuus like that but would never wear them in public lol