Get ready for a detective story with a dazzling twist! What if Agatha Christie's iconic sleuths traded their cozy, outdated vibes for runway-ready elegance? That's exactly what's happening with Netflix's bold reimagining of her work – but here's where it gets controversial: is this fresh take a thrilling modernization, or does it risk losing the timeless charm that made Christie a legend?
Agatha Christie's most famous female detective, Miss Marple, boasts plenty of admirable traits, like her sharp wit and unyielding determination. Yet, let's be honest, her fashion sense has never been her standout feature. In the beloved BBC series that ran for years, actress Joan Hickson's portrayal leaned into an unpretentious look – think a classic cloche hat paired with fluffy white hair – which often led suspects to underestimate her brilliant investigative prowess.
Now, Netflix is flipping the script, opting for chic over frumpy in their adaptation of one of Christie's Twenties-era detectives. Drawing from the bold, effortless style of Nineties supermodels, this new take promises to breathe fresh air into the character's image. For those new to Christie's world, the Twenties refer to the 1920s, a post-World War I era buzzing with cultural shifts and new freedoms, especially for women embracing shorter hairstyles and looser fashions.
Specifically, the inspiration comes straight from icons like Kate Moss and Christy Turlington, whose minimalist, edgy vibes are shaping the look of Lady Eileen "Bundle" Brent. This character stars in Netflix's three-part series, Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials, based on Christie's 1929 novel The Seven Dials Mystery (which, by the way, takes its name from a historic London district known for its seven converging streets and vibrant history). The show, premiering on January 15, follows the "fizzingly inquisitive" Bundle, portrayed by rising star Mia McKenna-Bruce, as she dives into a spine-tingling mystery sparked when a harmless prank at an opulent country house party turns deadly.
Producers describe it as a "witty, fast-paced drama," penned by Chris Chibnall, the mastermind behind the gripping Broadchurch series, with executive producer Suzanne Mackie from The Crown lending her expertise. Director Chris Sweeney deliberately avoided the over-the-top glamour typical of many period pieces. "She's not dressed up to the nines like a lot of period dramas can be," he explains, emphasizing a more natural approach – no excessive wigs, just Mia's own hair, keeping things grounded and relatable.
The creative team sought inspiration from unexpected places, including Jacques-Henri Lartigue, a pioneering French photographer who captured the Twenties' elite in effortlessly stylish, homey settings. Associate costume designer Sidonie Roberts aimed to craft outfits that today's young viewers might actually want to wear. "It’s not often the younger generation want to watch a period drama and look at the main heroine and go, ‘I want to dress like that.’ So there’s a cool chicness to it," she notes. "Inspiration-wise, somebody that came up for us was Kate Moss. Bundle’s our Twenties Kate Moss." They also drew from a striking black-and-white Prada campaign from the Nineties featuring Christy Turlington, which cleverly revisited Twenties aesthetics with simple dresses, long cardigans, and oversized jumpers. As Roberts puts it, "The Twenties had so many revivals in terms of fashion. So for Bundle we actually ended up looking quite a lot at a Prada campaign that was in the Nineties with Christy Turlington, ‘Nineties does Twenties’, because it all comes back round. It was this really simple Prada campaign [in which] she wears these real nods to these Twenties dresses with long cardigans and big jumpers. So Bundle is quite inspired by Christy Turlington and Prada coming together with her character."
And this is the part most people miss – the clever contrast between Bundle's forward-looking style and that of her mother, Lady Caterham, played by Helena Bonham Carter. While Bundle channels modern supermodel cool, Lady Caterham's eccentric wardrobe draws from 19th-century novelist and gardener Vita Sackville-West, evoking a more traditional, earthy vibe. Costume designer Amy Roberts explains how these designs symbolize the turbulent transition between the world wars. "Helena was very keen that this woman does stuff, so she becomes a gardener," she says, highlighting Lady Caterham's straw hat and oversized coat – perhaps once worn by her late husband or son. This juxtaposition underscores a broader theme: post-World War I upheaval giving way to newfound freedoms, reflected in women's bolder fashion choices like cropped hair.
Suzanne Mackie stresses the show's elevated ambition compared to past Christie adaptations. "It’s about everything having a scale and intensity that feels elevated," she shares. "It starts with the writing and you have to then follow that through in every decision, from your casting right through to your music choices. It’s never straightforward, but the ambition is there for excellence, and for it to feel very real." For beginners, this means the series aims to blend high-stakes drama with authentic, immersive details that make the story feel urgent and alive.
Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials marks an exciting first project for Mia McKenna-Bruce, who rose to fame through CBBC's heartwarming dramas like Tracy Beaker Returns and The Dumping Ground. Next up, she'll star alongside Natalie Dormer in ITV’s The Lady as Jane Andrews, a working-class woman who rises to glamour and later faces scandal, including a 2001 conviction for murdering her boyfriend – a tale of ambition, betrayal, and redemption. Following that, McKenna-Bruce will portray Maureen Starkey, the first wife of legendary drummer Ringo Starr, in Sam Mendes’s upcoming Beatles biopics slated for April 2028.
But let's talk about this makeover – is updating Christie's detectives for modern audiences a brilliant way to attract new fans, or does it dilute the cozy, underestimated charm of characters like Miss Marple? Some might argue it's disrespectful to the original, while others see it as a necessary evolution. What do you think: should classic stories evolve to match today's styles, or stay true to their roots? Share your thoughts in the comments – do you agree with this supermodel-inspired revamp, or disagree?
