A Sartorial Investigation
I think we can all agree, that when it comes to wardrobes on Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Phryne’s closet takes the sartorial cake. It’s filled to bursting with silks and crepes and furs and shoes. Oh my God! The shoes.
That leaves the question, what about everyone else’s wardrobes? Each secondary character is pretty much relegated to their own uniform. Dot is in either a dress or cardigan and skirt combination of neutral tones. Cec and Bert practically live in their woollens and hats. We don’t see enough of Mac to really gauge her wardrobe but it looks like she inhabits her trousers, waistcoat, cravat and occasional lab coat. Mr. B’s morning suit is a constant as is Hugh’s constable uniform unless he is on a date with Dot. And don’t get me started on those horrible frocks the wardrobe department insists on sticking Aunt Pru in.
So, who does that leave? Oh right, Jack.
Poor, dear, buttoned up Jack. He’s stuck in a boring old suit and tie. No chance for personal expression in that. Or is there?
Actually, Jack’s suit does afford him a bit of sartorial freedom that isn’t seen on other characters, and that freedom takes the form of his ties. Now like a cigar, sometimes a tie is just a tie, but as with the man himself, there is often something deeper going on, whether it be in his thoughts or with his choice in ties.
Let’s take a look at the selection from Season One, shall we?
1. JACK’S TIE OF ANGST AND ANGUISH
DESCRIPTION: Shades of blue and grey stripes on a matte fabric, possibly wool.
EPISODES: Cocaine Blues, Murder on the Ballarat Train, The Green Mill Murder,
Death at Victoria Dock, Raisins and Almonds, King Memses’ Curse
NUMBER OF APPEARANCES: 6
This is the tie Jack is wearing when he meets the Honourable Miss Phryne Fisher for the first time in Lydia Andrew’s lavatory. Unlike his other ties, there is no sheen to this one. It is flat and almost colourless, sort of like our inspector’s life up until this point. This tie makes an appearance in every episode up until Murder in Montparnasse and we all know what happens then. It does show up one more time in this season, he wears it as he stands by helpless in face of Phryne’s grief as they exhume Janey’s body, probably his lowest point since the Dubois case.
2. JACK’S TIE OF INFLUENCE
DESCRIPTION: Shades of blue and grey stripes on a shiny fabric, possibly silk. The tie has a double parallelogram graphic design in light and dark silver overlaid on the stripes.
EPISODE: Cocaine Blues, Death at Victoria Dock, Ruddy Gore, Away with the Fairies, Queen of the Flowers, Death by Miss Adventure, Murder in the Dark
NUMBER OF APPEARANCES: 7
This tie and two others are tied for the second most appearances in Season One. This one is Jack’s power tie. It’s the one he wears most often when he’s interrogating suspects, or when he’s trying (and failing) to get Phryne to listen to reason.
DESCRIPTION: Maroon background with a cream graphic print. Possibly silk.
EPISODES: Murder on the Ballarat Train, Raisins and Almonds, Ruddy Gore,
Away with the Fairies, Queen of the Flowers, Death by Miss Adventure,
King Memses’ Curse
NUMBER OF APPEARANCES: 7
This is one of Jack’s few non-blue ties. You can’t help but notice it because it’s usually making a statement and that statement generally has to do with Miss Fisher. It’s the tie he’s wearing when he first grudgingly allows her to investigate along side of him during Murder on the Ballarat Train. He is also wearing it when Phryne asks him what she should do about Murdoch Foyles’ offer. Jack doesn’t tell her what to do, he listens and shows unwavering trust in her ability to make the right decision, never once trying to push her in one direction or another.
4. JACK’S TIE OF UNRESOLVED SEXUAL TENSION
DESCRIPTION: Blue background with brown and light beige circular pattern. Possibly silk.
EPISODES: Murder on the Ballarat Train, Queen of the Flowers, Murder in the Dark
NUMBER OF APPEARANCES: 3
This tie only shows up three times throughout Season One, most likely because Jack is only beginning to plumb the depths of the sexual frustration he’s going to experience when it comes to Phryne Fisher. It makes its first appearance after Phryne impressed him, despite himself, with the leads generated as a result of her investigation into Mrs Henderson’s murder. Its final appearance of the season takes place during Murder in the Dark. Jack is now free, having been granted a divorce, but he’s nowhere near ready for a gaudy night with Phryne, and, despite almost overwhelming temptation, he chooses to remain a triple pillar of the world.
5. JACK’S TIE OF FAITH & SUPPORT
DESCRIPTION: Beige background with individual navy blue or black, white, and maroon ellipses. Possibly wool.
EPISODES: Murder on the Ballarat Train, The Green Mill Murder,
Death at Victoria Dock,Raisins and Almonds, Ruddy Gore, Murder in Montparnasse, Death by Miss Adventure, Blood and Circuses, King Memses’ Curse (X2)
NUMBER OF APPEARANCES: 10
This is the tie that makes the most appearances in Season One. It is the only other tie that isn’t a hue of blue or grey in the series. It probably is the most deceptively simple tie in Jack’s wardrobe. Glance at it and the tie appears deceptively simple: beige background with black polka dots. But like Jack, there’s a lot more to be seen. In fact, if you look closely, you will see it has a beige background with black or navy blue, white and maroon ellipses.
This tie only turns up as Jack becomes more confident in Miss Fisher’s morals and character, most notably wearing it when he delivers the news that Welfare will allow her to foster Jane and shares his first confidence, telling Phryne that no, he has no children of his own. It also makes two appearances during King Memses’ Curse, arguably when Phryne needs his strength the most. He’s wearing it first when he sends her to find Teressa Cavalli showing his faith in her ability to keep a level head and again, at her birthday party. Jack is the only one who knows how much pain she’s in during the gathering and he helps her keep the mask in place for her guests.
DESCRIPTION: Midnight blue background patterned with alternating white and bright blue squares, each centred with a crimson circle. Possibly silk.
EPISODES: The Green Mill Murder, Death at Victoria Dock, Raisins and Almonds, Murder in Montparnasse, Away with the Fairies, Queen of the Flowers,
Blood and Circuses
NUMBER OF APPEARANCES: 7
Not much to say about this tie except that it tends to show up when Jack is feeling comfortable and sure of himself, for example, he’s wearing it during the Beep! Beep! scene from Murder in Montparnasse.
7. JACK’S BOWTIE OF SIGHS
DESCRIPTION: Black bow tie. Most likely silk.
EPISODES: Ruddy Gore
NUMBER OF APPEARANCES: Sadly only one, hence the name.
DESCRIPTION: Blue background with white or silver fern leaf pattern. Possibly silk.
EPISODES: Murder in Montparnasse, Away with the Fairies, Queen of the Flowers, Death by Miss Adventure, Murder in the Dark
NUMBER OF APPEARANCES: 5
This is the tie Jack is wearing when he finally gives into temptation and plants a beautiful kiss on the desirable Miss Fisher’s lips. It’s a distraction of course. It’s also the tie he’s wearing when he calls her Phryne in front of Hugh and Dot for the first time, and when they first walk arm in arm at the end of Queen of the Flowers. Jack is also wearing this tie when, after the departure of his main competitor for Phryne’s affections, Lin Chung, tells her that he can cope with one candle at the end of Away with the Fairies, making us hopeful for future romance.
So, there you have it, an in-depth look into Jack Robinson’s ties. We’ll have to see if these theories hold into next season.
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