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In the seventh and final season ofElementary,Joan Watsonis blonde.
Joans styling was much more relaxed in the first year ofElementary.
As his sober companion, her relationship with Sherlock was initially a professional commitment.
She was not yet a detective and she was very much in the background of the investigation scenes.
Her clothing was very casual because thats what the job called for, Hofherr says.
As Joan got more versed in the crime-solving world, her role shifted from sober companion to Sherlocks protegee.
By the second season, her costuming moved toward a slightly more sophisticated and buttoned-up approach.
Joans wardrobe isnt an either/or between suits and dresses, or even casual and business attire.
She didnt become a detective and suddenly stop wearing comfortable clothing.
During one Hofherrs first conversations with Liu, they agreed Joan should feel like a real New Yorker.
It was really nice to be able to incorporate them into a professional world for Joan, she says.
Discovering the true cost of a TV characters wardrobe is an eye-opening experience.
It was really important to do a mix, she says.
I think thats pretty much how everyone shops.
I dont think its realistic to only shop at high-end stores.
Hofherr also notes with a laugh that pretty much everything Lucy wore from Zara, I also own.
I was like,Oh, I can afford that.
The one item that has appeared in all seven seasons?
Joans red mens Elder Statesman house sweater.
It is also a color Joan doesnt typically wear, which visually makes it a nice change.
Joan doesnt eschew color, but a black-and-white motif runs through the first season to the last.
skirt and polka-dotted Ji Oh blouse.
She can throw these things together and look really cute, Hofherr says.
Two big style turning points emphasize Joans drive for equal footing with Sherlock as a detective.
First came the ties, introduced at the end of season three.
Suits followed, making their initial sartorial stamp in season five.
The message is clear: Long gone are the days when Joan was Sherlocks student.
As with a lot of Joans costuming, she doesnt stick to one specific suit-and-tie combo.
Vests were thrown into the mix after Hofherr made the decision to stick with suits.
I went to all ends of the Earth!
Hofherr laughs when talking about the many ties Joan has worn onElementary.
Maybe a Joan Watson tie line should be next?
Another later costume addition was the Victorian-style Isabel Marant blouse.
I can find five, but then thats it for four months.
(The 13-episode final season was a bit easier, though, because they only shot until December.)
Of course, the story also dictates what Hofherr chooses for Joan.
It was a little bit of an ode to all the Joans we have seen throughout the seasons.
I felt a suit would have been a different look for that final scene.
No surprise, then, that it is also one of Hofherrs costume highlights.
Hofherr couldnt pick a single favorite outfit, but this one she considers to be the most significant.
This is where we start to see the Joan that we will forever know, says Hofherr.
And I think this is the best version of Joan too.
The pink skirt is by Roland Mouret and the shirt is Uniqlo, which is another high-low outfit mix.
(She has stepped behind the camera six times onElementary.)
Which brings us back to the blonde mystery.
Dont worry: There are still plenty of outfits to come, particularly in the last two episodes.
(Hofherr teased that Joan will have ten-plus changes.)
The signature black-and-white motif remains, including these fabulous Stella McCartney palazzo pants.
That is the exact reaction Liu got when she stepped on set in this particular costume.
