Hannibal S1, Ep2 – Amuse Bouche
Costume Designer: Christopher Hargadon
One of the takeaways from this episode was noticing the wardrobe choices for Dr. Hannibal Lecter when he dines with guests. In the previous episode we saw him dining alone dressed in a brown blazer, different to any of his work suits. When he invites Jack Crawford around for dinner we see him serving a red sauce over ‘loin’ to his guest wearing a pin striped shirt with a regular collar under a navy waistcoat with a floating burgundy and dotted-grey paisley tie. Once dinner is served he puts his jacket back on for the rest of the meal.
The Dining Etiquette of Hannibal
No change
The fact that Hannibal (played by Mads Mikkelsen) is wearing a suit we have previously seen him wear to his practice earlier that day suggests he is a very busy man that doesn’t necessarily have time to change into different suits, especially for dinner. He also wants to project his professionalism and as Jack Crawford is still in his work suit, this conveys a working dinner even though the conversation leads to Hannibal getting personal with Jack.
Because Hannibal also puts his jacket on after serving the food we can assume he has respect for his guest and is well versed in these traditional etiquettes. I know military men, active or retired) keep their jackets on during dinners at formal events, and only take them off for after dinner speeches. (Please feel free to DM me on Instagram if I am wrong).
A closer look
We are able to get a better look of the suit in an earlier scene when he foils freelance reporter Freddie Lounds (played by Lara Jean Chorostecki) attempts to syphon sensitive information from him by posing as a patient.
The suit is a similar cut to the ones we have seen in episode one. All Hannibal’s suit jackets have thus far had peak lapels and double vents and roped shoulders. This suggests that Hannibal has but one tailor. This blue plaid suit has light greens and greys and it’s the first time we’ve seen him in a regular shirt collar.
Earlier
When Will Graham agrees to have Hannibal psychoanalyse him, we see Hannibal in another check suit. This time it’s more a moss green with brown check, and a light blue over check. The light blue over check is lifted by his blue faint pin stripe shirt which has a spread collar. The browns and blues in his paisley tie also brings this look together.
Now the ending
The suit Hannibal wears for the final scene with Will Graham where they discuss the after effects of killing, is the same one he wears when he is entertaining Jack Crawford for dinner. This time he has switched to a white shirt with a self on self weave. Similar to the Turnbull & Asser one you’ll see Daniel Craig wear as James Bond in Casino Royale. Although this is a cutaway collar. T&A have termed their collar style simply as Casino Royale.
Credits
For this article on the Dining Etiquette of Hannibal I have taken screen grabs taken from the Hannibal Series currently streaming on Amazon Prime. Used here under the fair use doctrine.
