Designer Double-Dip: To "Dynasty" with "Love!"

Many of my readers love posts of this sort, wherein costume re-usage is highlighted, and I like to think I have an eye for such a thing. But in this case I can't claim credit for the discovery... A faithful reader went and dug up the bones, bringing them to me with an ear-to-ear grin so that I can share them with you! This one is a bit of a giggle and I hope you enjoy it as I did.  

For those who may not be fully up on it, Dynasty premiered in January of 1981 with an abbreviated first season. While its ratings were middle of the road (though the type that would make any network exec salivate now!), it really didn't take off until the fall when the highly manipulative character of Alexis arrived (in the form of Dame Joan Collins.) Another key cast addition that year was Heather Locklear.

Locklear was brought on as leading lady Linda ("Krystle") Evans' niece from the wrong side of the tracks, Sammy Jo. Her short-shorts-wearing, banister-sliding, junk-food-eating tart was a thorn in the side to many of the wealthy inhabitants at the Carrington mansion. This became even more of an issue when she up and married Steven Carrington (played by Al Corley) who had heretofore been gay except for a brief foray with a married lady (Pamela Bellwood's "Claudia.")

For Lockear's first big party at the mansion, she was given a fluffy, demure confection, appropriate for a young newlywed making her social debut.

Trouble was, this look was more of what her Auntie Krystle wanted for her than what she'd have preferred. And a glass or two (or three!) of bubbly wasn't likely to soothe the pain.

So instead, when it's time for her to emerge and join the fun, she's had a full-on makeover!

She's sporting sultrier hair, a far more revealing gown and her sister-in-law Fallon's (played by Pamela Sue Martin) necklace, borrowed without permission! Aunt Krystle looks on in stunned shock.

Then she sidles up to the orchestra leader and makes a special request, which he soon begins. It's a hooty, disco riff on the theme from Peter Gunn!

This hilarious moment has become the stuff of legend. There's a clip on YT of the sequence, there's a music video for "Get The Party Started" (!) using footage of it and at least one .gif of Locklear's gyrating.

Work it, girl!

This whole scene does NOT sit well with Locklear's new mother-in-law La Collins.

So the impromptu performance is brought to an immediate close. (For those who may be interested, Joan's stand-in and good friend, Judy Bryer, can be spotted over Locklear's shoulder on the right. She often appeared in group scenes after her duties for lighting purposes were taken care of.)

Locklear is left humiliated in front of the guests. Note the hilarious braids that she'd somehow managed to work into her "Farrah" 'do in the short amount of time between switching looks! But I know... You're wondering. When in the hell is he going to get to the point of the post??!

Well, here is part of it, finally. Locklear's sexy dress is a reworking of one that The Love Boat's cruise director Julie McCoy (played by Lauren Tewes) wore over three years earlier in a 1978 episode.

I say reworking because while it may not the very same dress, it's the same pattern. On Tewes, the decolletage is more understated, the slit is far lower and the material looks a shinier, truer white. Locklear's has low cleavage, a thigh-high slit and seems made from a clingy, off-white jersey knit. But the overall design is the same. (I say this with the caveat that it may very well be the same dress because, as you'll see, the fabric in question changes hue somewhat based on the lighting. Someone may have just snipped some of the stitching and altered it to make it more revealing.)

And it stands to reason, since Dynasty and The Love Boat, like many Aaron Spelling productions, shared the same head costume designer, Nolan Miller. But this isn't the end.

A year and a half after Locklear did her little number on the dance floor, this dress appeared back on The Love Boat! And it was worn by a different "Krystle," Crystal Bernard!

This time, Bernard is the one with the big slit and expanded neckline as her man Dean Butler salivates.

Bernard also seems to have borrowed Locklear's hairstyle and perhaps a pose or two of hers. But, wait, there's more!

If the sisterhood of the traveling gown wasn't doing it for you as a Designer Double-Dip, consider this. Even Locklear's first dress, the one gifted to her by Auntie Krystle, was :::gasp::: second hand!

The Love Boat guest star Berlinda Tolbert (of The Jeffersons) had been seen wearing that one only six months prior! Tolbert was spotted in the confection walking with the ship's bartender Ted ("Isaac") Lange. Lockler didn't inherit the hair baubles to go with, however.

So there you have it, a trip through Nolan Miller's closet, though I'm sure that many other such examples exist. Special shout out to my pal Timothy for his expert detective work for this installment.