Season 1, Episode 3, Columbo - Dead Weight (1971)

This episode was directed by Jack Smight, and written by Richard Levinson, William Link, and John T. Dugan.


The three best outfits in this episode are:


1) Helen Stewart’s bandana ensemble:

 


 

She’s sailing, badly, in a bright red butterfly collar bandana print blazer, black tee, dark denim flares...

 

  

 

...accessorized with gold hoop earrings, matching red bandana kerchief on her head and bright red wedge espadrilles.


Honorable mention to her mom’s yellow poly pants and psychedelic floral tunic with bright yellow espadrilles in this scene. 


2) Major General Hollister’s nautical evening wear:

 


 

He rocks a bright cobalt blue blazer with gold buttons and a red camp collar shirt underneath paired with white pants as he wines and dines the only witness to his crime:

 


 

3) Helen Stewart is impeccably dressed throughout this episode and it’s impossible to pick just one more but we have to go with her patchwork hippie maxi caftan with wooden beads:

 


 

 It looks like it was imported from India. Perfect for a sculptor slash petting zoo worker.

 


The funniest line in this episode is Mrs. Walters deadpan saying about her husband, “I sent him out for Chinese food 30 years ago and I haven’t heard from him since.”  

 


 

 


 

 

Eagle eyes for decor may notice that Helen Stewart's striped stained glass studio lamp is the same one from Joanna Ferris' (Season 1, Episode 1, Death by the Book) kitchen: 

 


 

Bonus love for architecture goes out to Peter Falk’s real house in Newport Beach being used as the exterior of Maj. Gen. Hollister’s house:

 


 

 

 Vote now: POLL: What is your favorite outfit from Season 1, Episode 3?

Comments

Kevin Radey said…
Wow, I guess wardrobe was specific to the show and reused regularly? I wonder if they shared with any other shows? I also wonder if we'll ever have a two-time winner (ie "grand champion colombo outfit") at some point during these 9 seasons.
May 3, 2023 at 6:37 AM
skippy haha said…
I think some of the clothing worn in Columbo was the actors' own - I know Columbo's raincoat and shoes were Peter Falk's, and his suit was from wardrobe but he had it dyed brown. I saw him say that on Johnny Carson. I think the studio had a warehouse full of decor and it could be used for other shows. Like the house in Etude in Black was used in Benson and Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Brimmer's (Robert Culp's) green blazer that he wore in 3 Columbos may have been his own. I wish I could see the Columbo wardrobe closet!
May 3, 2023 at 7:50 AM
Kevin Radey said…
boy that sounds super rootsy. get dressed and show up ready to act in your own clothes...the good ol days of hollywood. fascinating.
May 6, 2023 at 5:19 AM
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