Doonan is talking out his ass, if you'll forgive the crudity. There are far too many extant pieces of clothing, too much artwork, and too much literature that are period to the time to excuse such foolish statements. Any costumer - the series of "Rome" being one of them who did - who chooses to do even a marginal amount of homework can achieve period splendor without resorting to "Hollywood" excess or lack of research.

Doonan may be a creative director, but he lacks the seriousness or desire for scholarly interest to warrant the privilege of remarking on period costuming, particular when it has so obviously been well researched.

He probably thinks "The Tudors" is a masterpiece of costuming. What. An. Idiot.