Girls On Film: Fashion in Film

Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

2011-05-16T18:02:00.000-04:00

Bonnie and Clyde is a 1967 film starring Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty (one of the sexiest men of all time, in my opinion). According to Wikipedia, this was one of the first films of the New Hollywood era, when the American film industry was coming out of the Motion Picture Production Code. The movie's depictions of sex and violence were revolutionary at the time. However, this movie falls into the category of movies that my boyfriend describes as "movies that are supposed to be good, but are actually pretty boring." I guess it wasn't what I expected, but it was still pretty good. Bonnie's costumes in this film are iconic, and her wardrobe includes sweaters, mid-length skirts, silk scarves, and berets. Costume design is by Theadora Von Runkle, who also did Peggy Sue Got Married.

What's sexier than a man in a fedora?

A simple 1930's cotton dress

Phallic reference? I think yes

Note the fab 1960's make up

Berets are obviously the shit

This trench coat is probably my favorite

Surprise cameo by Willy Wonka!

I didn't get a shot of the last dress, but I didn't want to give away the end of the movie. That's a joke, you know what happens! This movie really makes me want to wear a beret, but unfortunately I feel I'll have to wait until fall for that.

Valley Girl (1983)

2011-04-28T22:26:00.001-04:00

Valley Girl is a 1983 cult classic starring Deborah Foreman and Nicolas Cage. Deborah plays Julie, a total valley girl who likes shopping and has a popular boyfriend...until she meets New Wave guy Randy (Nic Cage) at a party. It's love at first sight, and they lead some sort of Romeo and Juliet existence where apparently Valley people and Hollywood people just can't mix. However, it ends up a whole lot better for them in the end. This movie is a prime example of early 80's preppy fashion. There's pastels and popped colors everywhere. Also, this movie has a great New Wave soundtrack. Plus, there's all kinds of great Valley speak in it. I totally recommend it!

Oh look, a girl going apeshit over red shoes! What did I tell you?

Check out this classic mall architecture! They don't make them like that anymore.

Nice Woody Woodpecker pin

Dig the headband?

Look at this guy's popped collar. If this is a Lacoste polo, my boyfriend has the same one. I wonder what that says about him...

Classic early 80's beachwear

I love her bikini!

This is like my dream beach outfit: a red bikini and those wicked awesome sunglasses! Love it!

You can just imagine that that girl is saying "as if!"

Totally broin' out!

I want her hair!

This room literally has a Devo and an ET poster.

New Wave dudes crashing the Valley party

Dig the plastic earrings that match her monochromatic outfit

Is this a semi-popped collar? Also, I never knew that the protocol was to wear it outside of the polo.

As if the star-crossed lovers theme couldn't be any more obvious

Purple and pink? Yes please

My favorite sunglasses again!

How funny is this? A polo and boatshoes lying on the ground. Obviously a preppy guy is having sex!

Barracuda jacket. Why can't we bring those back?

Nice tux! hahahaha

Let's get a full body shot there

Look at this woman: her skirt looks like Mario Kart

New Wave guys crashing the Valley prom. Is there anything they won't crash?


In a close up on this lady, we see that she looks just like 80's Elizabeth Taylor.

I think they're such a cute couple.

I gotta go now, I'm on reserve battery power! Bye!

The Swinger (1966)

2011-02-01T20:55:00.000-05:00

Well, let me just say straight off the bat that this isn't a very good movie! The story follows an ambitious young journalist named Kelly Olsson, who is told by the girly mag "Girl Allure" executives that her work is too innocent and wholesome for them to publish. So she goes home (which is apparently an artists' commune?) to write a trashy sex novel, which she later passes of as her autobiography. Cases of mistaken identity ensue, and she gets the guy at the end...after he makes her act as a prostitute on a street corner and strip. Yes, it's strange. I'm sure it was very provocative in 1966. Ann-Margret is a doll as usual, but not even her fierceness can save this movie! Oh well, it's still a great little 60's gem if you like really tacky and insane movies (I do). Costume design is by the legendary Edith Head, who I believe has won more Academy Awards than any other woman. Kick ass!

Riddle me this: can you just wear tights as pants?

Every girl needs a green leather riding outfit!

More tights as pants. Is this allowed?

In probably the most famous scene of this movie, Ann-Margret is doused with paint to show how degenerate she is.

Was this a common look for old ladies in the 60's?

Quite inexplicably, about halfway through the movie, there is a very long photo shoot sequence in which Ann-Margret tries on a bunch of clothes and accessories. It's pretty much the best part of the movie.

This is the outfit she wears to seduce her man. I guess this is hot?

After all that shopping, this is what she chooses to wear to work.

I hate it when my top flies away!

Yes, this lady just entered the room holding a stuffed giraffe.

And that's the end! Well, they can't all be winners.

Party Girl (1995)

2011-01-05T21:38:00.000-05:00

Thanks to my new followers and all the lovelies that have commented on my new blogging endeavor! That makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. Today I bring you a special treat from the 90's:

This movie stars Parker Posey as a party girl named Mary struggling with her finances and her place in the world. When she doesn't have enough money to pay for bail or drugs or something or an other, she turns to her godmother, a librarian at the New York Public Library. Mary's godmother hires her to be a library clerk, a job she hates at first. Eventually though, she grows to love it and turns out to have a knack for organizing things with the dewey decimal system (including jeans and records, who knew?). Mary also falls in love with a Lebanese falafel vendor, because who can resist those guys? The film is filled with some pretty wacky 90's stuff that reminds me of something that Elizabeth Spiridakis from White Lightning would wear. There are seriously high heeled sneakers in this film. I die. Costume design is by Michael Clancey.

So, you know this movie is going to be good because it starts out with sequined shorts.

I love how she is carrying that microscopic purse. How did people live with these tiny purses in the 90's?

As mentioned I've mentioned before, I love closet shots. Also, note the earring attached to her bra.

Always accessorize your blue satin gloves with a green lollipop.

I would wear this with my gold pen necklace in a heartbeat.

I don't remember what this girl's name was, but isn't she FABULOUS?! So many sparkles! I should have worn this for New Years.

Everyone used to have shoes just like that...they were so heavy!

At some sort of Middle Eastern themed party

Love these shoes! These things are all over Etsy.

So there you have it! If you are in the mood for some completely insane 90's fashion, or you just like Parkey Posey, you should totally watch this movie.

Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009)

2010-12-12T23:39:00.000-05:00

I've been talking about a lot of old, sort of random movies, so let's do something more modern. Confessions of a Shopaholic is a fun little movie about a girl named Rebecca who wants to be a fashion writer, but ends up writing for a finance magazine even though she's up to her eyeballs in debt. Isla Fisher stars, and let me tell you, she is so adorable! I chose this movie not only because it's really funny, but also because the styling is fantastic. Patricia Field, responsible for the fabulous fashion in Sex and the City, also did costumes for this film. Although Confessions of a Shopaholic takes place in winter, Rebecca wears brightly colored ensembles that cheer up a drab winter day. This is a great movie to watch when you're stuck in a house from a blizzard (as I am). This movie is probably one of my favorites. I hope Santa brings me a copy this year!

Every self-respecting redhead goes apeshit for emerald green. I mean, I do at least.

Nice cape, Rebecca!

I always love to see people's closets, and this one is out of control! Actually, I'm pretty sure this is her bedroom and that she has a pretty serious problem, but I'm still loving it.

I die.

I know how that feels.

Rebecca pairs leopard print with leopard print for a truly Ann-Margret-tastic look.

Gotta love a good anchor necklace.

This is exactly how I feel next to tall blondes.

At the end of the story, Rebecca gets it all right. Obviously redheads look best in emerald, hot pink, and leopard print! Those are all my favorite colors!

Une Femme Est Une Femme (A Woman Is A Woman) (1961)

2010-12-03T16:00:00.001-05:00

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Une Femme Est Une Femme is a French film from 1961 directed by Jean-Luc Goddard. Angela, a stripper who wants to have a baby, is in the center of a love triangle between her boyfriend and his best friend. Anna Karina stars. Sounds like a drama, but it's actually funny. I thought this movie was really, really cute and I now realize that Zooey Deschanel is heavily influenced by 1960's movies like this. Hence, the hair. Anyhow, the costumes are really, really simple in this film. Angela wears one sweater, two skirts, two dresses, two coats, three pairs of tights, two berets, pajamas, a nightgown, and some lingerie. Everything is very simple and classic, and you could totally wear it today. The make-up and hair are also really great in this movie, and a great inspiration to me. As long as you don't mind subtitles, you will probably like this movie a lot. I think I might try to buy it, I liked it so much! Costume design is by Jaqueline Moreau.

A fabulous Holly Golightly-esque hair do (movies actually came out the same year, which in my opinion, was the best year for style EVER).

Angela's dressing room. Check out that gray coat in the background!

Anna strips and sings a song about how gorgeous she is.

How adorable is this dress?!

And how cute is this?

Upon further inspection, these tights have a fantastic diamond pattern.

I love this make-up so, so much.

This is the same red sweater as before, except worn backwards with tartan skirt and black belt.

A better picture of the eye make-up.

Note the camel coat...totally classic! You could wear that today.

No one ever does this with their hair anymore, the bow especially, but it was a pretty hot look in the early 60's.

Always match your beret to your tights.

Je suis une femme! I hope you have enjoyed, I'm going to go put on some more eyeliner now. Bye!

The Red Shoes (1948)

2010-11-30T18:22:00.000-05:00

The Red Shoes is a British ballet movie made in 1948. The story follows a young ballerina named Victoria Page, whose desire to dance conflicts with her love life. This movie was apparently made before women could be both married and have a career, it is a sort of reminder of why feminism is awesome. Super-ginger Moira Shearer stars. Someone on Netflix called this "the greatest ballet movie of all time", and I probably have to agree, seeing as how the only other ballet movie I've seen is Center Stage...which was totally stupid. There are some really cool dance scenes and pretty ballet constumes. If you enjoy ballet, you'll enjoy this movie. Costume design is by Hein Heckroth.

Victoria, young and wearing a weird little crown, at the ballet, before all the drama beings.

A nice little crowd scene for you.

Check this make-up!

From Swan Lake (I guess).

Victoria awkwardly wears this to a meeting where everyone else is wear shorts and sandals.

Picking out THE red shoes.

I love this look!

LET'S GET SOME SHOES!

Ballet funeral scene, reminds me of that My Chemical Romance video.

Let's put on our scarves and go on a date.

This guy's sunglasses are fierce!

This girl is about to have a major freak out.

Moral of the story: RED SHOES ARE EVIL!

But they're just so damn cute!

Peggy Sue Got Married (1986)

2010-11-19T18:23:00.000-05:00

I saw this movie on TV a long, long time ago. I remembered liking it, so when I saw it on Netflix instant queue I was like "Ya, I'll watch that." This movie has a lot going for it. I like to think of it as Back to the Future's sister movie. It was made one year after Back to the Future, and also involves someone from the 1980's going back to high school in the 1950's (well, in this movie's case, 1960, but whatevs). Kathleen Turner and Nicholas Cage star in this movie, with special appearances by Jim Carrey, Sophia Coppola, and the mom from Seventh Heaven. Believe it or not, this movie was actually directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Go figure. Costume design is by Theadora Van Runkle, who was also the costume designer for Bonnie and Clyde. The fashion in this movie falls into one of my favorite categories: 1980's reps another era. Whatever time the movie is set in, I can almost guarantee that everyone will mysteriously have 1980's hair. It's not like you can get rid of a perm just for one movie.

I find it difficult to believe that a forty-three year old woman would wear silver lamé to a class reunion, but this was 1986, so what do I know?

Always accessorize silver lamé with white gloves and robot purses. At least she looks hotter than her friend in the back.

Jim Carrey and the mom from Seventh Heaven snorting coke in the first 5 minutes. That's how you know it's going to be good.

Peggy Sue's silver lamé turned into a 50's appropriate gray in the flashback.

Note that everyone at this school is wearing pastel yellow and grays!


Oh hey, Gaga!

You can tell this guy is a mysterious loner poet/beatnik because he's wearing black in an all-pastel school.

Love these outfits oh my god!

Gaga is back!

This film has a lot of well-framed shots. Check out a blonde Nick Cage in a yellow sweater.

A young Sophia Coppola looking a lot like the kid from Dazed and Confused.

A Nick Cage looking a lot like Rory Storm (of Beatle friend fame).

I won't give you any more pictures so I don't give away the end. Maybe it's just me, but I felt like there were a lot of plot holes in this movie. It doesn't wrap up all nicely like Back to the Future, but then again, it didn't get to have two more movies either. Here's my rating break-down.

Story: 6/10
Acting: 7/10 (Nick Cage's nasally accent was really strange, but also sort of appropriate. Jim Carrey was not used nearly enough.)
Costumes: 9/10 (Loved the palette and the time-period appropriate costumes. Bonus for sweet 80's costumes.)

Total: 7.3/10

In conclusion, if you're not doing anything, it's a good Netflix Instant view watch, if only for the costumes.

New Blog

2010-11-19T08:32:00.000-05:00

Hey yins.

I'm starting a new blog to document my love of fashion in films. This is something I've wanted to write about for a while, but I didn't feel like it fit into the tone of my personal blog. So, hello new blog! I'm just going to sporadically watch movies and television shows, screencap them, and talk about the costumes and set design. Huzzah!

Colleen