The Oscars ceremony will be broadcast this Sunday and as usual, most people’s attention will be focused on the fashions instead of the films. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Fashion and the movies have been a marriage made in heaven since the beginning of the film industry. The difference is that, since roughly the 80s, movie stars now prefer to be dressed by international, haute couture designers rather than the film studios’ costume designers or simply by fishing from their own closets. The results have been uneven and sometimes hilarious over the years with people like Cher going way over the top. Over the past couple of years though, we are seeing kind of a return to a very carefully crafted public image. Stars often employ a small army of publicists, managers, hanger-ons, personal make-up and hair stylists, personal shoppers and “image consultant” all pitching in to create that perfect look for the red carpet. Although most stars end up looking fashionable and glamorous, it has also been a bit boring. Oh, Bjork, of the dead swan dress, where are thou?
This got me thinking about the iconic fashions portrayed in films and how they have affected our pop culture, the way that we dress, and even the way that we chose our particular dream man or woman. In no particular order, here are my personal choices for the most iconic fashion moments in film.
Women:
–Viven Leigh’s green curtain dress in Gone with the Wind.
Though each gown was more exquisite than the next in this fashion heaven of a film, the one that struck me the most especially as a child was the green dress made of curtains, which Carol Burnett famously spoofed on ehr comedy show.
–Marilyn Monroe’s white dress in the subway scene in the Seven Year Itch
She is so delicious, like vanilla ice cream. Secretly, we all wish we had the nerve to do what she did with that dress.
–Audrey Hepburn’s little black dress in Breakfast at Tiffany’s
I think it is safe to say we are all still wishing we could find a perfect little black cocktail dress as chic as the one Pierre Givenchy designed for his muse
–Diane Keaton’s urban granny chic look in Annie Hall (check at 5:23 of the video)
I am sure there is a better way to describe it. Please be my guest. The result was so cute and endearing.
–Julia Roberts’ hooker get-up in Pretty Woman
Though the Rodeo Drive fashions she sports later on in the movie are more chic,the initial outfit is what got our attention (and let’s face it, would Richard Gere have stopped his car if she was dressed in Prada?)
Men:
–Charlie Chaplin’s Little Tramp character
-Marlon Brando’s T shirt look in A Streetcar named Desire and The Wild One
I know everyone will think of James Dean with his T shirt and red leather jacket from Rebel without a Cause but technically, he stole the look from Brando. So there.
–Elvis’ Hawaiian shirts in those B movies
Poor Elvis, such a talent, wasted on those amusing but really low quality B movies. I miss the King.
-Sean Connery in his James Bond tux
Do I really need to say more here?
-Richard Gere in those Armani suits in American Gigolo
Probably the film that first introduced American audiences to a little known designer named Giorgio Armani. Hollywood would never look the same. I was going to mention Mickey Rourke in 9 1/2 weeks but he has had enough press as it is 🙂
I would love to know if you have favorite fashion icons from the movies. (Remember, they don’t have to be chic, just memorable)
