Fashion is oftentimes an assimilation of style and culture. Since the time of Audrey Hepburn to Grace Kelly in the old movie classics, the outfit of the actors has always added character to every scene. I do not know for certain how film critiques gauge a movie as fashionable. All I know is that even the movies whose actors are draped with what's currently on trend, sometimes don't go half the word of fashionable based on reviews. Perhaps a perfect blend of style, and how outfits are carried from beginning to end-- to how they are related to the movie-- is the moniker justified.
Not since Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby of the 20's high luxury fashion, to Carrie Bradshaw's collection of Manolos carried onto the big screen, to Hepburn's Funny Face of French couture and glossy magazines has a movie integrated the exquisite contribution of fashion to film.
I look up to these two crafts combined. Among my top picks, revisited, here:
Click on the photos to watch the movies. Give yourself a style guide!
American Gigolo (1980)
Facts: A 117 minute American crime drama film by Paul Schrader.
Story: Julian, an escort to wealthy Los Angeles women making a lucrative living. He suddenly suspects he's being framed for the death of one of his clients. Meanwhile he begins a relationship with a local politician's wife.
Inspiration: 80's stand up collar style and the luxe tailoring collection of Giorgio Armani.
Annie Hall (1977)
Facts: An 93 minute American romantic- comedy film by Woody Allen.
Story: Neurotic New York comedian Alvy Singer falls in love with the ditsy Annie Hall. [imdb.com]
Inspiration: Layering. White oxford topped with a man's silk tie, and a Civil War vest with the top button buttoned, inspired by Diane Keaton's real- life style.
Belle De Jour (or Beauty of the Day, 1967)
Facts: A 101 minute French drama film by Luis Buñuel.
Story: A frigid young housewife decides to spend her midweek afternoons as a prostitute. [imdb.com]
Inspiration: Tight buns and French roll hairstyle, double- breasted A- line coats and nifty little Yves Saint Laurent day dresses.
Blow-Up (1966)
Facts: A 111 minute British- Italian crime film by Michelangelo Antonioni
Story: A mod London photographer seems to find something very suspicious in the shots he has taken of a mysterious beauty in a desolate park. [imdb.com]
Inspiration: Sixties London fashion and mod makeup (perfect for the spring/ summer 2013 trend), and Jane Birkin of Hermes "Birkin Bag" fame. Disregard the casual making out in the film.
Bonnie & Clyde (1967)
Facts: A 122 minute crime- drama film by Arthur Penn.
Story: A somewhat romanticized account of the career of the notoriously violent bank robbing couple and their gang. [imdb.com]
Inspiration: Midi skirts and dresses. Silk, scarves, berets.
Bonnie & Clyde (1967)
Facts: A 122 minute crime- drama film by Arthur Penn.
Story: A somewhat romanticized account of the career of the notoriously violent bank robbing couple and their gang. [imdb.com]
Inspiration: Midi skirts and dresses. Silk, scarves, berets.
Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
Facts: A 115 minute American romantic- comedy film by Blake Edwards.
Story: A young New York socialite becomes interested in a young man who has moved into her apartment building. [imdb.com]
Inspiration: Audrey Hepburn's signature elegant black satin sheath, inspired by 40's and 50's greatest models, and Hubert Givenchy's designs for Hepburn.
Coco Avant Chanel ( Coco Before Chanel, 2009)
Facts: A 110 minute French film by Anne Fontaine.
Story: The story of Coco Chanel's rise from obscure beginnings to the heights of the fashion world.
Inspiration: Chanel's "tomboy chic" style of the World War I period, working outfits into a sophisticated look.
Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky (2009)
Facts: A 118 minute French film by Jan Kounen.
Story: Paris 1913. Coco Chanel is infatuated with the rich and handsome Boy Capel, but she is also compelled by her work. Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring is about to be performed. The revolutionary dissonances of Igor's work parallel the radical ideals of Coco Chanel.
Inspiration: Coco Chanel's style of striking black, navy blue, and white.
Coco Chanel (2008)
Facts: A 139 minute TV film by Christian Duguay
Story: The life story of legend fashion designer Coco Chanel. [imdb.com]
Inspiration: Coco Chanel's famous box leather jackets.
Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009)
Facts: A 104 minute American romantic- comedy film by P.J. Hogan.
Story: A college grad lands a job as a financial journalist in New York City to support where she nurtures her shopping addiction and falls for a wealthy entrepreneur. [imdb.com]
Inspiration: Color block. Quirky and glamorous urban street style.
Funny Face (1957)
Facts: A 103 minute American musical film by Stanley Donen.
Story: An impromptu fashion shoot at a bookstore brings about a new fashion model discovery in the shop clerk. [imdb.com]
Inspiration: Photography- worth fashion, featuring the designs of Givenchy. An appreciation for art than the cafe' society.
Garmento (2002)
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| You'll see a trailer video in this link. I'll search over the net to find the full movie video for you. |
Facts: A 90 minute American film by Michele Maher.
Story: "The Steamy Side of Fashion". Fashion is considered a glamorous industry full of beautiful people. "Garmento" tells the other side of the story, with a dark and satirical look at New York's wholesale garment industry, where shady deals are made for a buck and ruthlessness is a prerequisite for career success. [imdb.com]
Inspiration: Street style. Jeans.
Grace of Monaco (2013)
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| Watch for the trailer video soon. Full movie release date Dec. 27, 2013 |
Facts: An American- French biography film by Olivier Dahan.
Story: The story of former Hollywood icon star Grace Kelly's crisis of marriage and identity, during a political's dispute between Monaco's Prince Rainier III and France's Charles De Gaulle, and a looming French invasion of Monaco in the early 1960's.
Inspiration: Mix of Hollywood fashion and royal allure. Swingy style, body- flattering skirts, mixing of texture, feminine ruffles, sweater and pearls, retro.
Legally Blonde 1 & 2 (2001, 2003)
Facts: A 96 and 95 minute American film by Robert Luketic and Charles Hermanwurmfeld respectively.
Story: When a blonde sorority queen is dumped by her boyfriend, she decides to follow him to law school to get him back and, once there, she has more legal savvy than she ever imagined. In the sequel, she heads to Washington D.C. to pass a bill that will ban animal testing. [imdb.com]
Inspiration: Lush and pastel pink style. Chunky knit cardigans, dress, and leathers.
Marie Antoinette (2006)
Facts: A 127 minute historical comedy- drama film by Sofia Coppola.
Story: The re- telling of France's iconic but ill- fated queen, Marie Antoinette. [imdb.com]
Inspiration: French Haute Couture Fashion featuring designs from John Galliano, Alxander McQueen, and Christian Lacroix; and sequined stiletto shoes. Also portrayed by Kate Moss in the April 2012 issue of Vogue US.
Point & Shoot (2004)
Facts: A 96 minute romantic drama movie by film makers Shawn Regruto and more.
Story: Blurring the light between fiction and reality, aspiring fashion photographer Shawn Regruto-- obsessed with documenting every part of his life-- assembles his personal and professional home- video footage into a feature film. [imdb.com]
Inspiration: Urban street style. Magazine- worthy fashion.
Pret- a- Porter (1994)
Facts: A 133 minute Americal satirical comedy film by Robert Altman.
Story: A fashion show in Paris draws a usual bunch of people: designers, reporters, models, magazine editors. [imdb.com]
Inspiration: Collections of most famous designers like Christian Dior.
Sex and the City (2008)
Facts: A 145 minute American blue romantic comedy film adaptation by Michael Patrick King.
Story: A New York writer on sex and love is finally getting married to her Mr. Big. But her three best girlfriends must console her after one of them inadvertently leads Mr. Big to jilt her. [imdb.com]
Inspiration: New York street style- coats, vests, scarves, dress, chic bags and accessories. (except again the make out scenes).
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
Facts: A 109 minute comedy- drama film by David Frankel, an adaptation from the novel written in the same title by Lauren Weisberger.
Story: A naive young woman comes to New York and scores a job as the assistant to one of the city's biggest magazine editors, the ruthless and cynical Miranda Priestly. [imdb.com]
Inspiration: Texture, color, prints, and pattern combinations. Designer clothes-- Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Vivienne Westwood, and Prada.
The Great Gatsby (1974, 2013)
Facts: A 143 minute American 3D romantic- drama film by Baz Luhrmann, an adaptation from a classic novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Story: A Midwestern war veteran finds himself drawn to the past and lifestyle of his millionaire neighbor. [imdb.com]
Inspiration: 1920's high luxury fashion. Vintage flapper dress. Pearl necklaces and accessories. Feather vintage pieces. Summer whites. Crisp oxfords. Suits.
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
Facts: A 109 minute comedy- drama film by Wes Anderson.
Story: An estranged family of former child prodigies reunites when one of their members announces he has a terminal illness. [imdb.com]
Inspiration: Leathers and loafers. Suits. Unique fashion ensembles.
Hmmm, have you found a little inspiration on how to make your outfits work together in these movies? Succumb to the fashion forces!
References:
wikipedia (dot) org
imdb (dot) com
Photo Credits:
google (dot) com (slash) images
freemovie (dot) net
manilaurbanite (dot) blogspot (dot) com
businessofffashion (dot) com
Inspiration: French Haute Couture Fashion featuring designs from John Galliano, Alxander McQueen, and Christian Lacroix; and sequined stiletto shoes. Also portrayed by Kate Moss in the April 2012 issue of Vogue US.
Point & Shoot (2004)
 |
| It's a movie trailer here, too. Sorry :( I'll look for the full video and link it here! |
Story: Blurring the light between fiction and reality, aspiring fashion photographer Shawn Regruto-- obsessed with documenting every part of his life-- assembles his personal and professional home- video footage into a feature film. [imdb.com]
Inspiration: Urban street style. Magazine- worthy fashion.
Pret- a- Porter (1994)
Facts: A 133 minute Americal satirical comedy film by Robert Altman.
Story: A fashion show in Paris draws a usual bunch of people: designers, reporters, models, magazine editors. [imdb.com]
Inspiration: Collections of most famous designers like Christian Dior.
Sex and the City (2008)
Facts: A 145 minute American blue romantic comedy film adaptation by Michael Patrick King.
Story: A New York writer on sex and love is finally getting married to her Mr. Big. But her three best girlfriends must console her after one of them inadvertently leads Mr. Big to jilt her. [imdb.com]
Inspiration: New York street style- coats, vests, scarves, dress, chic bags and accessories. (except again the make out scenes).
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
Facts: A 109 minute comedy- drama film by David Frankel, an adaptation from the novel written in the same title by Lauren Weisberger.
Story: A naive young woman comes to New York and scores a job as the assistant to one of the city's biggest magazine editors, the ruthless and cynical Miranda Priestly. [imdb.com]
Inspiration: Texture, color, prints, and pattern combinations. Designer clothes-- Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Vivienne Westwood, and Prada.
The Great Gatsby (1974, 2013)
Facts: A 143 minute American 3D romantic- drama film by Baz Luhrmann, an adaptation from a classic novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Story: A Midwestern war veteran finds himself drawn to the past and lifestyle of his millionaire neighbor. [imdb.com]
Inspiration: 1920's high luxury fashion. Vintage flapper dress. Pearl necklaces and accessories. Feather vintage pieces. Summer whites. Crisp oxfords. Suits.
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
Facts: A 109 minute comedy- drama film by Wes Anderson.
Story: An estranged family of former child prodigies reunites when one of their members announces he has a terminal illness. [imdb.com]
Inspiration: Leathers and loafers. Suits. Unique fashion ensembles.
Hmmm, have you found a little inspiration on how to make your outfits work together in these movies? Succumb to the fashion forces!
References:
wikipedia (dot) org
imdb (dot) com
Photo Credits:
google (dot) com (slash) images
freemovie (dot) net
manilaurbanite (dot) blogspot (dot) com
businessofffashion (dot) com
