The Warriors (1979) has transcended the label of ‘cult classic’ to now simply be regarded as ‘classic’. A barebones plot, but briskly directed by action maestro Walter Hill, this gang warfare movie was never so much about the fighting as the clothes. During the memorable opening credits sequence for example, admire the matching yellow satin jackets, striped jersey sweaters and army coats worn by the gangs as they march the subways of NYC as if strutting the runways of Milan. Frankly, by today’s standards, it can all look faintly comical. Though in the late seventies, when downtown New York was something of a no-go area at night, even a man…

Letters and 48 designer outfits belonging to Audrey Hepburn went under the hammer in London yesterday raising £268,320 with half the proceeds going to charity. A whopping £60,000 alone went on her black lace cocktail dress and jacket by Givenchy for the film How to Steal a Million (1966). The collection, sold by Kerry Taylor Auctions, was owned by lifelong friend of Audrey Hepburn, Tanja Star-Busmann. It comprised, amongst others, a Mark Cross striped knitted top worn by Hepburn during the shoot for War and Peace (1957), a domed green velvet hat with pom-pom streamers by Givenchy (1964), a blue silk cocktail dress from Autumn 1966 worn in ’67 to…

In Proof of Life (2000), a kidnap thriller set in fictional South American country Tecala, Meg Ryan plays Alice Bowman, one of the least convincing hippies ever committed to film. On Alice, hippie seems like a passing trend rather than a lifestyle choice. Meg Ryan’s costumes are a mix of sarong skirts with embroidery, cotton vests, tie-dyed t-shirts, big belts, linen shirts, waist cincher, leather jacket, waistcoat, sandals, even a matelot sweater. Add in a $300 hairdo with a generous application of lip gloss and Alice Bowman, all in all, looks pretty fresh considering her husband has been trapped in captivity, or quite possibly dead, for several months. Proof of…

Gangster Squad is a fantasy grounded in reality. One of the coolest costume design names in the business, Mary Zophres, unveils a Los Angeles catwalk circa 1949. Maybe not 100% what actually existed but given the romanticised tone of the movie, exactly what hoped to see. To be clear, Mary Zophres has not ignored historical accuracy. After working on films such as Catch Me if You Can (2002) and True Grit (2010) she is known for her dedication to factual detail, yet never at the expense of telling the story her director wishes to. In this instance director Ruben Fleischer has approached Gangster Squad as an old school matinee. While…

Cinema Paradiso is a beautiful examination of the relationship human beings have with film. This connection is explored through the story of a young boy and his friendship with the projectionist at the town’s local[…]

Cinema Paradiso is a beautiful examination of the relationship human beings have with film. This connection is explored through the story of a young boy and his friendship with the projectionist at the town’s local[…]

Cinema Paradiso is a beautiful examination of the relationship human beings have with film. This connection is explored through the story of a young boy and his friendship with the projectionist at the town’s local[…]

Cinema Paradiso is a beautiful examination of the relationship human beings have with film. This connection is explored through the story of a young boy and his friendship with the projectionist at the town’s local[…]

MINOR SPOILERS Over 13 episodes of House of Cards a lot happens to U.S. Representative Francis ‘Frank’ Underwood (Kevin Spacey) and those caught in his web. Some are friends, some foes, but pretty much all, via Banana Republic or Armani, look flawless. Washington politics is a place defined by the energy of those working within it. These people are never just random, everything they say has meaning and everything they wear gives off a signal: powerful or weak, it is as simple as black or white. Series costume designer Tom Broecker (30 Rock, Saturday Night Live) ensures the central characters follow a specific style of dress and colour palette. Talk…

Recently underway on Sky Atlantic, This is Jinsy is one of those comedy shows set in a surreal world of madness that you either get or you don’t. Frequently hilarious and always interesting, from a costume point of view this is retro fancy dress, deliberately mismatched and performance orientated. Yet everything in Jinsy makes sense within its own world. The island of Jinsy is populated (791 residents) by all manner of weird and wonderful people. The locale has been likened to The Wicker Man’s Summerisle but is spiritually closer to the Village from Patrick McGoohan’s sixties TV series, The Prisoner. Everyone in Jinsy seems trapped there but somehow content. Episode…