Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) is costume symbolic of its era; the entire film is filtered through a composite mix of tan and beige. Director Robert Benton opted for a permanent autumn in New York City, artistically maintained through its year long storyline. Autumn is interpretable as a transitional season, reflecting the three act journey of the three central characters. Costume designer Ruth Morley dresses Meryl Streep’s absentee mother Joanna head-to-toe in various shades of brown. Joanna’s appearance is regimented by control and routine, and nearly always finished by that epitome of late 1970s chic and impending yuppiedom, a three quarter length Burberry trench coat. Confirmation of the Burberry trench functioning…

Public Enemies (2009, directed by Michael Mann) is chock full of accurately recreated and as such eminently covetable, early 1930s era garments, as designed by multi Oscar winner Colleen Atwood. Perhaps most enticing of all, however, is how one particular garment, a plain wool overcoat, actually powers the narrative of the film. It is the coat that killed John Dillinger. When we meet John Dillinger (played by Johnny Depp), his criminal career, primarily as a bank robber, is in full swing. He is wearing that conspicuous badge of honour for all those in his ‘gentlemen’s’ fraternity – expensive clothes. They were the ‘bling’ of their day and tended to be…

Costume designer Mari-An Ceo talks about the re-design of Freddy Kruger’s iconic striped sweater for a Nightmare on Elm Street 2010. Lord Christopher Laverty Comments Off on A Nightmare on Elm Street 2010: Costume Designer Talks Iconic Sweater 28 Jun ’10 2 Mar ’10 10 Jun ’11

The trailer for The Three Musketeers affords the briefest peek at those 17th century costumes. Sherlock Holmes 2 rounds out a week of costume reveals with this first official image. The first trailer for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Costumes are a typically splendid affair. Our first Dual Analysis with Costumer’s Guide. To kick off, here is what Chris from Clothes on Film had to say. Milla Jovovich has released three pics of herself on Twitter wearing costumes from The Three Musketeers. Jeremy Irons wears a classic example of early extreme sports attire – a plain linen shirt. Karl Urban in a natural linen tunic shirt; Kirill stands…

Baby’s ascent to womanhood is showcased through her wardrobe choices. Lord Christopher Laverty 2 Comments 8 Dec ’09 8 Jan ’10 29 Mar ’11

Moon (2009) is a love letter to the science fiction movies that director Duncan Jones grew up watching. He stated his intention was, “to create something which felt comfortable within that canon of those science fiction films from the sort of late seventies to the early eighties”*. Jones’ eerie story of a moon base worker who discovers uncomfortable truths about himself during a three year solo mission certainly achieved that. One of the central reasons the film succeeds, attests blogger Dallas King is its subtly readable costume design by Jane Petrie. Petrie’s only previous science fiction credit was in the costume department for Star Wars: Episode 1: The Phantom Menace…

The week, the costume stories. Oldboy Ruth Carter on working with Elizabeth Olsen and co. for Spike Lee’s upcoming remake. Some really fab costume sketches too. Piero Tosi The wonderful costume designer (The Leopard, The Night Porter), now 86, receives an honorary Oscar. Sleepy Hollow Generous costume designer Kristin M. Burke once again answers fan questions on Twitter. We really must catch up with this show. 20 Worst Dressed Movie Characters Don’t agree with half of these but it’s a fun list nonetheless. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Further insight into Trish Sumerville’s creative process. This interview, by Kristen Hohenadel, is one of the best currently doing the rounds. …and……

Costume designer Carloine Harris has recreates the vibrant look of the 1970s. The most memorable musical number ever captured on film, and Ginger Rogers’ dress contributes to this greatly. The full trailer for HBO’s Boardwalk Empire arrives. Period costume fans, set your jaw to dropped. She may start out in fisherman’s knitwear but by the end of Rocky, Talia Shire could not look more feminine. One of the seventies’ more successful attempts to modernise fashions of the past. A landmark blend of acting, directing, structure and design, Chinatown is the greatest detective movie ever made. A boisterous facade of rose-tinted Hollywood nostalgia. Public Enemies wears it well. This emerald green…

This week’s costume design snippets. A few of this week’s interesting costume links. Analysing the sometimes tense relationship between fashion and costume design. Our thoughts on the costume design in the season 6 premiere of Mad Men. Banana Republic have teamed up with Anna Karenina costume designer Jacqueline Durran to create an exclusive collection inspired by the upcoming movie. As account man Roger Sterling, John Slattery tended to wear a light grey three piece suit; right up until he donned a sharp double breasted for the first time. The Costume Designers Guild (CDG) has served up their nominations for this year. Following a trip to Rome, Betty dons the latest…

A new compilation of sartorially revealing James Bond photographs by Terry O’Neill. Lord Christopher Laverty 1 Comment 24 Sep ’10 13 May ’11 2 Nov ’17