For what is certainly the best remembered costume in Saturday Night Fever (1977), John Travolta as Tony Manero wears a brilliant white 3-piece suit to dazzle the disco dance floor. His look defined an era: smart, yet somehow scruffy; classy yet somehow cheap. To keep costs down the film’s director John Badham insisted costume designer Patrizia von Brandenstein procure all outfits off the peg and not make them from scratch. Furthermore this added to realism as Tony could never have afforded bespoke. Interestingly despite the pristine first appearance of Tony’s suit it never really looks clean. Just like the disco scene itself his costume is sullied from the sweaty self-indulgence…

Starring: Aaron Johnson, Nicolas Cage, Chloe Moretz Directed By: Matthew Vaughn Smartly structured to sell the same old superhero story in a fresh way, Kick-Ass (2010) is more your Unbreakable or Watchmen style comic book adaptation as opposed to Spiderman or even Chris Nolan’s Batman. It’s a satire with severed limbs. And the C-bomb. From an eleven year old girl. About an ordinary high schooler who one day decides to become a superhero for no real reason at all, Kick-Ass is a smooth as blend of cartoon violence and very real consequences. From wannabe hero Dave Lizewski’s (Aaron Johnson) first attempt at vigilantism resulting in his stabbed, battered body being…

Making that significant leap from dressing up Fridays to full-blown fan built replica, Anthony Le’s War Machine suit is a sight to behold. Wired and Geektyrant have lots more photographs of this incredible costume, so do head over there in just a minute. Anthony Le built his War Machine (based on Don Cheadle’s outfit in Iron Man 2) from high-impact urethane held together with around 1,500 rivets. The helmet is moulded from a clay and liquid resin. Miniature servos operate the faceplate and a rotary gun turret crafted from pipes; LEDs are imbedded in the chest plate. It took a month to construct and cost $4,000. When not scaring his…

Because the sun is out making us all feel like we’re in Cannes (probably not by the time you read this), and because it’s the weekend, let’s have a look at some of the coolest movie sunglasses money can buy. Of course there are hundreds of memorable movie sunglasses, so no list written will ever be enough – or no list written today will be enough anyway. These, however, should get the ball rolling. Iconic, purposeful, and above all, cool, here are five filmic shades to beat the Riviera rays. Anthony Hopkins in Cutler and Gross for Hannibal Supposedly hiding out in Florence, Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) cannot resist…

Stylelist.com are running this exclusive interview with Mad Men costume designer Janie Bryant as she hints at what costumes to expect in season four. It is largely a puff piece; light on details, but still a fascinating glance at how Bryant’s busy sixties-shaped mind works. Following John Dunn’s defining work for the pilot back in 2007; Janie Bryant’s costumes on Mad Men have sparked a high street revival of late 1950s-60’s era fashion for both sexes. Apparently there is even a Don ‘Draper grey’ suit on the market now, not to mention the upsurge in short, stretchy wiggle dresses à la Joan Holloway. With season four of this justifiably popular…

A totally non-grainy version of The A-Team movie teaser trailer has hit the net. Either you or your older brother or your dad will be very excited. Watch the HD trailer HERE UPDATE! (01/05) New full trailer online HERE. For our money it’s dafter, but better. In the early-mid 1980s, The A-Team was the action adventure television show for all prepubescent boys who owned a plastic AK-47 and rode a BMX (later mountain bike). It told the story of a group of mercenaries, or ‘soldiers of fortune’ as the voiceover man told us, who were available to hire for good deeds like foiling corrupt landowners or liberating small American towns…

Empire recently spoke to Chris Evans about his Captain America: The First Avenger get-up. He was quite forthright, particularly in comparisons to his earlier skin-tight Fantastic Four (2005) costume and how heavy the shield is. Though we are sure Evans is really strong and would never dream of suggesting otherwise. You can read the full interview at Empire, but scan below for the gist (accompanying images are early concept art): It’s an amazing costume. Given the fact that his costume is red, white and blue, and it’s tight, and it could be kind of flash and over the top – and given the fact that the movie takes place in…

Directed By: Tom Hooper Starring: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter The King’s Speech is a majestic tale set in a world of buttoned-up repression and austere buildings that creak as much as their inhabitants. Tom Hooper’s direction is confident and explicit. There is little subtext beyond the obvious contrast with our current royal family and the media control over their lives. Opting for reflection rather than display, plus no doubt hampered by a minuscule budget, costume designer Jenny Beavan speculates the 1925–39 setting rather than recreates it. For example, Colin Firth as frustrated King George VI, or ‘Bertie’ to those he held dear, was a Naval officer, a…

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis Directed by: Todd Phillips The Hangover (2009) is hilarious. The Vegas bachelor party gone wrong premise is nothing new, but the story itself progresses so fast and with so many witty one-liners that the crowd of boozy lads this film is clearly aiming at should have a cracking time. Costume (by Louise Mingenbach) plays a big part in The Hangover. The gang: groom Doug (Justin Bartha), best mates Phil (Bradley Cooper) and Stu (Ed Helms), and the groom’s impending brother-in-law Alan (Zach Galifianakis), assemble themselves – suited and booted – for a spectacular night out. The way all guys do. Phil drops his…

Okay, self promotion show off time. Clothes on Film is now the third Most Influential Cinema Blog in the UK according to Wikio. Back slaps and cheap champagne all round. Down two from one, but still… Here is the full Top 30 for May. If you can remember the chart countdown tune to Top of the Pops, hum it now: Now, two days ago I published a sneak preview of the May list provided by Wikio that continued to list Clothes on Film as the No.1 blog. Clearly that was wrong so here I am publishing an amendment. Still I did beat Mr. Kermode and his big BBC resources for…