It’s Academy Award nomination day so let’s have a look at the line up. We have to warn you though; there are a couple of upsets. First has to be that Zoe Saldana was not nominated in the Best Actress category. Guess computers and humans and acting and awards do not yet mix. Still, thanks to Saldana’s emotive performance in Avatar, surely now the debate has been properly opened? Second upset is no Best Costume Design nomination for George Little (The Hurt Locker), Mayes C. Rubeo and Deborah Lynn Scott (Avatar) or Margot Wilson (The Road). Seems it is still the case that to be noticed by the Academy, in…

Perhaps the most mind-churning mainstream film of recent years, Inception is testament to the power of great costume design. Not only does it look sumptuous, thanks to all those 3 pc suits and silk ties, but because of costume designer Jeffrey Kurland and director Christopher Nolan’s commitment to clothing serving an implicit function, Inception is at least partially decipherable by what the characters wear. The screen is filled with costume clues to interpret. Jeffrey Kurland has been costume designer on thirty seven feature films, including Ocean’s Eleven (2001) and Collateral (2004), though Inception is his first collaboration with Chris Nolan. Here he explains exclusively to Clothes on Film his sartorial…

If you have ever found Star Wars just the least bit kinky, prepare to loosen your breeches. Costumers EveningArwen have made some intergalactic inspired bodice crushers that are sure to send any Force fans into hyperspace. Clothes inspired by movies are nothing new, though official tie-ins often reek of the merchandising conveyer belt churning out more megabucks for studios (see HERE). Despite these EveningArwen corsets obviously tipping more than a passing nod to Star Wars, neither ‘Galactic Trooper Corset’ nor ‘Galactic Lord Corset’ have anything to do with George Lucas’ ‘American epic space opera franchise’ (Wikipedia). Well, that is the official line anyway. Not for everyone, perhaps not for most…

Watch the clip HERE A new clip of Toy Story 3 has hit the internet. It’s got Ken. It’s got Ken wearing jeans. It’s got Ken dancing. Make this ninety minutes and you already have a spin off. The clip is structured like a mock TV special ‘Groovin With Ken’, following the glossy one as he swans around his dream house. Ken (voiced by Michael Keaton) becomes increasingly exasperated with the off screen interviewer, especially his remark about the Ken doll box, “It doesn’t bother you that your name is eight times smaller than Barbie’s?”. “Ok, next question” mumbles Ken. Appropriately enough the best moments involve clothes mad Ken and…

As it is nearly the weekend, make the day disappear faster by checking out some pics from Ridley Scott’s upcoming Robin Hood starring Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett. This version of ‘the Hood’ by Gladiator (2000) and Body of Lies (2008) director Ridley Scott is being touted as truth behind the famous medieval folk hero. So there will be no feather hat silliness or blow dried mullet hair. This Robin Hood will kick your ass and charge you for it. Costume designer for Robin Hood Janty Yates has embraced the rather mixed historical setting behind the legend, although has largely plumped for what appears to be late medieval influence. Nice…

Would you like to own some of the classy attire worn by George Clooney as unsurprisingly troubled hitman Jack and Thekla Reuten as mysterious Mathilde in The American? Silly question, of course you would. So read on. Following our brief rundown of the costume design by Suttirat Anne Larlarb in The American HERE, we can now inform you that a charity sale is being held in support of the Red Cross International Response Fund where you can actually buy the clothes worn by Clooney and Reuten and also Violante Placido’s character Clara in the movie. Credit cards at the ready then. This charity is a particularly pertinent cause as monies…

Starring: Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Peter Sarsgaard Directed By: James Mangold Knight and Day has no real characters, no plot, no-sense of urgency, no point to speak of. Yet, somehow, polished up like Tom Cruise’s bright white teeth reflected in his Persol Havana sunglasses, it very nearly works. Director James Mangold envelops this shiny affair in a retro air, specifically the comedy/action genre so prevalent during the 1970s. In fact, were this film made back then it would likely have co-starred Goldie Hawn in the shrieking Cameron Diaz role and Burt Reynolds as Cruise’s, top off at least three times and seemingly impervious to bullets lead. As loud Julie Havens,…

Here are some new character posters for Matthew Vaughn’s upcoming Kick-Ass. If you do not yet care about the film, you may as well jump on board right now. It will be all over the place in a few weeks and you’ll need an opinion. Peppy costume design by Sammy Sheldon. Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage) wears an outfit made from real French police riot equipment. He may look daft, not to mention just like another superhero in yellow and black with a chest plate, but laugh at him at your peril. Don’t let the pink belt and plaid skirt fool you. Look closer at the poster image and you will…

With exclusive insight from The Hangover (2009) costume designer Louise Mingenbach, we investigate how clothing defined character and brought this chucklesome movie to life. The Hangover begins with Doug (Justin Bartha) sharing a tailor’s fitting with his soon to be brother in law Alan (Zach Galifianakis). Alan confides in Doug just how excited he is to be attending his bachelor party. Wearing a jock strap for no conceivable reason we get the idea that maybe not all of Alan’s dogs are barking. Next we meet school teacher Phil (Bradley Cooper), the kind of man who embezzles money from his pupils for their school trip and siphons it into his Las…

Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Robert Duvall Directed by: John Hillcoat Viggo Mortensen stars as ‘Man’ in director John Hillcoat’s adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s unfilmable novel The Road; proving that it is filmable, if not exactly fun. The Road (2009) is about as miserable a Hollywood film as you are likely to see. Watching it is like dying for two hours. It is pegged as a journey for survival, yet as the story offers no possibility of this, life becomes merely a reprieve. If such wretchedness does not put you off however, a rewarding passage awaits; to vicariously experience what you hope to god you will never have to face…