Moments of sartorial significance, and that glimmer of recognition that we feel upon seeing an onscreen outfit worn more than once are found throughout Smooth Talk, Joyce Chopra’s underseen 1986 adaptation of a Joyce Carol Oates short story. The film is rife with all the monotony of life and charming ensembles we expect of a teenage girl in the summer, yet it simultaneously offers complexity and creepiness. Laura Dern plays Connie, an ingénue spending her days as an “unfinished girl, waiting for completion of some sort” (Quart 74). In her essay, “Smoothing Out the Rough Spots: The Film Adaptation of ‘Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?’” Rebecca Sumner……

A classy, very British affair. Looking so sexy that the finished film can be nothing but a huge disappointment, this teaser for Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy ticks all the right 70’s boxes. Our first Dual Analysis with Costumer’s Guide. To kick off, here is what Chris from Clothes on Film had to say. Final part of our analysis of Sherlock Holmes complete with insight from costume designer Jenny Beavan. With insight from costume designer Jenny Beavan, we commence our sartorial analysis of Sherlock Holmes. Want another look at Janty Yates’ costume design for Robin Hood? Thought you might. Jacques D’Azur is missing, so take his place. Here are some tips…

Disregarding how redundant it may seem to be remaking director Niels Arden Oplev’s excellent Swedish adaptation of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2009) for a moment, this four minute trailer for David Fincher’s stab at book one in novelist Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy is pretty special. For the first time we experience Rooney Mara as Lisbeth Salander speaking (broad accent) and properly moving (sometimes fighting) in her costume. Early indications are that Mara might just pull this off. If you already know the story of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, maybe because you have read the book or seen the original film, there is little point in recapping…

Twenty-five years ago, costume designer Margot Wilson was a student living in Paris when she picked up a roll of red, moire silk fabric during a shopping trip to Milan. She didn’t know why, or what for; she wasn’t even a costume designer then, just a talented young fashion grad from East Sydney Tech on a six-month scholarship to France. When it was time to go home, she took the beautiful roll of fabric back down under with her. Fast forward three decades and a couple of dozen films later (including Lantana, Bran Nue Dae and Lawless), and Wilson has finally found a screen role for her magnificent weave –……

La Femme Nikita (1990, directed by Luc Besson) is a neon action thriller; a very silly, very enjoyable movie concerning an ex-junkie put to work as a French government sleeper assassin. Backed by an industrial electro pop score, sound and visuals converge alongside the protagonist’s cool couture – specifically a little black dress that re-defines the use of such a garment on film. As of its time as Laserdiscs and virtual reality, La Femme Nikita is about transformation by fashion – similar in subtext to Pretty Woman, that enduringly fluffy romantic fairytale also released the same year. Where as Julia Roberts’ heroine Vivian abandons the world of prostitution to become,…

A new trailer for Daniel Radcliffe’s Guns Akimbo has arrived and it’s hilarious. Lord Christopher Laverty Comments Off on Guns Akimbo Trailer Hits: Daniel Radcliffe is Deadly Cousin Eddie 22 Jun ’12 2 Nov ’10 5 Oct ’10

Gripping and meticulously structured. Held together by yet another screen bursting performance from Kathy Bates. Lord Christopher Laverty 1 Comment 29 Nov ’19 16 Nov ’12 26 Oct ’10

The teaser trailer for James Bond’s 23rd cinematic outing Skyfall hits and, as you might expect, raises anticipation levels to the stratosphere. From a clothes perspective there are no great reveals here; little more than the drip feed of Tom Ford suit shots we have been fed so far. Costume designer for Skyfall, Jany Temime, is new to the world of Bond but appears to be keeping things traditional. Seeing 007 in a tracksuit is not too devastating (he is jogging), lounge suits are slim and sober harking back to Sean Connery’s reign, there is a tux, and if anyone can wear a ¾ length black overcoat – also see…

Shocking, but not really considering all the legal wrangling going on recently, Bond 23 has been shelved “indefinitely”.

All the recurring themes in Desperately Seeking Susan are linked to one jacket. Contributor 2 Comments 5 Apr ’13 9 Sep ’11 25 Dec ’09