A new web documentary analysing the look of James Bond. In a week of exciting trailers, the first for director Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of The Great Gatsby must surely be the most thrilling of all. Think Lulu’s theme song is the loudest thing in The Man with the Golden Gun? Think again. Matt Spaiser, creator of The Suits of James Bond blog, analyses the style of 007 in the film that started it all – Dr. No.

Does Japanese period costume reflect on contemporary fashion? We appraise the hipster style of Norwegian Wood. Beautiful and affecting, even if it does collapse under the weight of its own earnestness at times.

The most memorable musical number ever captured on film, and Ginger Rogers’ dress contributes to this greatly.

Doris Day’s last hurrah for 1950s fashion wearing some of the most exquisite costumes ever seen on screen. Some official images have surfaced for X-Men: First Class. The sixties costumes vibe is not excessive, however.

The latest book by fashion historian, and now TV presenter Amber Butchart (A Stitch in Time on BBC 4 – second season please), is a comprehensively researched stroll through the best dressed folk ever to exist on the planet. The Fashion Chronicles: The Style Stories of History’s Best Dressed is laid out to be effortlessly readable, split into sections ranging from Ancient (and we mean ancient; basically like the first clothes ever) to 20th and 21st Century. Each entry gets a couple of pages of engaging historical notes and background justifying their inclusion along with a photo / picture or two. It works; it doesn’t feel like study or revision,……

MINOR SPOILERS There are already lots of good interviews with Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) costume designer Michael Kaplan on the internet (we recommend this one in particular), so for Clothes on Film we kept it brief and fresh. We caught up with Kaplan, who is also responsible for Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), Star Trek (2009), Fight Club (1999) and Blade Runner (1982), for a little chat about what’s new for episode 8 of the ever evolving space saga. Clothes on Film: Let’s kick off by asking you about the best new costume in the film, the Elite Praetorian Guard… Michael Kaplan: They are my favourite costumes……

Beautiful and affecting, even if it does collapse under the weight of its own earnestness at times. Denim legitimises Warren Beatty’s character as a man capable of more than posing.

Costume titbits you may have missed. America Hustle Tom and Lorenzo cast their expert eyes over the American Hustle character posters. Costumer of Awesome Who is the Costumer of Awesome? Whoever he/she is they clearly work in the business and have a unique plus hilarious way of putting said crazy biz in perspective for the rest of us. Sleepy Hollow Why does Ichabod never wash his clothes, you may or may not be daft enough to ask. The Art of Costume Design CUT! Costume and the Cinema – a period costume design exhibit at the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio, Texas. House of Versace Costume designer Claire Nadon got…

Daphne du Maurier‘s original novel My Cousin Rachel apparently does not specify the exact period in which it’s set, but implies some time toward the end of the 19th century on the Cornish coast. This new version of the story starring Rachel Weisz and Sam Claflin actually positions itself in a specific time frame, as decided upon by director Roger Michell and costume designer Dinah Collin, namely the year 1840. We have an exclusive featurette about the costume design of My Cousin Rachel, which although brief goes into some detail about what to expect from the finished film: What is most fascinating is just why 1840 was chosen. It was……

The most memorable musical number ever captured on film, and Ginger Rogers’ dress contributes to this greatly.