Posted by Chris Laverty on June 20, 2009 Not sure if these new posters for Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes are Photoshopped portraits or paintings, but either way they give further insight into the costume style adopted by the movie, which is proving unusual to say the least. See them HERE. Ritchie has been adamant for a while now that Holmes would not wear a deerstalker cap or MacFarlane coat, so no surprises there. Watson however is a bit of a shock. With his sharp, forward-thinking tailoring he makes Holmes seem a bit of a scruff. More… Posted by Chris Laverty on May 5, 2009 Based on the real life theft…

Posted by Chris Laverty on September 28, 2009 Oscar nominated costume designer Anna B. Sheppard grants Clothes on Film exclusive insight into the unique period look of Inglourious Basterds (2009). It transpires that most of the film’s extraordinary costumes, including Diane Kruger’s brown suit and Julie Dreyfus’ ‘cat hat’, were constructed entirely from original designs by Anna Sheppard. Moreover all period jewellery was sourced from her own private collection, accumulated since working on Steven Spielberg’s holocaust drama Schindler’s List in 1993. More… Posted by Chris Laverty on June 11, 2009 Oscar winning costume designer Janty Yates has kindly taken time out filming Ridley Scott’s latest Robin Hood to chat about…

Posted by Chris Laverty on September 8, 2009 Starring: Kathy Bates, James Caan, Richard Farnsworth Directed by: Rob Reiner Screenwriter William Goldman applies his mastery of the clean, lean literary adaptation to this Stephen King penned shocker. Apart from the daft fist-fight ending, Goldman works well with Misery (1990) director Rob Reiner. They let the story unfold at a relaxed pace with cleverly integrated subplots to keep things moving. The narrative is steered by the health of its ailing protagonist, novelist Paul Sheldon (James Caan). The better he gets, the worse his situation becomes. More… Posted by Chris Laverty on August 27, 2009 Starring: Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Gary Busey…

Posted by Chris Laverty on July 18, 2009 Matt Damon as Jason Bourne dons the simplistic sophistication of a well-fitted Crombie later on during The Bourne Supremacy (2004), but Karl Urban kicks off proceedings with near 007 chic dressed in a natural linen tunic shirt – perfect attire for the travelling assassin in Goa. Natural linen overhead tunic shirt, rever collar with two button fastening, notched hem, full length sleeves turned up slightly, plain cuffs. Ethnic styled bracelets and necklace to compliment. More… Posted by Chris Laverty on June 11, 2009 Oscar winning costume designer Janty Yates has kindly taken time out filming Ridley Scott’s latest Robin Hood to chat…

Posted by Chris Laverty on October 6, 2009 Director Peter Jackson’s big budget King Kong (2005) remake is set, like the original, in 1933 (when filmed). This is slap bang in the middle of America’s Great depression, tasking costume designer Terry Ryan with creating looks that replicate the obvious poverty of the time and the go-for-broke attitude adopted by many for glamorous night time events and parties. Ryan costumed King Kong heroine Ann Darrow (Naomi Watts) in two distinct categories: New York attire and film within a film outfits, i.e. those worn on board the ship to Skull Island and while on the island itself. More… Posted by Chris Laverty…

Posted by Chris Laverty on July 31, 2009 Though really nothing more than an extended backlit music promo, Flashdance (1983, directed by Adrian Lyne) has garnered a considerable cult following in recent years. Savaged by poor reviews on its release, the film is now embraced as a musical and stylistic record of the second most hedonistic decade in western history. In this respect it is actually a stronger movie than, say, Wall Street (1986), and Flashdance even has a biracial woman as its star; unusual at the time, we should perhaps be grateful producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer didn’t opt for Goldie Hawn instead. More… Posted by Chris Laverty…

Posted by Chris Laverty on August 22, 2009 Third and final part of a sartorial analysis examining denim as symbolic recognition for character on film – focusing on The Parallax View (1974) starring Warren Beatty. Action Man: By the mid-1970s denim had been accepted as day wear for everyone though still remained intrinsically associated with adolescent ‘drop out’ culture. More… Posted by Chris Laverty on August 14, 2009 Part two in a three part sartorial analysis of denim as symbolic recognition for character on film, this time focusing on Audrey Hepburn in Two for the Road (1967). Women in Denim: Audrey Hepburn left behind her Givenchy comfort zone in decade-spanning…

Posted by Chris Laverty on September 11, 2009 Costume designers face a quandary: keep contemporary set films up to date, but ensure that they do not appear hideously outmoded in the future. In short they need to create a look that is both fashionable and timeless. Not an easy task. With this in mind consider some predicted winter/fall trends in women’s and men’s wear. If you spot any in this season’s movies there is either a seriously forward-thinking costume designer at work, or one who is going to regret his/her choices in the future. More… Posted by Chris Laverty on August 7, 2009 Ghost Town (2008) is one of the…

Posted by Sarah H on September 22, 2009 What young girl doesn’t want to be in the ‘Pink Ladies’ after seeing Grease (1978)? They are synonymous by their satin-lined powder pink baseball-style jacket, ‘Pink Ladies’ embroidered in black scrawl on the reverse, their name on the front, worn mostly with the collar up for that rebellious touch. Celebrating impurity, they are one of the most popular and imitated girl gangs on screen. Being ‘pink’ is a sarcastic and perhaps sexual allusion. More… Posted by Sarah H on August 17, 2009 Teenage, 50’s diner-style wear at its stereotypical best. Save for it’s funky 70’s Barry Gibb disco theme tune, you might…

Posted by Chris Laverty on June 30, 2009 A final favourite selection of Audrey Hepburn outfits from Two for the Road (1967). Again if you have not seen the film, give it go, even if you don’t like the look of the clothes. It’s like no Audrey film you have ever come across, guaranteed. Swirly Print Dress Multi-coloured psychedelic print mini-dress with bateau neck and flared sleeves. Pink high heel shoes. This is Riviera chic for a point in the film where Audrey’s character is as rich and discontent as she is ever going to be. The swirly geometric print is similar to Emilio Pucci’s signature creations from the mid-sixties…