Clothes on film

An uncomfortable watch, Rabbit Hole is nonetheless essential viewing. Lord Christopher Laverty 1 Comment 28 Jan ’11 27 Nov ’09 9 Dec ’10

This week you may have missed… Ingenious Costume Design Good list from Rebecca Clough at Den of Geek of ingenious movie costume design. And while we’re about it, congratulations to another of their regular writers, Ryan Lambie, for his FDA Richard Attenborough Blogger of the Year Award. Inside Llewyn Davis Kristin M. Burke has a chat with the Coen brothers’ regular costume designer Mary Zophres. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 Trish Summerville out, Kurt & Bart in for the third Hunger Games movie. Odd after Summerville being such a successful choice, but we get the feeling this is most intentional. Cash hungry producers have realised Katniss’ costume designers are……

Live and Let Die (1973, directed by Guy Hamilton) is a fantasy Blaxploitation movie made in the wake of Shaft and Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song (both 1971). Roger Moore’s first stab at James Bond pitted his tightly buttoned jackets and high waisted trousers against a bevy of colourful, flared, snap-brimmed seventies street wear as commanded by corrupt diplomat/New York drug kingpin, Dr. Kananga/Mr. Big (Yaphet Kotto). For the first time in his existence the world’s foremost super spy would be all but invisible. Except that there were attempts to update 007’s image in line with the fashions of the day. Some worked; Moore in a black short sleeve silk shirt…

The second installment (part one HERE) of our extensive interview with Austin Powers trilogy costume designer Deena Appel, this time focusing on The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999, again directed by Jay Roach). Things change up in The Spy Who Shagged Me, for in addition to costuming the modern and swinging sixties world of Austin Powers, his character also travels to 1969, i.e. the ‘hippie era’. The first film was a tremendous success and Appel’s contribution solidified her as the only person who could return to costume this fabulous, vibrant landscape. Speaking exclusively to Clothes on Film, and providing never before seen or published costume sketches from the movie, Deena……

The period is swinging, but the trailer is classy. Some official images have surfaced for X-Men: First Class. The sixties costumes vibe is not excessive, however.

There is a problem with the costumes in The Wolf of Wall Street, and it has nothing to do with the film itself but the coverage they have received. Namely, that this coverage is incorrect. Articles such as this one for Vogue France, or this for The Hollywood Reporter, or a ‘suit guide’ by Esquire, concentrate almost solely on Giorgio Armani’s contribution to the project with barely a mention of costume designer Sandy Powell. And this is the Sandy Powell by the way: 10 Oscar nominations and so well respected she has an OBE for services to the industry. It was Powell who costumed The Wolf of Wall Street, not……

More clip than teaser trailer, but Meryl Streep certainly does look the part. Throughout The Way We Were, Barbra Streisand wears a mix of period authenticity and contemporary fashion.

Goldmember (2002, directed by Jay Roach), the final film (so far) in the Austin Powers series again shifts its timeline. However, rather than a negligible, though comparatively significant, jump from late to very late 1960s, here we dive into that most raucous of decades – the 1970s. And then back to 2002 (do keep up). For costume designer Deena Appel (pictured above, bottom left with Jay Roach) it was a wildly ambitious undertaking. Not to mention the film also features a well-known music and movie star, just about to launch into the stratosphere: Beyoncé. Speaking exclusively to Clothes on Film and closing out our epic in-depth look at the Austin……

Glasgow born fashion designer Holly Fulton is to contribute ten outfits for Sarah Jessica Parker in the Sex and the City sequel. Not bad going as the film is likely to be a ninety minute catwalk with occasional rudies. Created for Fashion East, Holly Fulton’s outfits are delicious vintage inspired soup with a garnish of insanity. Maybe not what one would immediately expect for the glitzy ra-ra world of SATC. Fulton herself, though, would disagree. Speaking to British Vogue: “I like to associate my designs with women who are distinctive individuals and wear them in their own way, so it’s a brilliant opportunity for a new designer like myself to…

Want another look at Janty Yates’ costume design for Robin Hood? Thought you might. Lord Christopher Laverty 9 Comments 6 Apr ’13 5 Jun ’15 27 Aug ’10