Clothes on film

As is often the way with costume designers, Stephanie Collie is something of an unsung hero. We will not reel off her entire back catalogue, but it does include South Riding (2011, TV), Telstar (2008) Peter’s Friends (1992) and perhaps most exciting of all, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998). Now, anyone old enough to remember when Lock, Stock arrived will remember just what an incredible influence its Mod inspired costumes had on the world of fashion. You could not pick up a men’s magazine of the time without seeing some guy in slim trousers and a jersey polo shirt. Stephanie Collie invented this look, thus providing one of……

A mishmash of sci-fi conventions and clichés cobbled together as something we have never quite seen before. The costumes of Rumble Fish express the importance of teenage dress codes before the segregating journey into adulthood. It is impossible not to have fun watching Avengers Assemble. Ruth E. Carter’s work on Do the Right Thing is a masterclass in how costume can influence the look and feel of a film. Costume designer Michael Kaplan took time away from Star Trek 2 to chat exclusively to Clothes on Film about Ghost Protocol. Enjoyably daft fare with enough fast cars and desirable clobber to keep you cooing until the credits. Playing computer hacker,…

Obviously, Arianne Phillips‘ costume design for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019, directed by Quentin Tarantino) deserves a thorough analysis. However, with the film not yet on blu-ray that is not really possible for the time-being. One needs the ability to pore over and rewind these sartorial pleasures in a way that the cinema just cannot sustain. So, for the moment, this is just a brief dip in and out of the costume looks of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, concentrating on the big three lead characters: Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie), Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt). There is still plenty to say and comment…

Starring: Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Asa Butterfield Directed By: Martin Scorsese Acclaimed director Martin Scorsese concocts a cracking children’s fantasy in homage to silent movie magician Georges Méliès; his beloved Hugo barely drops a cog in its methodically realised mechanical world. Scorsese has unmistakably made a children’s movie. Some may argue not as it is crammed full of references to early moving pictures that only adults could probably recognise. Yet Scorsese’s purpose, like that of his hero Méliès, is to entertain and inform. For all the po-faced wittering by cinema scholars that Hugo is meant for them, one has to wonder if deep down Scorsese really cares if any…

That’s it then. Happy holidays everyone! Her This is a good article. Will Joaquin Phoenix wearing high waisted trousers in Her bring about a return of the look on the high street? We really hope so. Low and skinny is as dead as disco. Acutally disco is still awesome, but you get our point. The Butler HUGE analysis and discussion of The Butler from simply wonderful costume designer Ruth E. Carter. Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D We tried to watch this show but it made us feel old. That said the costumes by Ann Foley look spiffy. Read Tyranny of Style’s interview (with illustrations and inspiration board) to discover more. Batman…

If you like Potter, you are going to like this. Cannot say fairer than that. The latest trailer for The Last Airbender has arrived. Sumptuous looking costume design by Judianna Makovsky. Certainly the most memorable costume Diane Kruger wears in National Treasure – a luscious silk, full skirted evening dress.

The week in costume design stories and links. Arrested Development Costume designer Katie Sparks on duplicates and 70’s shirts. On 26th May it all happens. Deep breath, deep breath… The Dirty Picture Niharika Bhasin Khan: “My job is to get into the director’s head and see how he sees the characters.” Pain and Gain How to create trash on screen. Oblivion Marlane Stewart’s simple, streamlined costumes for Tom Cruise and company. Spacesuit: Fashioning Apollo Playtex designed the spacesuit. Yep. Star Wars Episode VII Just in case you missed it, Michael Kaplan landed the biggest job in the universe. Behind the Candelabra Sensational interview with costume designer Ellen Mirojnick by costume…

The first trailer for Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of War Horse gallops online and it looks sumptuous. Lord Christopher Laverty Comments Off on Spielberg’s War Horse: First Trailer Arrives 19 May ’09 23 Oct ’12 10 Feb ’12

Recently we were fortunate enough to get our hands on Amber Jane Butchart’s new book, her ‘Fashion Miscellany’, which has just been published by The IIex Press. If you don’t already know, Amber is a contributor to Clothes on Film and will soon be teaming up with editor Christopher Laverty for an evening of Jazz Era discussion at the British Library. Her book, by the way, is flippin’ brilliant. If you care even slightly about what we wear and why, AJBFM is an indispensable purchase. The layout of it is simple enough. It’s basically designed as a dip-in-and-out for research, or whenever you fancy a flick though. We’d call this…

Doris Day’s last hurrah for 1950s fashion wearing some of the most exquisite costumes ever seen on screen. Warner Bros. have released two images from The Great Gatsby. Not much to see, but it is difficult not to be drawn in by the promise of costume luxury. Clothes on Film talk exclusively to costume designer of The Artist, Mark Bridges. Colleen Atwood does it AGAIN. Lucie Bates exclusively discusses her work on Hanna, inducing parodies, subtext and working with Giorgio Armani. As TracyDi Vicenzo in OHMSS, Diana Rigg wore a daring 1960s wedding ensemble. Angelina Jolie suits the unstructured dresses and cloche hats in Changeling perfectly. She may start out…