Clothes on film

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. By no means intended as an exhaustive list, Clothes on Film ponder an overview of 2011 in costume. Bonnie and Clyde is a great example of how the simple addition of a hat can say a lot about a character. More clip than teaser trailer, but Meryl Streep certainly does look the part. Public Enemies demonstrates how costume can actually drive a story narrative. The Debbie Reynolds costume collection is up for sale. Darn you, worldwide recession! Full trailer for Luc Besson’s Les Aventures Extraordinaires d’Adele…

First look at Jenny Beavan’s late Victorian-with-a-twist costumes in action. Lord Christopher Laverty 6 Comments 1 Apr ’14 16 Mar ’12 23 Mar ’10

All the recurring themes in Desperately Seeking Susan are linked to one jacket. An uncomfortable watch, Rabbit Hole is nonetheless essential viewing. Boardwalk Empire heralds the return of the dandy man. A ferocious work from a filmmaker at the height of his game, Black Swan is an incredibly satisfying piece of cinema. A majestic tale set in a buttoned-up world of repressed emotion. To be a saboteur you must surely dress like one. Costume designer Louise Mingenbach worked closely with Zach Galifianakis to create Ethan’s camp and blissfully unaware look. The international trailer for Black Swan brings anticipation to the max. Flourishes of brilliance, but buried beneath disjointed action sequences…

Following a trip to Rome, Betty dons the latest in European chic – a colourful maxi dress that belongs in sleepy Ossining just about as much as she does.

Watch the first trailer for Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows and burst with costume excitement. Following a trip to Rome, Betty dons the latest in European chic – a colourful maxi dress that belongs in sleepy Ossining just about as much as she does.

Following a trip to Rome, Betty dons the latest in European chic – a colourful maxi dress that belongs in sleepy Ossining just about as much as she does.

In the first of a two-part special, we examine how important costumes from the Alien films are in contextualising primal terror.

Now the main award ceremonies are done and dusted there is just room for a summary of the Best (or ‘Achievement In’) Costume Design award winners before we gratefully shut up about it all for another year. There were no surprises at all. Not really. See for yourself, but if you did not call Jacqueline Durran for Anna Karenina every single time you were just throwing money down the drain. The 15th Annual Costume Designers Guild Awards: Excellence in Contemporary Film Skyfall – Jany Temime Excellence in Period Film Anna Karenina – Jacqueline Durran Excellence in Fantasy Film Mirror Mirror – Eiko Ishioka Outstanding Contemporary Television Series Smash – Molly…

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.

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……