Fashion on Screen Part 1

When you love fashion, and I mean really, REALLY love fashion you will have moments dating back to your childhood when you fell completely in love with an ensemble. You were captured. You were mesmerized. And you have an imprint laying dormant in your memory forever that will be evoked from time to time and warm fuzzies will be had.

As a child I kept note pads so I could write down outfits that I saw on TV or in movies. When tabloids became a phenomenon, I kept scrapbooks of magazine clippings. Now as an adult I save hundreds of photos on my computer and skim through them when I need some inspiration or some of those warm fuzzies.

This posting is dedicated to some of my favorite fashion moments forever tattooed in my memory and heart.

Sex and the City

I literally squealed when Carrie turned around and revealed the bunny tail on this skirt. I believe this was the first episode of SATC I ever watched. I must have been about 12 years old. This outfit is still my all time favorite from this show. As much as I love all the couture and extravagance SATC evolved into, the more down-to-earth looks with interesting quirks from the first few seasons were always my favorite. I definitely need to dedicate an entire blog post to more SATC favorites.

Rear Window

Any girl who watches Rear Window for the first time gasps when Grace Kelly, as Lisa Fremont, first makes her appearance in the above layered tulle and chiffon skirt that moves around beautifully as she begins to turn on the lights in her crippled boyfriend's apartment. You can view a clip of that memorable scene on youtube. A single strand of pearls, scrunched white gloves, open toed asymmetrical black heels, and a matching chiffon shoulder wrap together make Grace Kelly look like she could have literally walked off a page of Vogue in the 1950s.

Her green suit with a halter blouse beneath is no less of a masterpiece. Edith Head, the costume designer for this film, and many time over Oscar winner did a fantastic job with this film. I've shown Rear Window to so many people who never watch films from the 1950s and it always gets a great reception and a large part of it is the magnificent wardrobe.

The Devil Wears Prada

This movie was just too overwhelming to watch in theaters. There was so much to look at and so little screen time for each outfit. The scene where Miranda throws her coat and purse on Andy's desk repetitively in a week long sequence was TORTURE. I remember shouting out "NO, NO, I NEED MORE TIME!" at the theater screen.  Although I was able to find plenty of stills for Anne Hathaway's wardrobe many of my favorites I could not find, such as the Chanelesque school girl look so I compromised and collaged some screen caps below.

Overall, I think I preferred Emily Blunt's wardrobe, which was dominated by dark shades with lots of  edgy layering, boots, and waist belts. I imagine my wardrobe would resemble hers if I had thousands of dollars at my disposal.

I didn't expect to post so many photos of this film, but I got a little carried away. Next post will feature selections from 3 more movies whose fashions I have endlessly enjoyed.

Updated: Part 2 here.

(photos credited to emilyblunt.net, annehathawayfan.com, clothesonfilm.com)