Wednesday 8 April 2009

Drawing inspiration

In general most referencing of films for fashion inspiration are from Classical Hollywood, key foreign language films or independent filmmakers. Who hasn't mentioned Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's, Sabrina or Funny Face. Although I don't consider Funny Face to be strictly a fashion film apart from the iconic black turtle neck and cigarette pants with pumps worn by Hepburn in the left bank beatnik club scene. Funny Face is a romantic slightly comedic film using the fashion industry as the story vehicle. The consultation by Richard Avedon is excellent and the resulting photographic fashion stills in the film are illuminating.

Films that lend themselves to fashion inspiration usually do so due to strong direction or a strong costume designer. For example Alfred Hitchcock was exacting in his costume views even to the shade of colour to be used - most famously eau-de-nil for Grace Kelly's suit in Rear Window. Hollywood costumier Adrian created incredible almost fanciful costumes for George Cukor's The Women. Yves Sant Laurent was asked to dress Catherine Deneuve for Luis Brunel's Belle de jour to great effect. Films provide great visual images to imitate or act out a look.


My particular favourite is Wong Kar-Wei's In the mood for love (2000). I've always been a victim in a sense of Kar-Wei's evocative, nostalgic costuming of Maggie Cheung - the beautiful patterns and style of her 1960s dresses. Wong Kar-Wei was in some respects recreating the nostalgic memories of his mother when they moved by themselves to Hong Kong in the 1960s. Interestingly Kate Moss has spoken of recreating the memory of her mother's clothes with her latest Topshop collection. I'm still smitten with the dresses from In the mood for love and often try to find similar ones but to no avail!

11 comments:

Cassiopeia said...

great post... adore funny face and the visual aspects of hitchcock... great blog!

xxxc

http://clothestohealabrokenheart.blogspot.com/

tor (fabfrocks) said...

Love Audrey - and funny face!
Thanks for tagging me btw! x

Ella Gregory said...

I watched Funny Face again a few weeks ago. The turtle-neck is the best look, I agree.

Cas Ruffin said...

I like this post, but you need bigger pictures. Everyone wants to see a good picture of Hepburn.

Top Bird @ Wee Birdy said...

Audrey is adorable, and Funny Face is just brilliant, but I prefer Jean Seaberg in Breathless for that '60s cigarette pants and ballet shoes vibe. xx

WendyB said...

In the Mood for Love is breath-taking!

La Belette Rouge said...

I love the costuming and art direction of In the Mood for Love. Gorgeous.

Lisamaree said...

We will never be that shape Kate. Not because of diets but simple genetics.

Tell me, have you taken the Whipper Snapper to "Monsters vs Aliens" yet?

I am thinking Emily Kame Kngwarreye dot paintings in Susan's second lycra costume that she gets inside the alien spaceship. What you reckon?
xx

Jen (MahaloFashion) said...

Audrey forever, she is an icon.
ahaha yeah I would have liked to go to the opening in NY but why bother when I'm off to LDN next week! I hope I find some good stuff, I have a hard time with the cost there because the clothes are so trendy to be dropping 50 pounds which is like 100 canadian. I don't mind if it's something classic but that is hard to find at topshop.

susie_bubble said...

My In The Mood For Love dress search ended round about the time I realised I just don't have the bod to work a perfectly cut qi pao....

aghtheinlaws said...

Yes it is funny how few films now are inspiring for fashion followers.