I finally found a similar dress and feel ready to wear it. I got it yesterday and it looks spectacular!
I've been planning this FOR YEARS, because I have a pair of vintage red velvet Joseph La Rose heels, just like the ones worn in the movie that have been panting to be paired up with that dress.
They look so good together I can't stand it! Now… where shall I go to shake my fringe?
I'm not often one for reviewing movies on here but I just watched Take This Waltz this weekend and the wardrobe really stood out to me.
*Don't read below if you don't like spoilers or movie images!*
Taking place in Canada in the summer and filled with characters in their late 20s, was interesting to me how the quirky clothes, activities and decor all meshed together to create strong layered backdrop for the complex emotions on the screen.
What kept running through my mind the most, however, was how much I felt that everything Margot (Michelle William's character) wore look like it was sourced from ModCloth. Heck, if they were smart, they'd be advertising all around/over this movie.
Not that this is a bad thing, but it does support the childlike, whimsical but not twee, impulsive nature of Margot and downplays the sexuality of the character. And I'm not reviewing here but this movie is all about lust and desire. It's much more sexual than sensual, in my opinion.
A charged exchange...
The clothes work perfectly to capture the essence of a sultry, young-but-not-young, impulsive summer filled with change.
Okay, I couldn't resist with the title. But you have to forgive me, I've been a bit delirious all day from being sick. Basically I worked but now I'm watching Amadeus and discovering scences I've never seen before. Here are a few of my favorites.
Can you imagine some of today's designers living in this time and the work they would do? Louboutin. Manolo. Galliano. Amazing.
I especially like the red and white number in the first clip at 3:05.
About once a year or so I toy with the idea of streamlining my closet and wardrobe palette. But then I end up wearing some flouncy pink, purple and blue outfit and it all goes out the window. It must be a winter thing because here I am again wanting to go through all of my clothes and shoes and accessories and edit out the color for, what I consider, a Chanel-esque tone.
I had been toying with this idea a few weeks ago but watching Coco avant Chanel on the plane back from Ireland made we even more inspired to do it. The thing is, I love the classic tailoring and elegant femininity of the Chanel look. I love the black, whites, greys, sages and pinks. The restrained lines with immaculate detailing. It all appeals to me strongly.
The movie was some, but not enough, of what I hoped for. I expected it to be about the elements that influenced Coco's aesthetic but I wanted even more. The few brief moments were not enough and didn't tie it back to her later creations. Less romance, more fashion!
As I cast a new eye over some recent purchases, I saw details were already creeping in.
I love the off-white pajamas with the black piping.
And I just purchased a few of the new Rosalind Keep trompe l'oeil Trench Dresses from Oasis (UK) -
Trench Dress:
Prom Dress:
In Black:
In Pink:
And of course there are the classic wool suits embellished or combined with pearls and crystals.
Of course these aren't as detailed, but Forever 21 had some cute options to wear to work and with jeans:
I'm wearing this jacket today with a beaded top, black pencil skirt, black tights and black patent heels.
But I especially adore the very restrained schoolgirl-ish looks with the tidy collars.
Crisp white against a dark background.
Those scenes influenced this new Sonia Rykiel dress purchase to be sure.
I'm going to at least write up my wardrobe parameters leaving room for patterns like damask, toile and, of course stripes!
I had not thought about this for a while but I was watching Dangerous Liaisons today and I was reminded about how I would kill to be able to wear the classic combination of rich yellow and deep black, as Glenn does in this scene.
But a movie that really kicked off the love for this color combo was a very bad made for TV movie, Tears on the Rain, featuring a very young Sharon Stone.
I love the dress, the embellished gloves and you have to love the matching hair ribbon.
Of course all three of these ladies are blonds and, since I would also look horrible as a blonde, it isn't going to happen.
But if you can rock this color, I will try and be happy for you and not jealous.
I love this coat which, surprisingly, is from Victoria's Secret and pretty inexpensive at $129
I could probably get away with wearing these Oh Deer! Toffee "taxi" shoes. They are sold out now but I think that you can find them around.
Or I can get a pair of yellow gloves like Ms WendyB and wear them with a black coat. and boots.
If you can wear this color, share how or what you wear.
I know we think stuff coming down the runway is avant garde but watch this clip from 1939s The Women... Galliano, Lacroix and Margiela have nothing on these designs.
I'm particularly fond of the picnic dresses... and all the accessories! Clear acrylic hats, graphic feather hats, and the white swimming costume at 1:28! Unbelievable.
Look at the wrap at 00:58, reminds me of this Comme des Garcons shirt. Nothing's really new. I should be watching more of the past to see the future.
I'm still watching all my favorite old movies when they come on, trying to get back into good spirits. Tonight I was watching Mary Poppins and realized I recognized something familiar.
This is my jacket and my Lou Lou Loves You bow. I thought it was a bright and cheerful combo, right?
Then I realized I must have looked like Burt from the painting scene!
Not that I don't like this. I was just hoping I usually look more like Mary (practically perfect, right?) than Burt dancing like a penguin.
Nice.
Of course, it goes without saying I want that pink pony from the merry-go-round.
Also, I can't believe Dick Van Dyke. This man is 82 (+?) but he still can kick some ass. Did you see him in Night at the Museum? He does not age!
And since we're still on the subject of musicals... here's a clip just for fun. The most romantic scene EVAH!
When I'm upset I tend to self-medicate with old movies, especially musicals.
After crying over lost files for a while I'm watching Guys and Dolls.
I especially like this act - Pet me Poppa.
You have to watch a better version of this, if you've never seen it. I love love love the outfits. Can I go around all day like this... and I want those pom-pom shoes and glittery stockings.
I am very excited to see BazLuhrmann'sAustralia. I was totally enamored with Moulin Rouge... more so than I ever expected to be. Much of that was due to the music but the fashion was, of course, amazing.
An Australia looks to be just as gorgeous.
What has really excited me was when I read that Salvatore Ferragamo was creating all of the shoes for the movie.
What is interesting, is that Ferragamo is not interpreting the styles of the era (as Manolo Blahnikdid beautifully for Marie Antoinette) or using actual vintage shoes (pulled from the La Rose dead stock for Down With Love) but rather brought out styles from their actual archives to add a unique authenticity to the costume design:
"We are extremely proud and honored to work with the visionary filmmakers, director BazLuhrmann and designer Catherine Martin. We were very confident that, through their passion and creativity, they would realize an unprecedented vision." states James Ferragamo. "My grandfather, Salvatore Ferragamo, began his career working in costume design for the American Film Company, a precursor to Twentieth Century Fox, so it is only fitting that we carry on his name and our company's heritage by collaborating once again on a film from Fox." Ferragamo continues, "In fact, in The Covered Wagon (1923) one of the first films that my grandfather worked on, he created a pair of riding boots. These archival boots were referenced when creating the riding boots for Nicole Kidman's character." In conjunction with costume designer Catherine Martin, the Ferragamo design studio referenced many shoes from the archives, including some worn by aristocrats during the '30s and '40s, characters similar to Lady Sarah Ashley. The color palette and design details, while created to help realize the filmmakers' fantastical vision, were also authentic to the designer and the period. The deep Ferragamo red that features in the evening sandal worn by Kidman's character during the pivotal Governor's Ball scene was already something of a House signature in the '40s. And the ribbed wedge detail featured in the shoe worn by Lady Sarah Ashley at her homestead on Faraway Downs derives from a style created originally for Katherine Hepburn. All the shoes were made by hand, including this lovely evening sandal, in ruched deep red velvet with stingray accents. The sandal will be sold as a limited edition at Ferragamo stores worldwide. The shoes come in distinctive and collectible packaging and are accompanied by a certificate of authenticity that tells the history and unique features of the shoes.
While I love Victorian and Georgian style of dress, I am completely in love with the Post-Edwardian styles they have used to portray Lady Ashley. The structured, tailored looks with amazing detail work have a very strong appeal for me. I think I would dress this way all the time if I could.
This is in large part due to the equestrian elements that much of these styles are derived from. I rode dressage and did jumping for years and love the look. I actually feel more comfortable in a buttoned-up look like this than I do in something like jeans and tee's.
This movie is going to be EVERYWHERE over the next few months, but if you are eager to begin your immersion, here is even more to get you started:
I'm very excited to see what shoes they do end up selling and how they are received. Will this movie kick-off a trend for extreme tailoring as Moulin Rouge re-ignited a love of corsetry and decadence?
And just for some added fun, if you love horses, Australia or amazing filmwork, I hope you have seen The Man From Snowy River. This is one of the most amazingly filmed location movies ever and this scene in particular always gets me choked up and fills me with awe:
