When Film and Fashion Meet

 

The historical drama movie Marie Antoinette is one of the best examples for anyone who believes that clothes are a form of art. The designer who created the elaborate gowns of Marie Antoinette is Milena Canonero and even though they give a modern flavor to the movie, the extravagant dresses and wigs all resemble those worn by the royalty in the 18th century.

The plot takes place in the years leading up to the French Revolution and presents Kirsten Dunst as the queen of France, Marie Antoinette. She is engaged in a luxurious lifestyle and never refuses herself anything. This can be seen in both the dresses she wears and in her hairstyles.

As a matter of fact, it is well known that the wardrobe choices of movie characters can describe who they are without a word of dialogue. And the extravagant fashion of Marie Antoinette does just that. Due to her luxurious lifestyle, throughout the movie, she is constantly associated with the idea that she’s indifferent to the struggles of the masses. The ending of the movie is meaningful, her bedroom being destroyed by angry riots as a sign of disapproval of her lifestyle.

 

 

Another beautiful example in which fashion and movies go great together is the 2012 version of Anna Karenina. Even if the fashion presented doesn’t resemble that from the 19th century, Anna Karenina’s (Keira Knightley) wardrobe is absolutely stunning. Here, the designer is Jacqueline Durran and with Anna Karenina, she hit the third Oscar nomination for costume design. In the film, Durran gives a more modern interpretation of 1870s fashion because both she and the director, Joe Wright, believed that in art, the historical accuracy shouldn’t be that important. Therefore, Jacqueline Durran bases Anna’s dressing style on the 1950s fashion and its exaggerated silhouette dresses. Moreover, she chooses to cover Anna in Chanel jewelry only to emphasize the specific elegance and attire the audience expects to see on a Russian aristocrat. However, Coco Channel wasn’t even born during the 1870s, but as the designer says, “Joe

[Wright] likes costumes to be believably of a period, but at the same time accessible to a modern audience.”

Another interesting thing that is worth mentioning is the fact that throughout the movie, Jacqueline Durran makes Anna Karenina stand out. For example, at the balls, Anna’s sophistication makes her the most beautiful person in the room. At the same time, the Russian aristocrat contrasts with the colorful dresses of the other ladies, wearing a rich red and black. She is constantly in the center of attention and soon becomes the most admired and desired woman of the night.

 

 

In the end, one thing is certain: Costume designers do bring color in our lives. Firstly, because they transform the movies in the best runways on which artists present their outfits. And secondly because they immortalize the great fashions of time, allowing us as audience to live in those times. For this reason, we should definitely agree on the fact that designers have the ability to tend to the little details to such a degree that makes their vision become a reality.

 

When film and fashion meet, sometimes the result is more than just a great film, but also a great story or interesting fact.

For example, did you know that there are hundreds of costumes that have been used in classic cinema and reused?

Take a look at the images below and see how the costume designed for the King of Hearts in the 1972 production of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was reused in 1974 in Doctor Who.

 

 

Also, the blue striped Regency era gown first created in 1996 for the ITV version of Emma was worn in 2003 by Julie Cox as Annabella Milbanke in Byron, in 2005 by Victoria Hamilton as Miss Granham in To the Ends of the Earth, and in 2008 by Amanda Lawrence as Poyner. It also appeared in 2012 on Isla Fisher as Ginny Hawkins in Burke and Hare.

 

 

Now that’s a durable piece of clothing!

 

This is really fashion at its finest: it evolves, it changes, but keeps a constant that is the timelessness of pure style.

Film and fashion have always worked together well and have given birth to some truly memorable pieces of visual communication. Moreover, this deep connection between these two worlds goes to show that fashion does not exist in itself, but that it is rooted in our lives, our stories and our characters.

 

 

Fraquoh and Franchomme

 

 

 

 

 

P.S. Which film features your favorite costumes? What movie character’s wardrobe and looks do you like best? Share your thoughts in the comments below! For more articles on style, fashion tips and cultural insights, you can subscribe to Attire Club via e-mail or follow us on Facebook or Twitter!