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Post by sepiatone on Jun 28, 2023 15:48:00 GMT
Yeah. Real manly.  Sepiatone |
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Post by BunnyWhit on Jun 30, 2023 16:54:31 GMT
Here's a nice little bit of audio I found with Edith Head talking about this dress. She makes the remark that it is an example of a garment that helps an actress into the role, makes a scene work, and I think she's 100% right about that.
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Post by Fading Fast on Jun 30, 2023 17:03:33 GMT
⇧ That's a great clip. Thank you for posting it. It's fascinating to hear two professionals talk about an iconic dress, in a famous scene, from a famous movie.
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Post by NoShear on Jul 1, 2023 16:57:26 GMT
An interesting and apt connection, NoShear. I must admit that my mind always takes this shining garment of Norma's to a much more insect-y place.
Katharine Hepburn in Christopher Strong (1933), designs by Walter Plunkett and Howard Greer.
 
Doris Dowling in THE BLUE DAHLIA:  Doris Dowling in a blue wetsuit:  |
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Post by BunnyWhit on Jul 6, 2023 3:14:34 GMT
Here is Cyd Charisse in three films wearing "regular" attire. There is nothing outrageous, diaphanous, satiny, cut-down-to-here or slit-up-to-there, and not a sequin in sight. This is the point.
The Band Wagon (1953) -- costume designs by Mary Ann Nyberg
Nyberg was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design, Color in 1954 for this film.
Charisse wears a lovely white dress (though it could be separates -- can never decide) with a shawl collared surplice bodice and knife pleated skirt which has a stitched down yoke. The skirt floats as she moves and is perfect for "Dancing in the Park"....I mean the "Dark".
It's Always Fair Weather (1955) -- costume designs by Helen Rose
Rose was nominated for the Academy Award ten times, winning twice, but not for this film.
Charisse wears an emerald funnel-necked top with pintucks at the collar and cuffs and a fishtail skirt. The off-kilter appearance of the fishtail as she dances is a perfect accompaniment to the boxing ring, keeping us all off guard in "Baby You Knock Me Out".
Silk Stockings (1957) -- costume designs by Helen Rose
This film also is not one for which Rose was nominated for the Academy Award.
Charisse wears a camel ribbed turtleneck sweater over a matching circle skirt. The color is sedate, reflecting the character's station, but it is not boring and perfect for the "Red Blues".
Which of these do you think more aptly supports the character and the dance number?
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Post by sagebrush on Jul 6, 2023 11:17:48 GMT
Here is Cyd Charisse in three films wearing "regular" attire. There is nothing outrageous, diaphanous, satiny, cut-down-to-here or slit-up-to-there, and not a sequin in sight. This is the point.
The Band Wagon (1953) -- costume designs by Mary Ann Nyberg
Nyberg was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design, Color in 1954 for this film.
Charisse wears a lovely white dress (though it could be separates -- can never decide) with a shawl collared surplice bodice and knife pleated skirt which has a stitched down yoke. The skirt floats as she moves and is perfect for "Dancing in the Park"....I mean the "Dark".
It's Always Fair Weather (1955) -- costume designs by Helen Rose
Rose was nominated for the Academy Award ten times, winning twice, but not for this film.
Charisse wears an emerald funnel-necked top with pintucks at the collar and cuffs and a fishtail skirt. The off-kilter appearance of the fishtail as she dances is a perfect accompaniment to the boxing ring, keeping us all off guard in "Baby You Knock Me Out".
Silk Stockings (1957) -- costume designs by Helen Rose
This film also is not one for which Rose was nominated for the Academy Award.
Charisse wears a camel ribbed turtleneck sweater over a matching circle skirt. The color is sedate, reflecting the character's station, but it is not boring and perfect for the "Red Blues".
Which of these do you think more aptly supports the character and the dance number?
It's impossible for Cyd not look elegant in whatever she wears, but that mustard-colored ensemble in the "Red Blues" number has long been one of my favorites. She just had the figure and stature to make it look special. Another gal who could do the same for a simple attire is Janet Leigh.
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Post by Fading Fast on Jul 19, 2023 6:27:10 GMT
The 1949 movie The Fountainhead had incredible style (Gail Wynand's Art Deco office is insane), but staying with the theme of the thread, I thought Patricia Neal wore some beautiful outfits in the movie, like this simple one from the closing scene (I love the short jacket):
There's also this evening gown, which I'm mixed about overall, but kudos to Neal for pulling it off:
If memory serves, this was her seduce-Gary-Cooper getup:
Oops, she's not quite ready to show off another outfit here:
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Post by Fading Fast on Jul 23, 2023 5:11:19 GMT
Recently I watched the 1934 movie "The St. Louis Kid" starring James Cagney and cute-as-all-heck Patricia Ellis.
What struck me is that Cagney, who plays a truck driver, wore an incredibly well-tailored three-piece double-breasted suit when he wasn't in his truck driver clothes that, along with his shirt, tie and collar bar, could still be worn today. I've seen similar attire worn by a few of the guests at a recent wedding I attended.
Plus, I love the dress that Patricia Ellis wears in several scenes with its top-to-bottom run of buttons.
Unfortunately, I couldn't find any better pictures than the two below, which do not do Cagney's or Ellis' outfits justice as you can't see them in their entirety.
 
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Post by NoShear on Jul 27, 2023 15:34:57 GMT
BunnyWhit, I recently caught the episode entitled "Uniform" of ENDEAVOUR which highlighted the copycat crime controversy of A Clockwork Orange in early 1970s England:  While searching costumes seen in the episode, I discovered the show's costume designer, Charlotte Mitchell, and thought of you:  Though the interview with Mitchell which accompanied the above photo was taken down, you can find others should you be interested, BunnyWhit... |
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Post by BunnyWhit on Jul 30, 2023 3:16:57 GMT
Thanks, NoShear!
I've been looking forward to watching the final season of Endeavor, but I haven't made there quite yet. I wanted to wait until I was recuperated from my vacation. Ha! Can't wait to see it.
I suspect you think the costuming for the entire series is excellent, as I do, NoShear.
And while we're on PBS, I believe I'll just give a shout out to the new version of All Creatures Great and Small. Some episodes I've had to watch twice because I was so captivated by the costuming and sets -- like the Christmas episode in season 2. The tweeds are wonderful, and even the vet coats are becoming, but in particular I have a giddy fondness for Mrs. Hall's aprons and the knitwear. Oh. My! -- the KNITWEAR!
Fairisle was huge in the 40s, and Tristan wears it well.
The scarf James' mother knitted for his birthday has a matching hat.
A dependable cable knit vest should be in every man's wardrobe.
Helen shines in this ribbed jumper with fairisle yoke.
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Post by Fading Fast on Jul 30, 2023 5:32:33 GMT
I share your love of Fair Isle, which thankfully, still hangs around on the margins of menswear to this day.
This ⇩ is a heck of wonderful outfit.
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Post by BunnyWhit on Jul 31, 2023 0:28:56 GMT
I KNEW you were going to say that, Fading Fast! I had you in mind when I posted that pic of Tristan. As great as this ensemble looks when he's moving about, I can't help but think it's just that much better here, slouched in a chair with whiskey in hand.
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Post by Fading Fast on Jul 31, 2023 3:05:20 GMT
I KNEW you were going to say that, Fading Fast! I had you in mind when I posted that pic of Tristan. As great as this ensemble looks when he's moving about, I can't help but think it's just that much better here, slouched in a chair with whiskey in hand.
I know this isn't Fair Isle, but what a great sweater vest as part of a really nice outfit:
Plus it reminded me of the Honeysuckle Weeks crush I had during the show's run because she was cool, cute and, my God, what an awesome name.
"Why are you dating her?"
"I love her name."
"That's a stupid reason to date someone."
"I don't care."
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Post by NoShear on Aug 4, 2023 19:04:04 GMT
You're welcome, BunnyWhit, and sorry I'm late to this... I don't think you're going to be disappointed: One review described the final (Series 9) season of ENDEAVOUR as the proverbial saving the best for last, BunnyWhit! I found the costuming for the aforementioned "Uniform" stood out the most for me... I can't offer a similar response for the tweeds scene of ALL CREATURES GREAT & SMALL despite enjoying the show: Too old school dress for my tastes. That's OK, too, because I think I would've met resistance trying to shop that show's styles: I was blessed/cursed with youthful looks which saw separate pushbacks from menswear salesmen many years apart when attempting the Dirty Harry look which is said to have been intentionally conservative to match the title character. |
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Post by BunnyWhit on Aug 5, 2023 21:46:50 GMT
Oh, woe! Morse drove out of my life for the final time last night. I was in my jammies, but he was aptly attired for the event.
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