Monday, December 20, 2010
The Virgin Suicides (1999)
Fashion on Film
Films that add drama to fashion design The Versace Murder from 1998 and the upcoming Gucci and Isabella Blow biopics.
The Devil Wears Prada cost $35 million total. The $100,000 budget for the film's costumes was supplemented by help from friends from throughout the industry. Ultimately, Field believes, at least $1 million worth of clothing was used in the film, making it one of the most expensively costumed movies in cinema history. Above Ivory Angora Coat from Yigal Azrouel, her hat and gloves are Chanel. The purse she carries, a Calvin Klein Gold Python Hobo bag. Below a website chronicles each and every look from the films and links to online sites where you can buy the looks.
Movies for Fashion Inspiration
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Fashion Design on Film (David Bazner)
Geoffrey Macnab, “Why Fashion On Screen Lacks Style,” The Independent
In the past, films specifically about fashion have been underwhelming. They have been visually appealing, but lack the characterization that makes watching a film worthwhile. According to Geoffrey Macnab, “Matt Tyrnauer's documentary Valentino: The Last Emperor has one quality that most fashion movies lack, namely emotional depth.” Many times, with fashion films, superficiality and exclusivity is so present that the movie becomes more of a parody. This can be seen in The Devil Wears Prada in which Merril Streep plays the role of a fictional Anna Wintour.
Even films about fashion that have received acclaim such as The September Issue lack true insight into the world of fashion. Grace Coddington takes center stage with her wit and humor, while Wintour, the Editor in Chief, “is a sphinx-like presence who betrays little sense of what is driving her.” Macnab concludes by explaining that the fashion industry has an abundance of talent and that that talent can translate into the film industry (as shown by Tom Ford in A Single Man). The issue at hand is that fashion cannot be taken at face value when used as a source of inspiration, but should be explored and challenged.
Bruzzi discusses the conflict between costume design and couture. In her discussion she explains the role of a costume designer -- which is to create looks that work cohesively with the character as well as the overall narrative of the film. A couterier, on the other hand, is more likely to create pieces that are more spectacular-- looks that take on a life of their own apart from the character who is wearing them. This can be seen with regard to the givenchy ball gown worn by audrey hepburn in sabrina. The audience becomes captivated by the beauty of the dress itself.
Bruzzi suggests that there is an independent alternative when it comes to costume design. The costumes need not be a distraction nor silent, they can be admired as their own entity.
Cathy Horyn interviewd Matt Tyrnauer, the director of Valentino: The Last Emperor for The New York Times Magazine. When asked questions about the film, it becomes apparent that not only is the Valentino couture dynasty a central focus, but also the relationship Valentino has with his partner, Giancarlo Giametti. The couple bicker and hug, it humanizes Valentino- his public image is only one part of him. Tyrnauer touches on the fact that the world of couture has changed with Valentino having stepped down – he was the last of his kind in the way he ran his business. The film seems to capture him in two different lights – viewers will get to see the image of Valentino they are familiar with (the glamour) but also, audiences will be surprised to see a more humble Valentino. A man with a sense of nostalgia, a man who is well aware of how far he has come and what he has created for himself.
The Big Lebowski, by Giada Fried
Tzar (2009) by Tsepkova Varvara
Film Tzar(2009) directed by Pavel Lungin
Costume designers: Ekaterina Diminskaia and Natalia Dzubenko.
Ekaterina Diminskaia and Natalia Dzubenko received Russian cinema awards in 2009 for the best work on costume for film Tzar(2009).
The film tells the story of the first Russian Tzar Ivan the Terrible. In 16th-century Russia in the grip of chaos, Ivan the Terrible strongly believes he is vested with a holy mission.
Tzar(2009) is a costume drama. Costume designers worked on traditional costumes of
the Tzar as well as recreated costumes of peasants.
The costume of the Tzar and nobility were hand made and hand embroidered.
Costume designers say that they went to India to get the fabrics for the costumes.
Rich fabrics such as velvet and silk were used to design the costumes.
A rich color palette is accurate for the costumes of nobility: deep red and deep green, blue.
Hats played a great role in the traditional costume of that era and in the film, there was more than 40 hats created for Tzar(2009). Kokoshnick traditional hats were used for girls. All head pieces were hand embroidered.