Un-Hollywood Glamour



Mercouri as Ilya



  It's finals week and I'm feeling terribly lazy, so instead of being productive with my time, I turn to my beloved Netflix instant queue. I've been watching a lot of old foreign films lately and I'm loving the costume design. My usual posts are on this season's trends, but this week I'm going to talk about a few of the films that I've recently discovered.



Melina Mercouri in Never on Sunday





 Never on Sunday, or Pote tin Kyriaki, is a Greek film made in 1960 about a prostitute named Ilya. I know what you're thinking- a prostitute with great style? How is this possible? Before you judge me, just take a look at these pictures, or even better, watch the damn movie. Melina Mercouri plays Ilya wonderfully; so charming and smart. Costume designer Theoni V. Aldredge (also known for her work on The Great Gatsby and The Eyes of Laura Mars) did an amazing job capturing the essence of the all the film's characters. The fit of every garment Ilya wears is perfection, and her style is a great reflection of the character's personality. 



Anna Karina, Jean-Claude Brialy and Jean-Paul Belmondo



Angela's sailor strip-tease costume

A Woman is a Woman, or Une Femme est une Femme, is Jean-Luc Goddard's 1961 film about a French strip-teaser named Angela who desperately wants to have a baby, but has to convince her boyfriend first. Watching this film made me wish I was as fabulously French as Anna Karina, who plays Angela, and inspired me to try wearing my cardigans backwards (so cute!). I loved all the costumes worn during the strip-tease sequences, but Angela's sailor-inspired outfit makes her a serious girl-crush candidate.



Anouk Aimee in La Dolce Vita



Anita Ekberg in La Dolce Vita



Yvonne Furneaux in La Dolce Vita

Federico Fellini's La Dolce Vita  is an iconic example of Italian filmaking. The film focuses on gossip writer Marcello, played by the oh-so-foxy Marcello Mastroianni, and his interactions with three women; Emma, Maddalena and Sylvia. Emma, played by Yvonne Furneaux, is Marcello's adoring, yet suffocating girlfriend, and her costumes show her inner darkness. Anouk Aimee plays Maddalena, the socialite who seduces Marcello with the glittering social life of Rome, and her costumes convey her sophistication. The beautiful Anita Ekberg plays Sylvia, a bombshell movie star visiting Rome to promote her latest movie, and her costumes capture her unbridled sex appeal. Made in 1960, La Dolce Vita features beautiful, uncomplicated costume design by Piero Gherardi that transports you to Rome, and makes me long for an Italian vacation/shopping spree!





Printed Perfection

 I feel it’s kind of strange to characterize ‘prints’ as a trend given how broad and vague the word is, but nevertheless, I do. This season designers have gone batshit crazy with prints and I feel the need to discuss it. I am drawn to prints like a moth to light, yet never wear them and it kills me. I can’t explain it, and won’t even try. All I can say is that now I have some great inspiration for future print-centric outfits!  
 

Rebecca Taylor S/S 2011



 

Loewe S/S 2011

 At style.com they have the highlights of this trend showcased, with Carven, Missoni and Rebecca Taylor as my top three picks for the trend. Elle.com also has a great slide show featuring their top picks, of which I loved Dior and Loewe. 

Carven S/S 2011





Dior S/S 2011



 

Hooray for online shopping! I am a bit fixated on this Bird by Juicy Couture 'Waterfall' Maxi Dress. I think it is an excellent find because it combines the prints trend with the maxi dress style that is everywhere this season. Another example of the maxi and print trend combo is this Zimmermann Labyrinth Twist Long Dress. This dress is just gorgeous. I wish I a) had the money to buy it, and b) had the bod to rock it. another hot style this season is accordion pleats, and the Tucker Pleated Knee Length Skirt combines that style with a super cute polkadot print. The batik print on the L.A.M.B. 'Signature Williamsfield' Tote is so freaking cool and also fits perfectly with this trend.

My only advice for this trend is mix with caution. I'm not saying it can't be done, in fact I think when it is done right mixing patterns looks totally cool. But much like booze, mixing too many different prints can make you look like a hot mess that no one wants to talk to.

Exhibit A (Love you Amy!) 

This trend made me think of my current favorite movie ever, Bridesmaids. I love, love, love basically everything Kristen Wiig’s character Annie wore. Whoever was in charge of costume design totally rocked it. Annie’s staples included blazers, printed dresses and some kick-ass snakeskin pumps. 


Kristen Wiig and Chris O'Dowd in Bridesmaids

I think next week I might try something new for the blog… Stay tuned!