This article first appeared in Fashion Journal, Issue 96, March 2010
When Thomas Burberry submitted a design for an army officer raincoat in 1901, little did he know that 110 years later, his trench coat would have become a wardrobe staple for any self respecting fashion mister or sister. From Rick Blaine in Casablanca (1942) to Holly Golightly and her knotted belt in Breakfast at Tiffanys (1961), the humble trench coat has found its way from functionality to fashion via the magic of the movies.
The silver screen has experienced a fashion resurgence in recent years with films such as Avatar (2009) lending itself to futuristic dresses and a colour palette the people of Pandora would be proud of; Twilight (2007) giving our outfits a dark and gothic edginess and Marie Antoinette (2006) reintroducing lace, ruffles and elegance to our wardrobes. Fashion from film is not just a recent trend as these examples show but a phenomenon that has been occurring for decades. Each season, classic trends developed on film for over 100 years are given a modern interpretation and reinvented time and time again.
A white shirt is among the most iconic style moments of film that has experienced many seasons worth of designer fodder since its fifteen minutes of fame. Who can forget (or stop themselves from acting it out) the scene from Risky Business (1983) with Tom Cruise in a white shirt, socks and a bit of Old Time Rock and Roll? Uma Thurman’s white shirt in Pulp Fiction (1994) shaped a series of key looks featuring tailored androgynous dressing, originally stemming from Diane Keaton’s Annie Hall (1977) where she famously wore masculine shirts, ties and vests. Molly Ringwald also channelled this look with a more feminine edge in Pretty in Pink (1986). Even the simple white tee shirt was etched in fashion history after a buff Marlon Brando wore one with jeans and a leather jacket in The Wild One (1953) and James Dean soon after in Rebel Without a Cause (1955). Danny Zuko broke hearts in Grease (1978) (and while we are on the subject of Grease, leather look leggings anyone?) and just 6 years later Some Kind of Wonderful (1986) saw the look go to the girls with the style paving the way for rock chic and punk over the coming decades.
Every girl has one (or several) in her closest – it is the first date dress, the meet the parents dress, the job interview dress – the Little Black Dress (LBD). Chanel started the trend in the 1920s but fashion icon Audrey Hepburn wore it best in the early ‘60s, donning a Givenchy sheath in Breakfast at Tiffanys and accessorizing perfectly with a string of pearls and a tiara – exactly the chic statement Chanel had envisioned. While the tiara might not have stood the test of time, the LBD is now a staple in seasonal designer collections and was most recently notable on the fashionable ladies of Sex and the City in their first film. While the LDB is the height of sophistication, there are many other dresses with that star element worn on the big screen that have come to influence our fashion choices today. Marilyn Munro will forever be immortalized by her halter neck white dress worn while standing scandalously over a subway vent in The Seven Year Itch (1955), Keira Knightly’s minimalist 1930s emerald green silk dress in Atonement (1997) was voted best costume of all time and Vivien Leigh’s Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind (1939) will not only be remembered for her ability to manipulate but also her spectacularly embellished gowns. The colours, styles and features of these frocks have all made appearances in modern wardrobes and continue to influence our style of dress.
There are so many fashionable film moments to feature that this piece could go on about that Dr. No (1962) bikini, 80s dancewear from Fame (1980) and thigh high boots in Pretty Woman (1990) – every film has something to add to the fashion history vault. While I’d personally love to see the return of delicate gloves, knee high socks and the bow tie, the coming A/W 2010 trends focus on a futuristic look, possibly a nod towards Back to the Future (1985) which was actually set in 2015 – perhaps a sign of things to come?
Image One: Double Breasted Cotton Trench Coat $1,395.00 at Burberry
Image Two: D&G Long sleeve shirt $185.00 by D&G at YOOX
Image Three: Halston Heritage One Shoulder Dress with Sequin Epaulet $495.00 by Halston at shopbop.com
