Blog Archives

A Practical Must-Have: Why Everyone Should Keep a Tote Bag by Their Side

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Picture this: You’re out and about running errands or exploring the city when suddenly you find yourself in need of an extra hand. Maybe it’s a spontaneous shopping spree, unexpectedly
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Moulin Rouge (2001)

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Moulin Rouge was undoubtedly a feast for sartorialists and designers everywhere. Catherin Martin and Angus Strathie created a vision of celebration and pageantry in their portrayal of this dark fairytale,
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Working Girl (1988)

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Making a role model of a character in a film is a sure fire way to get set trends. Melanie Griffith plays Tess McGill in working girl, a secretary whose
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The Untouchables (1987)

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Films have long since been credited for helping designers become household names. Suit guru Armani was no different. Having provided the wardrobe for many films including The Untouchables, he transformed
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Dirty Dancing (1987)

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Dirty Dancing The fashion in this 1987 film is pivotal in showing the differences in class divides and social cliques. Frances ‘Baby’ houseman and her sister get taken on a
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Out of Africa (1985)

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Even though the safari trend had been visited on catwalks before this film came out, we can thank it for bringing the trend worldwide appeal. Meryl Streep’s effortless ethnic style
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The Three Days of the Condor (1975)

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The Three Days of the Condor Robert Redford´s trend setting ways reached an all-time high when he simultaneously filmed The Great Gatsby and Three days of the Condor. Although the
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The Stepford Wives (1975)

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This film coined a term in fashion that we still use today. It represents the New England country chic made popular by immaculate housewives in rural USA. Think Laura Ashley
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Shaft (1971)

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Set in the disco era of the seventies, civil rights and black power movements were well underway and shaft became the first film to promote the black man as movie
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The Eyes of Laura Mars (1970)

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  Fashion is everywhere in this film, mainly because Faye Dunnaway’s character is a glamorous fashion photographer, but one with a twist. She specialises in stylised violence, so her style
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Barbarella (1968)

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This cult classic is noted for the opening sequence in which Jane Fonda performs a striptease in zero gravity. The costumes, designed by Paco Rabanne, were the epitome of what
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Two for the Road (1967)

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Audrey Hepburn‘s outfits in Two for the road certainly made a statement. The clothes were not designed for the film but bought off the rack and styled particularly for Audrey’s
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Far from the Madding Crowd (1967)

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Set in Victorian England, this film was not typical of the 1960s style. Alan Barrett was nominated for a BAFTA for best costume design as he encapsulated life in rural
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The Birds (1963)

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Hitchcocks involvement in every aspect of his productions was inevitable, so Edith head didnt have much to play with when he asked her to stick to a green and blue
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Lolita (1962)

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If you think Lolita you picture heart shaped sunglasses and a seductive lolipop. The iconic glasses, however, were only used in the publicity poster, in the film Lolita wears cat
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La Dolce Vita (1960)

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The parallels between fashion and film are unclear. Fashion designers will use film trends to inspire new collections and cinematic costume designers always make sure they are following catwalk trends.
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Auntie Mame (1958)

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It is a difficult task to find a fashion trend for which you cant reference Auntie Mame. Her bohemian elegance sees her wearing evening dresses and sequined ensembles around the
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Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)

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Elizabeth Taylor had a mere three costume changes in this film but they were definitely memorable ones. The costume designer Helen Rose kept it simple but with immaculate tailoring and
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Rear Window (1954)

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With only 5 costume changes throughout this film, Grace Kelly and costume designer Edith Head still managed to produce an iconic look. They created a ballerina type style with grand
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From Here to Eternity (1953)

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From Here to Eternity was a war time film starring Montgomery Clift, Frank Sinatra and Burt Lancaster as soldiers stationed in Hawaii leading up to the attacks on Pearl Harbour.
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Pat and Mike (1952)

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Orry Kelly strikes again with this sporty film starring Katherine Hepburn as an exceptional athlete. It is a hard task to find a film in which the actress doesn’t set
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A Place in the Sun (1951)

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Edith Head rears her talent once again in this revered black and white film that won an academy award for best costume design. Edith had a challenge on her hands
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To Have and Have Not (1944)

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Fashion model Lauren Bacall was spotted on the front cover of Harper’s Bazaar by the wife of film director Howard Hawkes, who urged her husband to cast her in the
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Laura (1944)

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Bonnie Cashin, the costume designer for this film, brought about a more demure, casual style in Gene Tierny’s outfits. In an era where leading ladies were being dressed in Hollywood
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The Outlaw (1943)

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As Jane Russell’s clothes get more and more revealing as the film progresses, it’s fair to say that her ‘assets’ play a staring role in it. Western style films have
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Now Voyager (1942)

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Now Voyager stars Bette Davis in a film about a young insecure woman who is constantly put down by her mother. Fashion is used to show the change in the
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Every Day’s a Holiday (1937)

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With the gowns in this film designed by Elsa Schiaparelli, Coco Chanel’s rival, this film was bound to be full of glamour and extravagance. The designer of couture and surreal
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Desire (1936)

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Travis Banton was a Paramount costume designer during the studios hey day in the 1930s and 40s. He often worked closely with director Josef von Sternberg, cinematographer Lee Garmes and
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Little Women (1933)

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As a novel this story was one of the most influencial pieces of its time. It brought about issues of feminism and women were begining to realise that individuality and
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Letty Lynton (1932)

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With gowns by costume designer Adrian draped over glamourous Joan Crawford, how could this film not be a cinematic fashion feast? It gained notortiety not only for being banned in
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Pandora´s Box (1929)

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Louise Brooks once said, “A well dressed woman, even though her purse is painfully empty, can conquer the world”. That could have been the motto of Lulu, the role that
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Alice in Wonderland (2010)

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Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland supplied the world with a new brand and everyone jumped on the product bandwagon. Costume designer, Colleen Atwood, who is renowed for other productions such
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Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010)

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Much like the first movie, Wall Street 2 conveyed the impeccable power suits of the traders of Wall Street. Because men’s business fashion had been established for a long time, this
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Sex and the City 2 (2010)

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Sex and the City 2 was much like the first in that the fashion was outrageously celebrated. Patricia Field, the costume designer said “People always ask me , How are
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A Single Man (2009)

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When I learned Tom Ford was directing and producing a feature film starring Colin Firth I was surprised to say the least, but knowing his penchant for perfection and immaculate style, I
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Coco before Chanel (2009)

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Coco before Chanel is an accurate portrayal of the fashion designers path to fame and how she became known for her iconic label. Giorgio Armani called her “the most elegant woman who’s ever
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The September Issue (2009)

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The September issue is a documentary based on the production of the 2007 September issue of Vogue magazine. It follows Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington, the magazines fashion director, throughout the development,
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Sex and the City (2008)

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Throughout The sex and the city series, women, girls (and some boys even) followed the exquisite styles and lives of The Sex and the City women. There were ups and
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Atonement (2007)

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Kiera Knightly is the perfect blank canvas on which to display the elegant 1930s fashion of the film Atonement. The sartorial beauty of this film is rife from the full piece bathing
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Marie Antoinette (2006)

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Sophia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette is every bit as sartorial and visually pleasing as a fashion shoot. The film is based on the life of the eighteenth century queen, who after
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The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

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This film had less of an influence on fashion than fashion was the influence for the film.  Based on a book exposing the inner workings of a high fashion magazine,
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Kill Bill – Vol. 1 (2003)

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A Tarantino movie about “The bride”, Uma Thurman, who draws up an assassination plot against her ex-lover Bill and his entourage as revenge for ambushing her wedding day and killing
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The Virgin Suicides (1999)

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In the mid-nineties when the mood was predominantly grungy, hip hop or Goth, the virgin suicides brought a softer feminine pallet to fashion. A story about 5 sisters who commit a
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The Talented Mr Ripley (1999)

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Filmed mainly in Italy, the elegant Mediterranean location, the beautiful cast of the film and the sartorial genius meant that The Talented Mr Ripley was bound to be an aesthetical
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The Fifth Element (1997)

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When it comes to designing for science fiction movies, There are few designers that fit the bill, but I can think of none better for the task than Jean Paul Gaultier.
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Evita (1996)

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Eva Peron was an icon, not only to women of Argentina, but to women of the world. Her marriage to the Argentine President Juan Peron and surge into political importance
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Clueless (1995)

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The Nineties were all about grunge. Even before bands like Nirvana became popular people were wearing flannel shirts, baggy thread bear jeans and scuffed Dr. Martens. Clueless brought forward a much
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Pulp Fiction (1994)

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Mrs. Mia Wallace, the epitome of cool sexy, she sweeps us into her life with her gentle mysteriousness and we want to exude her kind of confidence. The scene in
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Reservoir Dogs(1992)

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  Reservoir dogs attitude to fashion was a stylistic one. It was the first production from Quentin Tarantino and only gained most of it popularity after the success of Tarantino’s
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Pretty Woman (1990)

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Pretty woman showed us that popular culture can make anything fashionable. A controversial subject matter about a prostitute being accidentally picked up by a wealthy businessman looking for directions, it
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Xanadu (1990)

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This fantasy romance did not drum much popularity at the time of release, but over the years has accrued a cult following to become a classic of the Eighties. The
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Heathers (1989)

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The 1980s was a decade mainly about cliques and social class divides. The reflection of this in fashion and film was not subtle and Heathers was no different. A black
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Beetlejuice (1988)

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One of Tim Burton’s earlier films, and in true Burton style, Beetlejuice is visually both disturbing and beautiful. The plot of the film lends itself to the style of wardrobe,
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Wall Street (1987)

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The theme that “greed is good” in this movie is very clearly reflected in the styles of the characters. The slicked back hair and red braces worn with impeccably tailored
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Pretty in Pink (1987)

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Pretty in Pink is another of John Hughes’ contributions to The Brat Pack collection of films. Molly Ringwald plays an awkward, unconfident working class student who falls in love with
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The Breakfast Club (1985)

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This 1985 film being another of John Hughes’ films (including Sixteen Candles and Pretty in Pink) starring Molly Ringwald, and the first in identifying The Brat Pack, The Breakfast Club plays on the differences
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Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)

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This film might have more aptly been called Desperately seeking Susan’s wardrobe. At the height of the 80s glam rock era, the fun and frivolity of Susan’s style conveys a carefree life
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Sixteen Candles (1984)

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Molly Ringwald, a rising star of the 1980s is the leading actress in this teen romantic comedy and was one of the original Brat pack, a group of teenagers who appeared together
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Purple Rain (1984)

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Prince definitely had a unique style which pervaded his career. His high pitched voice was unique in its way, his penchant for shocking his fans was evident in him changing
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The Cotton Club (1984)

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With the Gangster theme being popular of films in the late seventies and eighties, Francis Ford Coppola went back to the routes of the subject and focused on the 1920s prohibition jazz joint The Cotton
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Risky Business (1983)

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This 1983 film is based on a high school graduate and his summer of freedom. When his parents go away on a trip, he takes advantage of the situation, raiding
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Flash dance (1983)

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Flashdance, despite being canned by the critics, was dubbed “a preposterous success” by the guardian upon its release. Its success meant the youth of the eighties started following dance fashion, which included
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Scarface (1983)

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This 1983 film was great for showcasing the shiny disco fashions of the early eighties and what better mannequin for the gorgeous clothes than the rake thin Michelle Pfeiffer. Patricia Norris, the
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Blade Runner (1982)

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Moving away from the classic, floaty styles of the seventies, Blade runner’s futuristic theme brought minimalism and cyberpunk to fashion. All high shoulderpads and figure hugging darks, the femme fatale look
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American Gigolo (1980)

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Despite this films controversial subject matter, the popularity of it helped kick-start the career of one of the greatest designers of our time. Richard Gere’s young, glamorous, charismatic character with
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Quadrophenia (1979)

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Made in 1979, Quadrophenia is a true and accurate portrayal of the mod culture of the 60‘s (which became popular again in the late 70‘s) It’s a story of mods versus rockers
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Grease (1978)

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This film, made in 1978 but set in the 1950s was the highest grossing movie of 1978 and the highest grossing musical of all time. It is a musical centred around a
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Saturday Night Fever (1977)

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Saturday Night Fever is probably one of the most frequently referenced films relating to seventies fashion. 1970s disco era is what most people think of when discussing the decades trends and Saturday
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Annie Hall (1977)

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In an era of mini dresses, floaty maxi dresses, high platformed shoes and coiffed hair Diane Keaton brought androgyny to the forefront. She made it acceptable for women to wear
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Grey Gardens (1975)

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“Little Edie” Beale’s eccentricity and (more likely) lack of funds made her an accidental style icon and gave a new idea to the fashion world: that specific items don’t have
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Chinatown (1974)

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Chinatown is a neo-noir film directed by Roman Polanski (also known for Rosemary’s Baby and The Pianist), considered so for featuring many aspects typical of a noir classic; particularly a multi-layered story
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The Great Gatsby (1974)

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This 1925 novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald was adapted into a silent film in 1926, again in 1949, then in 1974 and 2000 and will be a Baz Lurman production
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Ciao Manhattan (1972)

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This Avant-garde cult classic centres around the life of its star, Edie Sedgwick. Although not a documentary, it is very closely linked to the events of her past. Dubbed Andy Warhol’s
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A Clockwork Orange (1971)

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With the nature of this film being mainly centred around murder and violence, it was considered a landmark in the relaxation of violence in cinema. Based on a novel of
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Love Story (1970)

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Love story brought to the forefront the geeky bookish fashion we still see today that was prevalent in the Seventies. It tells the tragic love story of two university students
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The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)

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Theadora Van Runkle was hired as the costume designer for this film at the recommendation of Faye Dunnaway with whom she worked on Bonnie & Clyde. Dunnaway was so impressed
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Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

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  Copyright © 1968 Paramount Pictures Vidal Sassoon, famous for creating the monochrome “mod” look, was responsible for the head turning (sorry) from the audience of Rosemary’s baby. Although Polanski
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Valley of the Dolls (1967)

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This ultra feminine 1960s film based on a Jacqueline Susann novel of the same name, focuses on the lives of 3 girls from small time America who dream of making it big
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Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

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Theadora Von Runkle translated the lives and style of the 1930s gang duo into stylish and classy for this movie released in 1967. The real Bonnie and Clyde were shabby chic in
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Belle de Jour (1967)

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The risky subject matter ensured this film would be an arty success, but out of it came a marriage made in fashion. Yves Saint Laurent started his career designing costumes for film
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Blow Up (1966)

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This film depicted what the world knew about the fashion world at the time but never voiced. A day in the life of a fashion photographer, inspired by David Bailey, it
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8 1/2(1963)

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This Avant-garde highly innovative film directed by Federico Fellini centers around an Italian director with creative block and delves into his fantasies in a dream like sequence that regularly blurs
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The Pink Panther (1963)

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Staring 1960s fashion model Capucine who worked for fashion houses such as Givenchy and Christian Dior, and Hollywood beauty Claudia Cardinale this film was bound to be sartorially pleasing. Throw in designs by Yves Saint Laurent and
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Cleopatra (1963)

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   Copyright © 1963 Twentieth Century Fox Cleopatra was one of the highest costing films of its time, at just  over $44 million (which is the equivalent of $320 million
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Le Mepris (1963)

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Brigitte Bardot’s clothes (when dressed) in this film goes long ways to inspiring 1960s vintage looks today. Kylie Minogue directly referenced the style in the cover of her 2003 album, Body Language.
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Dr. No (1962)

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The first of all Bond films gave rise to the most iconic,and certainly the one everyone refers back to when thinking of the classic Bond Girl. After the success and
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West Side Story (1961)

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West side story when adapted from a Broadway production to film, took its costume designer with it.  Irene Sharaff second only to Edith Head in winning 5 academy awards, complimented
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Breakfast at Tiffany´s (1961)

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This being an early Sixties film it still had the style and glamour of the 1950s woman but was a milestone in portraying the more independent, carefree person the woman of the Sixties was
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Funny Face (1957)

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An Edith Head and Hubert de Givenchy collaboration in Audrey Hepburn’s first great musical production, this film was another of Edith’s nominations for an academy award for costume design. Fred Astaire as a fashion
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And God Created Woman (1957)

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Style icons are not just picked out of the sky, they are born from a well played character, a person others aspire to be, someone who appeals to ones desires.
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High Society (1956)

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This film, based on The Philadelphia Story with exactly the same plot, marked the last film role for Grace Kelly before she became the Princess of Monaco. It was also the first production on
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The Seven Year Itch (1955)

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The seven year itch gave us to this day one of the most iconic images of our time. Marilyn Monroe in The White Dress.Every jaw hit the floor and every person labelled her
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To Catch a Thief (1955)

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The French Riviera, Grace Kelly, Cary Grant; Alfred Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief was bound to be aesthetically beautiful and Edith Head didn’t disappoint. As Grace Kelly’s last performance as an actress before
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Rebel Without a Cause (1955)

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For the same reasons the motorcycle Jacket was so popular after The Wild Ones, the plain white t-shirt and jeans look became the style of the decade because of James Dean’s
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The Wild One (1954)

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Film ensured that the 1950s was an important era for men’s fashion. The wild one brought us a broody and rebellious motorcycle gang with Marlon Brando playing the lead. It was the first film
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Sabrina (1954)

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This was the film through which Audrey Hepburn was discovered as a muse by Hubert de Givenchy. She was sent to Paris to meet with a couturier who would design a gown for
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Roman Holiday (1953)

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Roman Holiday was nominated for and won an academy award, not only for Audrey Hepburn’s portrayal of crown Princess Ann but also for best costume designed by Edith Head.  This was
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Lady In the Dark (1944)

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Edith Head was another leading costume designer in the golden age of Hollywood. She worked at Paramount for 43 years and during her career was nominated for 34 academy awards,
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Casablanca (1942)

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1940s: The golden age of Hollywood, a time when glamour was at its peak and actresses like Ingrid Bergman were setting the world on fire. People were looking for light relief from
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Gilda (1946)

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Rita Hayworth plays the ultimate femme fatale in this aesthetically glamorous film about deception and corruption. She exudes sexuality so much so that one of the most memorable scenes from this
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The Philadelphia Story (1940)

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One of Manolo Blahnik’s favourite black and white movies, The Philadelphia story tells the tale of a sophisticated society lady about to marry until a last minute twist of events
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The Women (1939)

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Gilbert Adrian was the head costume designer for Metro Goldwyn Mayer in the 1930s and 1940s most famed for his evening gowns, brought to the forefront by this film in abundance. The film, which
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Gone with the Wind (1939)

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1937 and Vogue magazine showed the first society women model fashion. Vivien Leigh was among these and naturally became a style icon, so when Scarlett O’Hara came to life in 1939 there
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Bringing Up Baby (1938)

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Howard Greer, the lead costume designer in the golden age of Hollywood, did not disappoint in this flirty comedy about a rather dippy heiress who falls for a palaeontologist and
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It Happened One Night (1934)

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This was a film of high society and fashionable people, mainly men as Clarke Gable exuded gentlemanly presence. Claudette Colbert wears the same outfit practically throughout the movie. But It
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