Three Great Movies with Fashion to Adore

Movies are a wonderful way to be entertained, relax and have some escapism. One of the things I like to see in movies is great fashion or costume design. Costume designers are an integral part of a movie since they must choose wardrobe that is suited for the characters, the time period, and the setting. They collaborate with the production team to ensure their vision is met. From experience with an assignment in Fashion History class, this is no small feat. Hat’s off to the great films and great costume designers!

This movie was charming from the beginning and was a surprise hit to the critics. I am always a sucker for the underdog and this is one of the reasons I enjoy this movie and own it in my library.

This movie is centered on Elle Woods, played by Reese Witherspoon. All through college, she was the hit of her sorority and expected to marry her college sweetheart. Little did she know that he had other plans. She charms her way into Harvard Law School, not just with her personality, but with her grades as well.

Throughout the movie, Elle primarily wears pink everything, almost from head to toe. Very Malibu Barbie like. One of the things that was so endearing about Elle was that she was always herself, especially in her fashion. Her over the top pinks, furs and bling did not coincide with what was worn on campus at Harvard. She struggles to fit in. Through the encouragement of her manicurist, (as well as an insult from her ex-boyfriend), she does a 180 and transforms her mindset on excelling in school and changing her fashion to match the environment. She sticks to more neutrals, black and white ensembles. At the end, Elle succeeds, not only in her career, but in her personal life as well. During the last scene of the movie, as she fights to prove her law firms client innocent, Elle realizes that she would never be truly happy unless she is one hundred percent herself. She shows her unique sense of fashion in an A-Line, V-Neck Neck pink dress with a sequined belt around her waist. It goes to show you, be yourself, even in your fashion.

Note: Other great fashions to see in the movie are donned by Raquel Welch (who manages to stay stunning after all these years). Her style is polished and sophisticated.

There is something about the fashion of the 1940’s I adore. This is one of the time periods in the movie The Notebook. The story is based off a novel by Nicolas Sparks. In the movie, a man reads from a note book to an elderly woman in a nursing home. The story tells the tale of two lovers from different social circles who are pulled apart by family. In addition, the female lead character, Allie Hamilton, is torn between the person her family wants her to marry and the man she feels is her true love. This is a heartwarming love story. Sure to bring about some tears. Through the scenes set in the 1940s, Allie, is dressed in some fabulous fashions from the era. The styles are very feminine, impeccably tailored with a mixture of fun and sophistication. I adore the swim suits in the movie. Boy shorts, similar to those in the movie are worn very often by singer Beyonce. Showing you that some styles never really fade away.

For me, this movie is one of my favorites. Although I read the book first and loved that even more, there is so much to enjoy, from the storyline to the fashion. In just about every scene, there is high fashion from Prada, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana and many more.

The main character is Amanda Sachs, who aspires to be a serious journalist, but ends up getting her start at Runway Magazine, a widely popular fashion magazine. Fashion is the last thing on Amanda’s mind as she throws on whatever fits and is clean. Quickly, she comes to realize that to work for a fashion magazine, you have to look the part. Her demanding boss and work schedule starts to tear her personal life apart as she struggles to balance both. With all the chaos going on, the fashion in the film remains in-tact and is superbly done.

At the end, Amanda chooses to create a healthy work-life balance and return to who she was before her stint at Runway magazine. The fashion however, never faded away.

All three of these movies are enjoyable and lend to fashion admiration and inspiration. Let's go to the movies! (At home).

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Notebook_%28film%29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Devil_Wears_Prada_%28film%29