Wikipedia Page Check In

As some of you may have seen, I did a blog post on Elizabeth Taylors Wikipedia page. In this post I discuss how I was shocked to find that Elizabeths iconic green dress from the film Suddenly Last Summer did not make it into the section about her style and jewelry; two things she is very well known for.

I edited the post to include the information I found relevant, and gladly, it hasn't been changed since I edited the page. Hopefully other Liz Taylor fans in the world appreciate the new addition!

How To Dress Like Your Favorite Female Movie Characters

Dressing like a movie character is a popular choice for Halloween or a costume party. Here are a few ways you can achieve looking like you favorite movie character. I have included links to the products listed to make recreating these looks easier.

Gwyneth Paltrow in The Royal Tenenbaums

To achieve this look, all you will need is a brown purse, a fur jacket, a short blonde wig, a red hair clip, and pink gloves.

Winona Ryder in Heathers

To look like Winona Ryders character Veronica in Heathers, all you will need is an off the shoulder grey sweater, a black overall dress, and a shiny broach.

Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction 

This outfit is probably the easiest to recreate. To look like Uma Thurman from Pulp fiction, all you will need is a white button up shirt, a black wig with bangs, and black dress pants. 

I hope this how-to has helped you find some inspiration for you next costume party!

Self-Styled Siren's Blog Post

I was recently scouring the internet for a blog similar to my own. After a few pages in of a Google search, I came across a blog about film. The Self-Styled Siren writes mostly movie reviews on classic films, but a post I came across from 2010 discusses her top 10 greatest moments of costume design. Though it is an older post, The Siren still blogs regularly. I am thrilled to find this post as my blog tends to discuss costumes from more recent films while her post discusses movies from the past. Here are my favorites from her list.

Jean Seberg in Breathless

The birth of the t-shirt and tight pants look. Not only does she look effortless and careless, her attitude reflects it too. 

Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina

This one didn't need to convince me of its merit on this list. Designed but Givenchy, Hepburn exudes glamour, sophistication, and confidence. The Siren exequently states the following: 

 "Sabrina, the lovelorn chaffeur's daughter, has learned poise and confidence, the essential elements of style. Even the least observant visitor to Paris sees that a fashionable Frenchwoman wears chic clothing because she IS self-assured, not because she WANTS to be. This, this is what Paris and a genius designer can do for you!" 

Kay Francis in Mandalay

I had never heard of Kay Francis before or this movie, but I can see why she would make The Sirens list. In her silver dress, she looks eye catching and stunning. Any film buff can see how impactful a dress like that can have on the costume and film industry.

I really enjoyed The Sirens blog post. It has been hard finding other blogs similar to my own, so I am excited to find another blog to keep up with.

The Parent Trap: 1998 vs 1961

In a previous post I made, I wrote how the costumes of The Parent Trap express not only character development of the twins, but symbolizes their newfound family bond.

Since the 1998 version of the movie is a remake, I wanted to find similarities in the costumes from the original 1961 film starring Hayley Mills. The 1998 version echos choices made in the original film. The costumes in both films play on the differences the twins have.

Sharon and Annie

 Sharon is the posh, sophisticated twin with long hair; a element kept in the 1998 version. Annie, though British, is refined and classy. Both girls live with their mother, and arrive at camp in style.

Susan and Hallie

Susan and Hallie are the mirror image of each other. Both raised by their Dad, they are rough and tumble, California girls. They are tomboys, showing up with short hair and feisty attitudes.

Together

When the twins are together, their individual styles are reflected. In both movies, the girls wear individualist pieces while still presenting as a unit. Sharon and Annie present more delicately while Susan and Hallie present stronger. Though each girl still holds her own style, each pair of twins start to look more and more like a cohesive unit.

By the end of the film, the girls are dressing identically or almost identically. This is meant to represent the transition from separate lives into one, familial bond. 

 Both movies, though over 40 years apart, capture the essence of sisterhood, love, and family. These costumes reflect how a family can come together despite many differences.

What Costumes Are Really Trying To Say

The costumes in film aren't just to look at. They are as much a part of the story as the dialogue, plot, scenery, and characters. It is truly the hidden art form of cinema. The website Indie Film Hustle described the role of a costume designer perfectly, "Costume Design plays an essential but seemingly quiet role in making a movie memorable and making the characters awesome, whether the character was meant to blend into their environment or stand out from it. Costumes can be described as aids by which film makers tell their stories."  The costume can inform so much of the movie as well connect the audience to the story.

Indie Film Hustle points out some metaphorical connections between costumes and the time period they take place. For example, Gone with the Wind takes place during the American Civil War era. When Scarlett O'Hara's character attempts to make her own dress, she symbolizes the period of Reconstruction that follows the war.

Another example of how costumes can transmit plot details is the costume design of Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory. While the other characters are dressed to reflect the time period of the late 1800s, Willy Wonka's costume stands out in color and design, showing that he is a person ahead of his time. By making his costume a stark contrast to the rest of the group, Wonka is considered "out of this world," aiding to both the plot line and his personal character development.

When costume design is done right, it quietly and subtly informs the audience about the plot. Without the costumes, big idea moments could not be conveyed discreetly.

Pretty Woman

The year is 1990. Julia Roberts is a young fresh face listed next to hot shot actor Richard Gere. Julia plays a sex worker who makes her way into the heart of a stone cold lawyer. The movie follows Julia's character Vivian as she transitions into a lifestyle of luxury, but her costume in the first half of the movie is iconic. 

Julia wears a tie-dye mini skirt that is attached to a white tank top by a silver ring. She starts off wearing a blonde bob wig, but then lets her red hair flow. Costume designer Marilyn Vance created this look, influencing every generation of Julia Roberts wannabes.

This outfit is easily one of the most recognizable costumes around Halloween. Girls of all ages dress as Vivian and catch the eye of many fans of the movie. Even Julia's own niece Emma Roberts dressed as her one year.

This costume has inspired, impressed, and shaped many female generations since the movies release. This movie not only teaches women to be body positive, proud, and tough, but shows that no matter how anyone dresses, the most important thing in life is inner beauty. No matter how this costume is recreated or worn, it represents a strong female role model. 

Costume Designer Sandy Powell

Sandy Powell is one of the most famous costume designers of the 21th century. Her recent work includes-

• The Young Victoria 
• The Favourite 
• Cinderella 
• Carol 
• The Wolf of Wall Street
• Mary Poppins Returns

Though she has designed costumes for films that take place within the last 20 years, she primarily designs costumes for period pieces. The Young Victoria, The Favourite, and Cinderella all take place somewhere around 1750 to 1880. Powell expertly captures the essence of these time periods by taking into consideration class struggle, popular trends, colors, patterns, and political affairs.

Though movies such as Carol, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Mary Poppins Returns take place more recently, Powell continues her great work on designing costumes for these time periods. The costumes seen in these movies also capture the essence of each time period, displaying complicated topics such as the sadness of the depression, the gender roles of the 50s, and the absurd wealth of the 80s and 90s.

Powell has won many awards for her work. Most recently she has won the following awards.

• British Academy Film Awards (2009, 2018)
• Costume Designer Guild Award (2009, 2018)
• Academy Award (2004, 2009)

Sandy Powell will go down in history as one of the most famous female costume designers. Her work is remarkable, respected, and admired.