From Nick Hornby’s BAFTA
winning and Academy
Award® nominated adaption of Colm Toibin’s novel Brooklyn
comes an epic transcontinental romance
between Irish immigrant Eilis (Saoirse Ronan) and an Italian-American
(Emory Cohen), who meet after Eilis moves to Brooklyn in pursuit of a
better future. Not only is Brooklyn an
emotional journey of life, love, and loss, but it is also a homage to
the fabulous fashion of the time period. So to mark Brooklyn’s
February 29th
Blu-Ray, DVD, and Digital
HD release we take a look at iconic films
that celebrate the fashion of the fifties.
Brooklyn
First and foremost, let’s
talk about Brooklyn.
Part of the film’s appeal, besides the incredible acting and
riveting storyline, is the fashion and how true it stayed to the
time. Eilis’s story is subtly reflected through the costumes chosen
by Emmy-winning designer Odile Dicks-Mireaux, as there is an evident
change in style that coincides with both Eilis’s move to America
from Ireland and her evolving emotional state. As she begins to
overcome her homesickness and become more confident in her new
country, her outfits in turn become more vibrant and bold. The
dazzling fashion choices in Brooklyn
earned the film a BAFTA nomination and Critic’s Choice Award
nomination for Best Costume.
Grease
The American musical
chronicling the romance between Sandy (Olivia Newton-John) and Danny
(John Travolta) is a classic in more ways than one. From the songs
everyone knows to the Pink Ladies and T-Bird’s individual styles,
this movie is a great depiction of high school life in the 50s.
Sandy’s style evolves throughout the movie, as she starts out as a
good girl in full skirts and pastel sweater sets and ends in the
iconic all-black, tight leather outfit. The T-Bird’s show off their
greaser style in leather bombers while the Pink Ladies rock their
varsity-style pink jackets, cat eye glasses, and pencil skirts. It’s
a very different 50’s style from what we see in Brooklyn,
but it only goes to show the diversity of the time period.
Pleasantville
This 1998 film stars Toby
Maguire and Reese Witherspoon as twin siblings living in the 90s who
get stuck inside the TV show Pleasantville,
a black and white sitcom about an idyllic family living in the 50s.
While the siblings try to maintain the storyline of the show and act
as the characters would, their presence slowly starts to change the
landscape of the town, making it colourful, modern, and riddled with
social issues reflective of the time period. What is also mirrored
well is the fashion of the time, as poignant in black and white as in
colour. While the poodle skirts and letterman jackets make their
usual appearance, what works even better are the adorned cardigans,
gingham shirts, and retro hues.
Grace of Monaco
Nicole Kidman assumes the
role of Grace Kelly in this biopic about her tumultuous marriage to
Prince Rainier III (Tim Roth) during a time of political disputes
between Rainier and France’s Charles de Gaulle. The elegance of the
era and Grace Kelly’s social standing is displayed through chic
suiting and exquisite gowns, meticulously handcrafted by costume
designer Gigi Lepage. Grace Kelly’s silk head scarves with
sunglasses show the reserved glamour of the time period in Monaco,
and the fancy dresses illustrate her wealth and standing.
Far From Heaven
This film, set in 1957,
tells the story of Cathy Whitaker (Julianne Moore), a doting
housewife to a seemingly perfect family; healthy and happy kids,
loving husband (Dennis Quaid), and strong social standing. However,
when Cathy discovers her husband’s secret life, her own life begins
to spin out of control and she struggles to regain a sense of
normalcy. What does remain constant is Cathy’s classic sense of
fashion. She truly captures that quintessential 50s American
housewife look with her elegant scarves, full skirts, and chic
sunglasses. The bright clothes, refined hairstyle, pastel cars, and
style of housing all work together to recreate what life looked like
in 1950s suburbia.
Gentleman Prefer
Blondes
Both filmed and set in the
1950s, Gentleman Prefer Blondes stars
style icon Marilyn Monroe. Adapted from the stage play, it features
several musical numbers, including Marilyn Monroe’s rendition of
“Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend.” One of the most memorable
aspects of not only the song but the movie (and why it’s making
this list) is the famous pink dress Marilyn Monroe wears during the
song. The outfit is completed with matching long pink gloves almost
to her shoulders, short blonde curls in a style typical for the time
period, and plenty of diamonds. The outfit instantly became
legendary, and after filming sold in auction for over $300,000.
Nowhere Boys
This biopic focuses on
John Lennon’s teenage years, his turbulent relationship with his
mother and aunt, and the discovery of his love for rock and roll. In
a period where teenagers were angsty and misunderstood, Lennon turned
to music and realised that rock and roll wasn’t just a genre, but a
lifestyle. That lifestyle incorporated fashion as well. Lennon’s
style had been suppressed by all-boys school uniforms, but once he
discards those restraints, his true fashion sense develops. The
slicked up hair and suits with attitude were essential to the
Rockabilly look, and are part of what makes Lennon so iconic to this
day.
***
Brooklyn
arrives on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital
HD from the 29th
of February courtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment