It seems that I am still in a Betty Grable mood! The films for this week both star the starlet and are great fashion inspirations, each in their own way. The main film I chose is A Yank in the R.A.F. (1941). I saw this for the first time a few weeks ago and fell in love with Tyrone Power all over again. :) I also loved that Grable was shown as an "everyday" girl in the film, wearing dresses that can be found today by us vintage gals. The film presents a lot of practical, obtainable looks, thus making it my main film.
Travis Banton did the costumes for this film and while it says he designed them himself, I am thinking that a lot of the street clothing for Grable might have been things off the rack. Her two showgirl costumes are brilliant, sparkly, and great looks for your inner pin-up. It seems that Banton worked a quite a few Grable films, which is probably why she looked so good, he knew her shape and what looked best on her. Banton also designed the gowns for Claduette Colbert in Cleopatra (1934), which if you haven't seen you should, it's ever so scandalous with Claduette taking a milk bath. I think I might actually do a whole post on this film!
I am sure many of you have seen Pin-Up Girl (1944), but I just had to mention it since I feel it is one of Grable's most stylish films. Rene Hubert designed the iconic costumes for this film and worked with the likes of Vivien Leigh and Merle Oberon. One of my favorite costumes in this film is the pajamas Grable wears on the train. Yellow is my favorite color, so maybe I am a little bias, but I think they are just divine. I also like the green suit she trades with her friend at the Navy office, that is such a cute outfit, complete with matching handbag!
Both films are available on DVD and Pin-Up Girl is a streaming video on Netflix. I wanted to let you guys know that Film Fashion Friday will be on a short break until after my graduation. Posts will resume on April 30th and I am going to do musicals the whole month of May, starting off on the April 30th post. I got some requests for some musicals, so I will do my best to include some favorites and some you may not be familiar with. Until then, keep sending the requests and FFF will be back in two weeks!
Emily
2 comments:
I can totally see shades of Betty Grable in you. You'd look fantastic in the looks from these films, which I must rewatch!
I can't wait for the musicals!
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