Film Fashion Friday: Fashion Show February: Neptune's Daughter (1949)

Okay, here's the last post for today. I ordered them so you could just scroll down to read each one as they build on one another. Enjoy!

Cast

Esther Williams.....Eve Barrett

Red Skelton.....Jack Spratt

Ricardo Montalban.....Jose O'Rourke

Betty Garrett.....Betty Barrett

Keenan Wynn.....Joe Backett

Costumes by Irene

Directed by Edward Buzzell

Synopsis

Scatterbrained Betty Barrett mistakes masseur Jack Spratt for Jose O'Rourke, the captain of the South American polo team. Spratt goes along with the charade, but the situation becomes more complicated when they fall in love. Meanwhile, Betty's sensible older sister Eve fears Betty's heart will be broken when Jose returns to South America. She arranges to meet with the real O'Rourke and love soon blossoms between them as well. (Taken from IMDb).

Fashion Review

I love this movie so all the fantastic fashion is just icing on the cake. What I love most about this film, is to a certain degree, we see what goes on behind the scenes in the fashion world (see first image). Eve is shown sketching designs and even takes us the viewer into the factory where the swimsuits are made. All of the films for today receive a grade of 9 or above (which I didn't take the time to mark down in the two posts above) and I really feel that's due to their plot circling around the fashion world. How could Hollywood present a movie about fashion designers without having a well dressed cast?

I have already done a post on Irene, giving her background and such; so if you are interested, click HERE to be directed to that post. Irene is amazing. I am sure I say that about many of the fashion/costume designers I feature on here, but I truly feel that way. I try to pluck out films that were worked on by designers other than Edith Head and the like. Don't get me wrong, Head is great, but I feel so are some of her contemporaries as well.

Fashion Show Evaluation: Wrap Up

I chose this film to wrap up the posts for today because it combines the ideas found in the other two films selected for today, but does so in a slightly different way. The fashion show sequence in this film is less integrated into the narrative. While we have the two audiences present, we do not see them during the sequence, the spectator sitting in the theatre seat is being directly addressed full on for the duration of the show. So, while the show is part of the narrative, it is presented to us the viewer in a slightly different manner. We also get the posing that is present in the other two films, but the models are not on a runway and more than one model is present at a given time or is alluded to, because there are all assumed to be on the same rock. I think this sequence presents many of the same ideas as the other two do. The swimsuits are being put on display for the viewer and might influence them to go out and purchase something similar because of this movie. We also can find traces of how these swimsuits might make one feel: like a glamour girl or a pin-up. This film is an example example of the idea of "soft promotion," where the fashion show sequence is used as a way to promote clothing sales. This film also "teaches" women how to behave in swimwear, walking gracefully and posing in a slightly seductive manner, possibly in an effort to display one's best assets. However you feel about what these fashion show sequences seek to achieve, I think we can all agree that they are excellent documents of fashion history, giving us vintage gals some spectacular eye candy and fashion inspiration.

Neptune's Daughter is available on DVD and for rental through many services.

Film Fashion Friday: Bachelor Mother (1939)

Film Fashion Friday is back!! I am really excited to be sharing this movie with you all. It's a prefect watch for New Years Eve and supplies a wide range of fashion inspiration for the winter weather and holiday party season.

The Players

Ginger Rogers.....Polly Parrish

David Niven.....David Merlin

Charles Coburn.....J.B. Merlin

Frank Albertson.....Freddie Miller

Directed by Garson Kanin

Gowns by Irene

Synopsis

Polly Parrish works as holiday help for Merlin's Department Store. On her lunch break on her final day she sees a lady leaving a baby on a door stoop. Worried about the child, she picks him up and the agency assumes she is the mother. Polly insists that the child is not hers, that she was only concerned about him rolling off the stoop, but the agency feels Polly is making up her story to cover up being an unwed mother. The agency then approaches Polly's employer, David Merlin to give Polly her job back in order to keep the child and be able to support him. What follows is a series of events that place Polly and David together. Polly eventually becomes attached to the baby and to David. Will David be able to confess his feelings for Polly?

Fashion Review

Bachelor Mother (1939) is one of the many movies I had been patiently waiting for to be released on DVD. I remember a few years ago, watching it in parts on You Tube and falling in love with all the different outfits Ginger Rogers sports. In this role, Rogers really encompasses what many of us vintage gals try to achieve on a daily basis. She is a middle class, working gal which is embodied in her look throughout the film. One of my particularly favorite scenes is when David Niven's character sends for a gown, fur coat, and all the extras to supply a dressy look for Rogers on New Years Eve. What girl wouldn't love to have a beau who owned a department store? :)

Irene designed the gowns for this film and she no doubt selected and put together the other looks for the main female characters in the film. Irene was born in South Dakota in 1901 and went to Wolf School of Design. Although her first career choice was in the music field, her fiance quickly changed her mind and persuaded her to open a dress shop. This event would lead to Irene's influence career in Hollywood. Until she sign a contract with MGM, Irene did freelance work for Paramount, RKO, Columbia, and United Artists out of her Wilshire Costume Design Salon. After her work at MGM, Irene created Irene Inc. which was supported by 25 department stores which were given exclusive rights to Irene designs. I have yet to come across an Irene original in my vintage hunts, but still have hope that some day I might come across one!

Irene also throughout her whole career designed stars personal wardrobes, just as many other costume designers did. What I love about Irene's designs is that no matter what era you are viewing, her work is consistently good. I know that if I am watching a film with Irene deigns, I will get some great gowns and well put together head to toe looks. This idea is truly encompassed in the scene in Bachelor Mother where David has his help get all the items for Polly from stockings and hankies to a fur coat and corsage.

Fashion Grade 8/10 (Love the complete and consistently pulled together looks from scene to scene. Plus, Ginger Roger's hair is also to die for!!)

Bachelor Mother is available on DVD through the Warner Archive Collection and is available to rent through Classicflix.com. It has also been on You Tube in different segments.

Film Fashion Friday: The Thin Man Series

The Thin Man (1934)

After the Thin Man (1936)

Another Thin Man (1939)

Shadow of the Thin Man (1941)

The Thin Man Goes Home (1945)

Song of the Thin Man (1947)

Hi All!! Welcome back to Film Fashion Friday! My selection for this week is not one film, but six: The Thin Man Series. I recently acquired the box set and finally got to enjoy watching all films in the correct order. I had only seen four out of the six, so it was a real treat to be able to sit down and watch all six! I know a lot of bloggers have made note of the striped gown Myrna Loy wears in the first film, and while that gown is a gem, I feel that this series stands out as a whole for its keen sense of style through the character of Nora. What I love about Nora is that even know she comes from a wealthy family, she isn't afraid to get dirty and solve mysteries with her husband, Nick. I also love all the wonderful head-wear Nora sports throughout the entire span of the six films. And, I also love how all of her outfits -- from sleepwear to daywear -- are complete. Now Nora is a gal who knows how to accessorize well without over doing it.

The first three films featured Dolly Tree as the costume director/designer. Dolly Tree is one of my absolute favorite old Hollywood costumers. If you haven't ever seen any of her work, watch the first thee Thin Man films and you will know why I love her so! :)

The forth film's costumes (gowns) were done by Robert Kalloch. Kalloch had his hand in many of the great films from the classical period, including Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, His Girl Friday, and Twentieth Century. Kalloch really knew how to make lovely gowns that would flatter his leading lady.

The last two films feature the work of Irene, who I seem to always feature. I guess she is up there with Dolly Tree when it comes to my tastes in old Hollywood fashion.

I highly recommend this week's selections not only for the spectacular eye candy, but also because the films themselves are actually really well put together too. Some are better than others, but they all feature the same gimmicks that the first set up. It's fun to watch for them!

All six films are on DVD and available through Netflix.

More film fashion inspiration coming up next week! As always, requests are always welcomed!

Emily

Film Fashion Friday: Musical Month Round Up

Well, this is the last installment of the Musical Month feature here on Film Fashion Friday. I hope at least one of the films featured throughout the course of the month was a new discovery! For the last week, I decided to feature three films with not any one of them being a main selection. All three films are available on DVD and can be rented through Netflix or may very well be at your local video store..... if you still have one close by. All of the Blockbusters around here have shut down and we now have to rely on a small regional chain, which is still a great place to rent from, but unfortunately doesn't have a good classics section. Anyways, on to the films!!

The first film and probably the best this week fashion-wise is Neptune's Daughter (1949) starring Esther Williams and Red Skelton. This was one of the first Esther Williams' film I had ever seen and immediately fell in love with the water dancing! If you haven't checked out Ms. Williams yet, this is a great starter film and is typical of most of the other MGM and William's collaborations. The plot is zany and the costumes and hairstyles are drool worthy.

The plot is kinda confusing, but it basically follows Esther and her sister and the trouble her sister creates when she falls for Red Skelton, whom she believes is a famous polo player. The real polo player has it bad for Esther and there begins all the craziness of the film. Esther's character is a swimsuit designer and her designs are fully showcased throughout the course of the narrative. Irene designed the costumes for this one and did a really brilliant job. I have featured a few other works by Irene, so if you want to know more, just click the label. Overall, this film is a great inspiration for summer looks and contains some serious vintage bathing suit eye candy!

I couldn't do a musical month without featuring at least one Judy Garland film! Out of all her wonderful pictures, I choose Till the Clouds Roll By (1946). This is a true all star cast with many of the big names when it comes to musicals. The film is based on the life story of Jerome Kern and showcased a plethora of fantastic costumes spanning a few decades, not to mention the lovely stage costume creations, all the work of Helen Rose. Again, another costume designer I have featured on here before. As with Irene, click the label to see more on Ms. Rose.

As a whole, I would call the dress in this film a bit more artistic, but there are several scenes where there is "street clothing" being presented. With all that being said, I could totally picture someone integrating the saloon girl look in the middle picture into one of their daily looks. I really love the glitz and glam of this film and I hope you will too, if you haven't seen it that is!

The last film for this week is South Pacific (1958), undoubtedly one of the most famous musicals of all time, for both the stage and filmic renditions. What I found interesting about this picture is that off the rack clothing was used for a great majority of the film and none of the wardrobe managers had much of a career before or after this film, kinda one hit wonders if you will. Nevertheless, I am loving the beachy outfits that could totally transplant themselves into any vintage gal's summer wardrobe. Plus, this movie really makes me want to visit the beach!

I hope everyone enjoyed the musical month..... I know I did!! :)

Keep sending in suggestions; I love to here from you!! Film Fashion Friday will resume its regular postings on June 11th. Stay tuned!!!!

Emily

Film Fashion Friday: Easy to Wed (1946)

Welcome to the fourth and final week of Actress Month. I feel like I saved one of Lucy's best films for last! The main feature this week, Easy to Wed, comes from 1946 and stars Esther Williams and Van Johnson alongside Lucy. This film has to be one of the cutest post-war romantic comedies I have seen. The story is a musical-esque remake of Libeled Lady (1936). While many don't feel this film lives up to that of its 1936 origin, I feel it's still a super fun film with great Irene costumes. Plus it has Esther Williams in it, wearing some awesome swimwear.

Irene worked a lot with the musical department at MGM. It seems that her two favorite starlets to dress and design for were Doris Day (whom Irene became very close with) and Esther Williams. I know that most of the Williams' films were made with the same team, so it's no surprise that Irene worked on pretty much all of these films. Irene had a long career that began as an actress in the '20s. The early '30s marked her debut as a costume designer and supervisor.

Just as a little side note, the TCM Spotlight Esther Williams Volume one collection is amazing!! All of these films have stellar costumes, especially beachwear and Mexican inspired looks. This collection is a must see before summer to get some really get outfit ideas.

This week's honorable mention features an all star cast. Stage Door (1937) is about a boarding house of actress wannabe's. These gals are impeccably dressed and the gowns by Muriel King are the envy of any '30s enthusiast.

Both films are available on DVD in box sets and through online rental at Netflix. I hope everyone enjoyed actress month as much as I did!! Keep leaving your requests and suggestions!!

See you next week for some more vintage film fashion!

Emily