Film Fashion Friday: Film Fashion Survey

I thought for this week's Film Fashion Friday it might be fun to create a classic film fashion survey for all of us to fill out. I have seen different types of these floating around the web and I think they are really fun. Hope you do too!! If you choose to fill one out, I have set up a Mr. Linky at the end of the post for us all to share.

1. Name you favorite classic hollywood designer.

At the risk of sound cliche, I think I would have to say Edith Head. She was in the business for a long time and really knew how to dress a women. I also really like that among her contemporaries, she was willing to accept input from the starlet she was designing for. I think the looks she created are iconic not to mention, she wrote a book to give the average woman advice on how to dress.

2. Who's movie wardrobe would you steal if you could?

Hands down Ann Rutherford's in Orchestra Wives (1942). The 40s are my favorite decade and Rutherford dons some of the cutest outfits in this film, really showcasing the average 40s look that many girls of her age would be sporting.

3. What's your favorite film based on fashion?

Pin Up Girl (1944). This film was a close second for a movie wardrobe that I would love to steal if I could. I love everything that every character wears, plus it's in color so we get to see all the wonderful clothing in the colors they actually were. Here I am thinking about that awesome chartreuse number Grable wears.... swoon!!

4. Favorite actress/designer team-up.

I would normally say Joan Crawford and Adrian because their work together is really out of this world, however I think Myra Loy and Dolly Tree are a team that should have some more light shed on them. Dolly Tree designed for some of Loy's best and most loved films, including three of the Thin Man films. They collaborated more than 6 times and each time produced a wardrobe drool worthy and one that any vintage gal would love to have. Dolly Tree also dressed Lana Turner in the 30s and I really feel had a hand in shaping her "look." I also really love Helen Rose's team-up with Esther Williams and Elizabeth Taylor.

5. Bette Davis or Joan Crawford?

Now, I hope no one hates me from this one, but BOTH. Here's my reasoning. Davis for being fashionable in her personal life. I love that we often see photos of her in sports wear and in pants. I feel she is a great icon for vintage sportswear. And Crawford was just fashionable in every aspect of her life. In my opinion, she is the quintessential glamour girl.

6. Favorite old hollywood fashion icon?

Lana Turner. I love that Turner loved jewelry -- both real and costume -- so much so that she had custom cabinets built into her bedroom walls to store it all. I also love that she started her career in the 30s and kept on working into the 70s, covering the most fashionable decades. She was a true glamour girl who did the nightclub circuit and was even apart of the original rat pack.

7. Most fashionable character in classic cinema?

I'm cheating and picked two. Pola (Marilyn Monroe) in How to Marry a Millionaire (1953) and Frances (Grace Kelly) in To Catch a Thief (1955). I love that Pola has to wear glasses and I feel no one could make glasses look better than Marilyn Monroe. I just love her outfits and that she still can look fashionable with spectacles on, something I feel wasn't easy to do in the 50s. And how could I not include Grace Kelly in here somewhere. She was an icon both on and off the screen and influenced fashion then and now. She had a purse name after her and was a princess!! While most love her in Rear Window (1954), I love her best in To Catch a Thief. I am just smitten with the gold ball gown she wears at the end of the film!

8. What actress do you feel is overrated fashion-wise?

As much as I love her and feel she was a very fashionable lady on and off the screen, I feel that Grace Kelly is a bit overrated. Because she has such a small list of films to her credit, I feel that many people place importance on her fashion in her private life verses her filmic life. I don't mean to discredit Miss Kelly in anyway, I just think there are other actresses who have a bigger career to their credit which showcases their fashionability, rather than just a few films.

9. What actress do you feel is underrated fashion-wise?

Linda Darnell. She has starred in some really wonderful roles which had her wearing some really wonderful clothing. Plus, off screen she was quite stylish and I often compare her to Lana Turner.

10. What's your favorite film for each of these designers?

Adrain: Ziegfeld Girl (1941)

Helen Rose: The Long, Long Trailer (1953)

Dolly Tree: The Shining Hour (1938)

Edith Head: Elephant Walk (1954)

Walter Plunkett: Duel in the Sun (1946)

Orry-Kelly: In This Our Life (1942)

Irene: The Clock (1945)

Jean Louis: Over 21 (1945)

Renie: Vicki (1953)

Travis Banton: Cover Girl (1944)

Irene Sharaff: Girl Crazy (1943)

Travilla: Night and Day (1946)

11. Favorite outfit or ensamble?

The pjs that Ann Rutherford wears in Orchestra Wives. I fell in love with them the first time I watch the movie. I know this is very simple, but I just think they nailed the lounging look of the 40s.

12. Which black and white movie do you wish was in color to see all the wonderful costumes in color?

Orchestra Wives..... can you tell I LOVE this movie?? :)

13. Biggest Oscar snub fashion-wise?

This award wasn't created until 1948, so going on that I think 1957 and the omission of Designing Woman.

14. How to Marry a Millionaire or Gentlemen Prefer Blondes?

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Love that outfit Monroe wears when they first get on the boat!

15. Favorite film(s) out of each genre?

Comedy: My Favorite Wife (1940)

Film Noir: Mildred Pierce (1945)

Musical: Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)

Holiday: It Happened on 5th Avenue (1947)

Drama/Romance: When Ladies Meet (1941) or A Letter to Three Wives (1949)

Horror/Mystery: Lady of Burlesque (1943) or Strait-Jacket (1964)

Sci-Fi: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

Hitchcock: Marnie (1964) or To Catch a Thief (1955)

Hope you enjoyed this little survey!! Can't wait to read your answers!!

Emily

Mod Cloth Giveaway

Kate over at Scathingly Brilliant is hosting a fab giveaway to celebrate her 1st blogger birthday. Head over to her blog to check out how to win a $50 gift card to Mod Cloth.

Bowling...Vintage Style

Over the weekend, Jesse and I met some friends for a fun filled night of bowling. I love bowling, although I not very good it at. I think what intrigues me the most is how "old fashioned" it is. Often times, the bowling shoes you rent have a vintage feel to them and many of the allies around here haven't done much to update their interiors.

This was my inspiration for my outfit that evening; my Grandma is on the right. I thought bowling in a dress would be much harder than it looked, but it actually turned out to be not too different from bowling in pants.

When I was in middle school, my Grandma gave me her old bowling ball and shoes set. In the late 40s she was on a bowling league (pictured above) and had hung onto her ball and shoes for all those years. Her ball is engraved with her name on it, which is my middle name. Sometime soon, I would love to get my name engraved above hers.

Emily

40s House Dress: Lost and Found Vintage

Sweater: Forever 21

40s Bowling Shoes and Scarf: Were my Grandma's

P.S. This dress is going to be going up for sale in my etsy soon. This weekend was the last time for me to wear it...there's only so much a belt can do to cinch a waist.

My Poker Face

I couldn't resist titling this post after the Lady Gaga song. I love this dress and I found it at this awesome resale shop, which will be the next store featured in my Michigan Vintage Shopping Guide. Although the dress is kind of on the tight side, I am in love with the print, which reminds me of the novelty prints of the 1940s. Maybe I need to ditch the fabric belt and opt for a navy one. What do you think?

Emily

Late 70s Dress: Re-genration

Bakelite Bracelets and Carved Bakelite Earrings: eBay

Flats: Payless

Value World Coupons

The other day in the mail, I received some coupons for Value World for 50% off your entire purchase. I thought I would pass the word onto my readers. They are running a coupon sale now and then again in April. Click HERE to be directed to their website to print a coupon.

Happy Thrifting!

Emily

Posh Frock Friday: St. Patty's Edition

So I guess I do have green in my wardrobe after all!! This is what I wore yesterday in honor of St. Patrick's Day. It was such a lovely day here in Michigan, it reached almost 70 degrees!! Spring is definitely on its way. I tried something new with my hair; kind of a Betty Grable do. It actually was much easier to achieve with my short do than I expected. I'll probably be seen sporting this style 'do all spring! :)

My brother took these photos for me with his fancy camera. The shutter is so fast it caught the wind playing with my skirt. All afternoon the wind would make it look like I was wearing a crinoline.

I am linking up to Posh Frock Friday over at Kate's blog. Do check it out and see what others wore.

Emily

50s Dress: eBay

Cardigan: Target

Fake-lite Bangle: Value World

50s Screwback Earrings: Were my Grandma's

Nude Heels: Simply Vera Wang via Kohls

Film Fashion Friday: Of Human Bondage (1934)

First off, the winner of the Street of Women DVD is Lauren!! Thanks to everyone for entering. Lauren, email me within a week and I will get your DVD in the mail.

This week's film is an interesting one because I am sure many would not include this in their list of fashionable classic films. After reading my thoughts, I hope you will be able to see that it has some interesting elements present.

Cast

Bette Davis.....Mildred Rogers

Leslie Howard.....Phillip Carey

Frances Dee.....Sally

Kay Johnson.....Nora

Reginald Denny.....Griffith

Directed by John Cromwell

Gowns by Walter Plunkett

Synopsis

Bette Davis is a waitress who uses her good looks to lure in gentlemen to fund her fun. The unsuspecting Leslie Howard, a painter turned medical student, becomes enamored with Davis and starts pursuing her. By the way, Howard just so happens to have a clubbed foot, which complicates things even more. Howard ends up throwing Davis to the curb in an effort to start a new and healthy relationship with Nora. However, when Davis comes back, Howard drops everything to be with her. This trend happens yet again when Howard meets Sally. How does he handle it this time? Does he throw true love away to be with Davis?

Fashion Review

I found the fashion selection in this film to be immensely interesting. I would consider this to be among one of Plunkett's earlier films, where he is still trying to get his feet wet. However, I think he did a wonderful job with this film, especially with Davis, whom I am sure had a thing or two to say about what she was and wasn't going to wear. There are three kinda of women presented in this film: the homely wifey type: Sally, the debutant social scene type: Nora, and the tramp: Mildred. Plunkett does an excellent job dressing each type in a way that conveys what type of woman they are just by looking at their clothing. If you are going to watch this purely for fashion inspiration, I would pay attention to Nora and Davis at the beginning of the film. Davis starts out fairly normal and then slowly, with each scene, morphs into a cheap looking woman.

One thing I think Davis does very well is positioning her body in a why such that it "displays" the clothing and well as herself. Of Human Bondage was base off a 1915 book in which the character of Mildred really is a prostitute. Since of the strict PCA code, the film could only slightly allude to this. {{{SPOILER}}} Mildred is also suppose to dye of syphilis rather than TB, however Davis still wanted her death to look real verse being given the "Hollywood treatment." To do this, she came up with her own make-up and some accounts say she applied her own make-up for these last few scenes. While the information is a little unclear, it is interesting to consider the fact that Davis was such a serious actress that she wanted to get dirty and look like hell in order to give a more realistic presentation.

One thing I noticed about this film, in relation to fashion, is the only time Davis is "glamorous" is during the dream sequence Phillip has. Here Davis is wearing a dress that could easily be compared to the famous Letty Lynton dress that her rival Joan Crawford wore only two years earlier. I find it fascinating that during this dream, Phillip is fantasizing about his idealize version of Mildred and this "idealize" version just happens to be wearing a dress much like the Letty Lynton dress, which was hugely popular and set trends for the era. In order to be ideal, Mildred must be glamorous and to do so, she must be trendy. I think this dream has a lot going on with it and I could go on and on. :) I would love to hear your thoughts about the dream after you watch the film.

Of Human Bondage is in the public domain, so it can easily be found online streaming and there are tons of copies of it for sale (cheap I might add). If you have Netflix, it can be viewed online there.

Nasty Jello of the Month: March

Happy St. Patricks Day everyone!! Since this Jello recipe calls for spinach, I felt it was fitting for today, with spinach being green and all. Although, looking back, I probably should have saved last month's for today!

Anyways, this one looks okay, but the stuff that's in it is super yucky, in my opinion. However, this could be because I don't really care for mayonnaise or cottage cheese. Would you ever eat this?

Next month's Nasty Jello Party will be held on April 19th.

What did you all find?

Emily

Date Night

On Saturday evening, after a long day of thifting and shopping at Eastern Market, my beau took me to see What Ever Happened To Baby Jane at the Redford. I have to confess, I LOVE campy movies, which is probably something someone with a film degree should not say. ;)

I wore my new smock and I think this is going to be one of my most favorite outfits this spring! It was so comfy and yet I kind of felt a little dressed up. Maybe it was the black pants that was tricking me into feeling this way. I don't have much green in my wardrobe, so I expect to wear this again tomorrow for St. Patty's Day.

Don't forget, tomorrow is Nasty Jello Day!!

Emily

40s Smock: The Getup Vintage

Black Cigarette Pants: Kohls

Black Flats: JC Penny

Some Estate Sale Goodies

It's seems that I have sort of a backlog of photos to share with you all. These past two weekends were filled with many wonderful estate sales that bought me many new treasures. The items pictured in this post were found two weekends ago. Later this week, I will show you what I found this past weekend.

Above is a cute little birdie print that I found for 50 cents. I just love birds and sort of have a collection going now. All the other finds pictured came from the same sale. My beau and I drove about an hour from where we live to attend this farmhouse sale that was packed with tons of vintage stuff. Not too many clothes though..... I did find a few pieces, but they were in pretty bad shape. I took a few dresses home with me to save and give a second lease on life.

I did, however, come across these ivory colored plastic dress clips. I doubt if they are actually ivory, but the plastic is weird. It's not bakelite, maybe celluloid? I haven't tested it yet, but the carved necklace seems like bakelite; whatever it is, I love it!! The discolored beads looks worse in the photo than they are in life.

I am not normally one for knick knacks or figurines (minus my Asian guys of course!), but this little birdie caught my eye. He's really small, about an inch or two, but isn't he cute? I don't know if I am going to keep the little doe or not, but he was too sweet to pass up for only 50 cents.

I think my absolute favorite find at this sale was Sterling Silver "E" pin. I love initial pins and having a name that starts with a vowel can tend to be hard to find. I think that "E" items are a bit on the easier side to find, since names like Evelyn and Ellen were popular back in the day. My grandma on my dad's side name was Evelyn and my Great Grandma on my mom's side name was also Evelyn (she was born in the late 1890's!). Anyways, I love this pin and gladly forked over $8 for it, a price I normally wouldn't pay for a simple pin at an estate sale. The paper its pictured on is some sort of templates that you paste on envelopes. I thought it was really interesting and would be fun to scan in and use the images.

What have you been finding?

Emily

P.S. I had a request for a close up of my scottie pin from yesterday, which lead me to the idea to share all of my bakelite. I'll do a post about that sometime next week.