Monday, December 7, 2009

Movie Monday: Me and Orson Welles

Oh, this brings back memories of Film Study classes of days gone by! Think Citizen Kane (1941).

Me and Orson Welles (2009), out in theatres next Friday, tells the story of one crazy week in the life of 1937 teenager Richard Samuel: the week he meat Orson Welles!

Wait, did I say 1937? Costumes! (I knew this was not just school reminiscing on my part).

Zac Efron as Richard Samuels and Claire Danes as Sonja Jones, Me and Orson Welles (2009)

A few quick notes about the 1930's: this is the time of the Great Depression, before the Second World War. For most people, money is scarce. In the world of fashion, this led to the wide use of Bias cut fabric: you get more out of less (something that was already known in Medieval times, but was forgotten over time).

So Ladies, flutter sleeves and crossed or halter neckeline are "de rigueur", just as moderately full but longer skirt are. Polka dot is THE print of the decade, hair are wavy and berets are worn sideways.

Men, get those suspenders out of storage, wear white-t-shirts as underwear, and if you have any sense of style, a double breasted jacket is what you are looking for. Think Prohibition Era Gangsters and Al Capone; those are your fashion icons!

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