By: Tina Ball SacchiStyle File
In this issue of Style File:
Summer is in the Air!
Needless to say-It has been the winter of our
discontent! But, despite the dreary weather things are sure to heat up with
Flirty Fun looks for Spring /Summer 2011. We will give a roundup of this
season’s top trends, plus what must-haves you Must Have for the Spring/Summer
season. Good News: Color is Back! And there are enough bold colors and
eye-popping prints to shake the winter doldrums right out of you! We will also
take a look at one of my favorite relationships: The marriage of Film and
Fashion and how a costume designer’s vision is translated on to the silver
screen. So-let’s get started!
Color My
World: To Boldly Go!
(Marc
Jacobs)(Lanvin)(Gucci)
Bold,
bright and beautiful…color is back from knockout neon to fire engine reds that
will turn your head! Color blocking is the new trend. Perhaps designers were
paying homage to the late Yves Saint Laurent, or resurrecting a 70’s fashion
moment-runways were ripe with juicy fruit frocks from New York to Paris. Some of
my favorite looks include New York’s Marc Jacobs and light bright pantsuits from
Gucci, and a beautiful red evening ensemble from Lanvin. How to translate these
colors to the street? Easy- just pair a bold color with black or other neutral
color-so you get the kick without the clown-like effect. But, all bets are off
if you decide to go with a boldly colored dress-in this case I say: just go for
it! Color blocked!
Chic,
Clean and Crisp!
(Max
Azria)
(Bottega
Veneta) (Yigal
Azrouel)
It seemed
some designers opted for a complete White Out when it came to Spring Summer
2011-the complete antithesis of the previously mentioned bold looks. Not only
were the runways full of no-fuss in the color category, designs were also
no-nonsense with cool clean looks from an array of designers-not just Francisco
Costa’s looks for Calvin Klein Collection, which is to be expected.
Print
it!
A plethora
of prints also graced runways, in everything from Tribal to Floral and
everything in-between! Whether you are seeing thrills or attention-there’s a
print for you! Designers like: Stella McCartney, Proenza Schouler and Prada were
just a few who paraded out the prints! Look for these designs in stores as well
as lower-priced versions that capture the essence of this trend.
That 70’s
Show!Everything
old is new again…this trend has reared its fashion head over the years, and is
back this time with a vengeance. Billowy blouses, flared jeans, halter-neck
jumpsuits are all on tap for fall. The flared jean with a boho-chic top is sure
to be seen on the streets everywhere. If opting for this look, be sure that your
figure is flattered by the right cut of jeans-most taller, thin or perfectly
proportioned petities can carry this look, but the right cut can save it. Some
key pieces include:
-
Flared
jeans(choose a flattering cut)
·
The Maxi Dress – floral, paisley, polka dot, or bold single color block,
preferably halter-neck.
-
High
waisted wide-leg pants (make them white to match a tailored blazer)
-
Halter-neck jumpsuit
-
Crochet
top or sweater
-
Maxi
skirt with front split, or in a sheer fabric
From Runway to ‘Reel’
Way: Fashion and Film
“Annie Hall”
“Desperately Seeking Susan”
Fashion and film are so inexorably linked,
that mentioning one without the other would be a major faux pas. Fashion on the
big screen can inspire trends and choices as well as signify a character’s
personality and unique aura. Who could forget Diane Keaton’s Annie Hall chic
menswear look which became a 70’s sensation or Madonna’s Mid-80’s turn in
“Desperately Seeking Susan”-which sparked a downtown street urchin look. Today,
and most notably this past year of 2010-modern femme fatales are making their
mark on the big screen from Angelina Jolie’s sophisticated turn in “The Tourist”
to Natalie Portman’s petite ballerina gone mad-with dark costuming to match in
“Black Swan.”
The
Tourist
While most critics
widely panned the film “The Tourist” -criticizing Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp
of having lackluster personalities-one cannot argue that the stars helped create
a fashion feast for the eyes. From the streets of Paris, to the canals of
Venice-and most notably the beautiful and elegant look of Angelina Jolie’s
character Elise Ward…I give this movie a fashion thumbs up!
We already knew that Angelina Jolie
can rock almost any look on the red carpet, but when off duty her choices
usually seem more utilitarian and practical given her globe trotting life style.
So it was Refreshing to see her as Elise Ward-a femme fatale of sorts and
modern-day Hitchcock Heroine wearing elegant, classy ensembles as she strolls
the canals of Venice as though on a runway. Some of my favorite looks include a
White Silk evening gown, a Cream colored dress with beige shrug and an elegant
black ball gown. Costume designer Colleen Atwood took inspiration from legendary
Costume designer Irene Lentz to create this iconic screen goddess look.
“Black
Swan”
The fashion designer team behind the Rodarte
fashion label — sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy — designed the costumes for the
highly-praised psychological thriller “Black Swan”. The film, from Academy
Award-nominated director Darren Aronofsky, stars Oscar winning actress Natalie
Portman and the Oscar nominated actress Mila Kunis as rival ballerinas.
The film’s costume designer, Amy Westcott,
wanted to reinvent the classic imagery of “Swan Lake,” looking for contemporary
designs with a darker touch, to keep in line with the film’s underlying themes
of good vs. evil , elegance and edginess. With this, she sought out Kate and
Laura who are quoted as saying that they “were inspired by ballet and horror
film-related imagery-and were trying to convey the psychology of the film and
that world by showing a darker nature and twisted tale of a nearly broken
Ballerina.” And while Portman’s character comes unraveled by the film’s finale,
her appropriately designed costumes allow her to retain the grace of a ballerina
while taking her swan dive.
Style File Archive:
Winter 2010
Summer 2010
Spring 2009
Spring 2008
Fall-Winter 2007