DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN

“Yeah, well, fortunately for everyone, I’m here and I’m thinking” -Susan-

Madonna’s super 80s look in Desperately Seeking Susan was in high demand in the 1980s with headbands, leggings, studded boots, jackets, red lips, big hair-dos and lace crop tops becoming a must have for fashion lovers. The film captured the downtown New York City bohemian punk, New Wave and dance culture looks and her look in the film became iconic and even had a rebirth in the late 2000s.

The accessories were a major feature – rubber bracelets, layers of cross necklaces, colourful headbands, Raybans…

THE LOOK:

-Bold neon colours

-Lots of mesh

-Oversized tops and blazers

-Studs

-Layering

-Overload on the accessories

Get the Look:

From left-right, top-bottom: Top Net-a-Porter £665, Lace Fingerless Gloves River Island £3, Faux Leather Leggings ASOS £24, Oversized 80′s Blazer Rokit £35, Blouse Rokit £30, Pearl Necklace Debenhams £6

Twilight

“And so the lion fell in love with the lamb” -Edward Cullen-

The obsession with all things Twilight and Robert Pattinson extended to the catwalks last A/W10 season. The vamp look of the films influenced fashion and makeup trends a-like with pale skin and dark lips leading the beauty trends on the catwalks around the world. It wasn’t just Twilight that designers looked to for their ‘vamp’ inspiration; old-school vampire film looks with long velvet gowns were plentiful in collections.

A/W10 shows saw head to toe dark styles; black lace, velvet, jackets in deep maroon, all featuring. Alexander Wang focused on deep red dresses accented in lace – evoking the vampire look of old– in his A/W10 show.  Raybans (a la Edward) and Converse (a la Bella) have all seen a revival in the fashion stakes due to their featuring in the wardrobes of the Twilight cast both on-screen and off-screen.

 THE LOOK:

-Black lace blouses

-Leather skirts and shorts

-Velvet accents

-Dark lipstick mixed with pale skin

GET THE LOOK:

From Left-right, top-bottom: Lace Top Net-a-porter £220, Top Dorothy Perkins £19, Lace Blouse Red Herring at Debenhams $9.60, Rayban Sunglasses, Rayban £120, Converse Office £36.99, Leather Tuni All Saints £295, Velvet Dress Aqua £75, Lipstick Urban Decay £13, Leather Leggings Kookai £160

Style Icon: GRACE KELLY

Born in Philadelphia in 1922, Grace Kelly was always one who could pull off the glamorous regal look, which was fitting as she would later go on to marry Prince Rainer of Monaco and become royalty. 

Grace was famous for wearing white gloves which earned her the nickname, ‘The Girl in White Gloves’.  It wouldn’t be the only fashion item she would become famous for as the Hermes’ Kelly bag was named after her.  Yes Grace Kelly started the It Bags trend people.  And what I hear you ask, made her so stylish in the eyes of her peers and fans?  Well the velvet and silk turban hats, white gloves (of course), perfect blonde shiny hair, satin, chiffon and tulle ballgowns and of course – that white lace wedding dress from her marriage to Prince Rainer.

Annie Hall

“You’ve been seeing a psychiatrist for 15 years. You should have some of this. You’d be off the couch in no time” -Annie Hall-

 Annie Hall was a major influence on the fashion world during the late 70s. You think Annie Hall and you think Diane Keaton and her masculine take on the female form. Layering of oversized, mannish blazers over vests, billowy trousers, long skirts and boots, customary tie – all made up the style of Annie (a look created by Diane Keaton herself and her own clothes).

Annie helped make the tie a key fashion trend in the 1970s and was enlightened by the feminist movement during the period which saw her mannish look the epitome of the rise in feminism.

Annie had a way of ‘wearing’ the clothes by popping a collar up, adding a bowler hat or fringed scarf, and pairing mannish trousers with a classic white shirt, waistcoat and brogues. Style icons today such as Kate Moss & Sienna Miller (who both revived the waistcoat, bowler hat and fringed scarf look) and brogues lover Alexa Chung (think Alexa Chung’s Met Ball, NYC look with the tailored man-suit and braces combo) all still look to the film for fashion inspiration. Want to learn about style? Then watch this film.

 THE LOOK:

-Men’s style jackets and shirts -Socks with high heels (yes, blame Annie Hall for the revival of this look) -Brogues -Hats -Chinos -Tailored waistcoats

Get the Look:

From Left-right, top-bottom: Brogues Peacocks £16, Waistcoat Next £28, Chinos ASOS £35, Bowler Hat ASOS £20, Socks ASOS £3.50, Shirt & Tie ASOS £25

Style Icon: BRIGITTE BARDOT

“I absolutely loathe luxury. It is the one thing I cannot stand” -Brigitte Bardot-

The 1950s and 1960s appear to be the decades which gave us the biggest list of Hollywood style icons; Monroe, Sedgwick, Hepburn (both of them), Kelly, Taylor as well as Marianne Faithful, Jane Birkin, Sophia Loren, who were all from this period as was our final Hollywood style icon Brigitte Bardot.

Brigitte had the perfect blend of French chic (just how do they do it), class and sex appeal.  She would wear simple classic pieces and found her years as a ballet dancer inspired her wardrobe and influenced her style; black tights, leotards, thick hairbands, tight fitted clothes and ballet flats all made up her main look.  Mixing these up with knee socks, knee boots and shorts – Brigitte was a sex kitten in the making.

Her sex kitten look was copied by women on both sides of the Atlantic with her carefree bed hair – bouffant, loose waves, black eyeliner (with the infamous wing at the outer corner) and natural makeup.  Bardot wasn’t a fan of heels and would always be found wearing ballet flats or going barefoot and always wore minimal jewellery to finish her look.

 Her wardrobe was full of bikinis, Capri pants, skinny jeans, striped tops, trenchcoats and sun dresses which would show off her legs which were as long as the Effiel Tower.  The term Va-Va-Voom was practically coined for her!

Clueless

“Miss Stoeger, I would just like to say that physical education in this school is a disgrace. I mean, standing in line for forty minutes is hardly aerobically effective. I doubt I’ve worked off the calories in a stick of Carefree gum” -CHER-

Cher Horowitz was the girl who brought us plaid skirts and knee socks in the 1995 film adaption of the Jane Austen classic Emma. The girls had the valley girl-meets-preppy-meets-grunge look down with classic pieces such as over the knee socks, plaid skirts, preppy blazers, berets and headbands filtering into the wardrobes of every teen in the 90s.

The film’s influence can even be seen inspiring the wardrobes of shows such as Gossip Girl with Blair Waldorf and her minions being the noughties champions of the preppy look.

THE LOOK:

-Platform sneakers -Doc Martins -Tiny backpacks -Headbands -Pastel colours -Tartan skirts -Preppy Blazers -Over the knee socks

Get the look:

Tartan Skirt Rokit £20, Trasparenze Dora Wool Rib Over Knee Socks MyTights £8, Doc MArtins £102, Blazer Dorothy Perkins £40, Hairband Lipsy £10, Backpack Urban Outfitters

Style Icon: MARILYN MONROE

Marilyn was part of the same generation of Hollywood starlets such as Audrey Hepburn but her style was on the complete opposite side of the fashion scales.  Whilst Hepburn went for the more classic, minimalistic vibe, Marilyn dressed in a more seductive way and wore outfits which always showed off those amazing curves of hers.  Her curvy body (described as “Jell-o on springs” in Some Like it Hot) is what made her stand out amongst the more waif-like 50s and 60s starlets.

Marilyn was famous for many iconic things such as; her trademark platinum blonde hair, beauty mark, that skirt-blowing scene in The Seven Year Itch (legendary) and also being the first cover girl for ‘Playboy’ magazine.  One of the most iconic dresses she will be remembered for is the rhinestone covered gown she wore as she “serenaded” President JFK with her version of ‘Happy Birthday’.

She was the first female ‘sex symbol’ and a woman who will never be forgotten.  Marilyn will be remembered as the most iconic blonde bombshell of all time.  Her natural beauty was obvious as was her ability to ‘wear’ the clothes and not let them wear her.  It was not just her fashion but her hair and makeup style that made her a style icon.  Platinum blonde curls, beauty spot and red lips were often her trademark look.  Her fashion however could be a little more muted in colour but daring in their shape; tight fitting dresses, glitter, heels, white or shimmering gowns for the red carpet; all in classic muted shades such as cream, black, champagne, chocolate brown and white.  Whilst Audrey was famous for her pearls, Marilyn loved her diamonds – well she did sing ‘Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend’ after all!

But behind all the glitter and smiles was another starlet with a dark cloud hanging over her.  A few months after singing to JFK, Marilyn died from an overdose and the world lost a little bit of its sparkle that day.  But in the words of Elton John’s ‘Candle in the Wind’: “Your candle burned out long before, your legend never will”.

The Great Gatsby

“That’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool”  Daisy

The Great Gatsby is one of those films filled with decadence and hedonism and zapping you right into the roaring 1920s and the age of the flappers. It is the mix of Daisy and Jay’s wardrobes which make the film as influential as it was, and still is, in fashion. Whilst Daisy favoured the relaxed, romantic look during the day, she certainly jazzed it up at night with her glitz and glamorous attire.

Robert Redford’s, Jay, championed the American Ivy League look of silk shirts, dark khakis & tweed, chinos, deck shoes and leather belts all styled by Ralph Lauren himself (who was catapulted to fame post-film). The film won the Oscar for ‘Best Costume’ which just shows how influential the clothing was in the film. A revival of nostalgia for classic American fashion was spawned by the film and continues today.

THE LOOK:

-Pastel shades

-Flapper dresses

-Glitzy dresses

-American preppy look

Get the Look:

From Left-right: Blazer Ralph Lauren £140, Polo Top Ralph Lauren £47.50, Flapper Dress ASOS £45, Cutout Flapper Dress ASOS £75, Flapper Mini Skirt ASOS £25, CLoche Hat River Island £20

Style Icon: AUDREY HEPBURN

How could we ever forget the image on the Breakfast at Tiffany’s poster of Audrey Hepburn in that LBD from Givenchy?  One of the most iconic moments in fashion and film history ever!  Her style in the film was just impeccable and still relevant today: that Givenchy LBD?  It sold for just under a million dollars back in 2006!  Her partnership with Hubert de Givenchy was truly a match made in fashion & style heaven.

Audrey Hepburn kept it simple and had a very elegant appearance.  She loved clean lines and clothes that emphasised her slim, boyish figure.  She was not one for the overly sexual seductress look unlike other starlets of her time such as Marilyn Monroe, instead keeping her look minimal and very French Chic.

Her signature look consisted of Capri pants, men’s shirts, Breton tops, turtlenecks, and accessorized with a classic handbag, silk scarf, pearls and of course – those oversized sunglasses.  Her feet were practically glued to ballet flats which she wore with everything and she loved a smart trenchcoat (think of the beige trenchcoat she wore at the end of Breakfast at Tiffany’s = major lust). 

She was the timeless icon of the 50s and 60s with her combination of glamour, grace and sophistication and true effortless look.  There wouldn’t be one fashionista today who wouldn’t cite her as one of their fashion heroines with her boyish frame, original look, and even her daring pixie hair cut which is currently a hair trend this A/W.

Speaking to US chat show host Barbara Walters in 1989 Audrey had this to say about her style: “My look is attainable.  Women can look like Audrey Hepburn by flipping out their hair, buying the large glasses and the little sleeveless dresses”.  So there it is right there ladies, style in a nutshell.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s

You can always tell what kind of person a man thinks you are by the earrings he gives you” ­-Holly Golightly-

When Audrey Hepburn ate a Danish pastry while gazing at a Tiffany’s window display; the LBD, up-do hair, pearls and oversized sunglasses look she sported became the go to outfit in every woman’s wardrobe around the world – both in the 60s, and today.

Audrey’s character Holly Golightly had that sense of old Hollywood glamour about her. Sales of triple-strand pearl necklaces soared as did sleeveless dresses and oversized sunglasses. The look was simple, polished, classic, and glamorous and made Hepburn an icon.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s was a cinematic fashion show for the fashion label Givenchy which launched its designer Hubert de Givenchy into the mainstream American market and started a celebrity-designer collaboration, the likes of which we have never seen again.

Holly’s look consisted of long black gowns, the iconic beige trench (a big trend A/W10), the classic Chanel bags (oh how I do want one!), which are all still around and “in fashion” today = TIMELESS.

THE LOOK:

-Strands of pearls

-A LBD (every girl should own one)

-A long black gown

-A beige trench coat

-A classic quilted style handbag