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Showing posts with the label 1950s

Dress in Detail: the "Sabrina" Party Dress

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            I recently watched Sabrina for the first time and fell in love with the costumes (which is easy to do when they're designed by Edith Head and worn by Audrey Hepburn). The most famous gown from the film is the one I'm analyzing for this article - my fourth Dress in Detail! If you haven't read my others, you can check out the Scarlett O'Hara dress , the "I Don't Care" dress , and the "Never Gonna Dance" dress here!               Audrey Hepburn is well-known for her status as a fashion icon. She regularly worked with European fashion houses, and her stardom helped launch some of these designers to the same level of fame. Audrey's tendency to favor these expensive foreign designers sometimes caused friction with her costume designers, which is exactly what happened on the set of Sabrina .                Edith Head was the official costume desi...

A Costume Analysis of Singin' in the Rain (1952)

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               Singin' in the Rain is one of those gorgeous films where you can pause at any moment and it might as well be a painting. Besides being an iconic movie, it's a stunning combination of Technicolor and fashion - which is why I decided to round up the costumes in one big stunning survey. Here it is: the Singin' in the Rain Costume Analysis !                  Scene One: The Movie Premiere               At the beginning of Singin' in the Rain , Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly) and Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) are at the premiere of their latest film, The Royal Rascal. The year is 1927, and silent films are just making the switch over to talkies. Don and Lina are dressed in coordinating white outfits - because they're such an amazing screen team who totally adore each other! (Sarcasm intended.) Even though Don can't stand Lina, their matchy-matchy out...

A Barrel of Laughs and Monkeys: Monkey Business (1952)

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                One day in the early '50s, Howard Hawks woke up and thought "What if I made Bringing Up Baby but with monkeys and an actual baby?" And just like that, Monkey Business was born.               Well, I don't know if that's how it really went. But in the realm of animal-driven screwball comedies, Monkey Business tends to be overshadowed. Maybe it wasn't as influential as, say, Bringing Up Baby , but it's sure a barrel of laughs (and monkeys). Just take a look at the cast:                I may be biased, but that's a pretty incredible cast. There's Cary Grant - arguably one of Old Hollywood's top screwball comedy stars (see above). There's Ginger Rogers - a top-notch comedic actress, with a knack for screwball as seen in films like Carefree . And there's Marilyn Monroe in an early film appearance! Don't be misled by the advertisements ...