I very much enjoyed this post, Kathleen, and it reminded me of three things.
1. When I was a teenager there was a shop called The Shirt Shop which sold every kind of shirt you can imagine. ~I was never really into fashion (couldn't afford to be). but I bought several shirts from them. I remember with particular fondness the bright pink one, the one with double buttons, the one with a fly front, and the one with a polo neck in place of the collar.
2. I can't think of any examples at the moment, but film directors sometimes like to nod to others' films by, say, having the heroine wear a green dress, thereby reminding people in the know that such and such an acress wore a green cardigan in such and such a film.
3. It's interesting how novels can inadvertently tell the reader about society's mores at the time. In one of the novels by Dornford Yates the protagonist mentions that his hat blew off his head and he felt naked. That was in the 1920s in England.
Regarding clothes and fashion, I can appreciate an authentic period piece (across all categories). Miss Maisel has a good wardrobe, as far as I recall. Also, Ran springs to mind, although it might be visuals in general there, I did a comparative analysis between Ran and King Lear years ago, so I am a bit biased.
Yeah “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (TV Series 2017‑2023)” my wife is a far better judge though than me when it comes to wardrobe 😅 — weird it said comments for paid subs only a moment ago. Now it works...
Maisel is a great shout. It's a great show and the clothes are 👌 makes me want to live in that era. Jo absolutely loves that show, especially for Moshe's dresses.
Maisel is a great shout. It's a great show and the clothes are 👌 makes me want to live in that era. Jo absolutely loves that show, especially for Moshe's dresses.
I just LOVE The Age of Innocence, both the book and the film. It's usually said that the film adaptations are not as good as the original source, but Scorsese's film in wonderful. Plus, you get to see the gorgeous fashion you talk about in your very interesting story.
Thoroughly enjoyed Kate, as always. I listened to the podcast version, which was perfect for this as I could sit back and try to visualise all those descriptions. I'd forgotten about that scene in Gatsby, so thanks for including the clip, too.
This made me think of one of my pet peeves in certain TV shows/films, and that's when clothes seem far too fresh and pristine for the situation. I think various fantasy shows are guilty of this. They'll spend huge budget on set design and clothing, but none of the clothes look liked in. Game of Thrones did this properly, though -- I believed all of those outfits, they worked oh so well.
That makes me wonder: do you have any favourite films etc where fashion is quite prominent but is not at all of our world/time? I'm trying to think of an example. Maybe The Fifth Element? That was pretty bold with its fashion in a unique way.
A Josephine look? Now I must go see what this is. (My wife's name is Josephine!)
I think all of Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s films do this. The clothes (and everything else) seem to fit the strange world he is creating, no matter how plain or elaborate.
Also Fifth Element - yes!
I’m going to think about this and maybe come back to the comments again later 😁
This is a great post and can see how it builds on fashion from last time. I have never really thought about it too much but you see it everywhere in crime fiction. Agatha Christie’s descriptions of her characters for example. It’s like it is hidden in plain sight.
Love this look at filmic fashions! It's not really something I considered much before, but fashions in film and TV is so important to the visual experience.
Thanks a lot, Kate! It was really fun to investigate. The Sweater Weather author's article in the FT I mentioned a couple weeks back discusses how he does this in his work -- https://blgtylr.substack.com/
I very much enjoyed this post, Kathleen, and it reminded me of three things.
1. When I was a teenager there was a shop called The Shirt Shop which sold every kind of shirt you can imagine. ~I was never really into fashion (couldn't afford to be). but I bought several shirts from them. I remember with particular fondness the bright pink one, the one with double buttons, the one with a fly front, and the one with a polo neck in place of the collar.
2. I can't think of any examples at the moment, but film directors sometimes like to nod to others' films by, say, having the heroine wear a green dress, thereby reminding people in the know that such and such an acress wore a green cardigan in such and such a film.
3. It's interesting how novels can inadvertently tell the reader about society's mores at the time. In one of the novels by Dornford Yates the protagonist mentions that his hat blew off his head and he felt naked. That was in the 1920s in England.
The shirt shop! In your Gatsby adaptation, I hope this will feature.
That’s a great point about film directors. I’m also stuck at examples...there must be a YouTube explainer out there :)
How funny to feel naked without a hat. I guess some people still do. I imagine you’ve had students who are averse to taking one off?
Thanks for the great comments and for sharing, Terry!
Regarding clothes and fashion, I can appreciate an authentic period piece (across all categories). Miss Maisel has a good wardrobe, as far as I recall. Also, Ran springs to mind, although it might be visuals in general there, I did a comparative analysis between Ran and King Lear years ago, so I am a bit biased.
Also, re: 5th Element. I saw this recently: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjKe5-ljbx4
:)
Now that is a cool Chris Tucker video!
Midge Maisel? I’m googling 😅
Good period dress is hard to beat! Happy I don’t have to wear it everyday though. :) thanks for reading!
Yeah “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (TV Series 2017‑2023)” my wife is a far better judge though than me when it comes to wardrobe 😅 — weird it said comments for paid subs only a moment ago. Now it works...
I hadn't even heard of it! Excited to check it out.
(sometimes I get sort of lost in the Swiss mountains...)
Maisel is a great shout. It's a great show and the clothes are 👌 makes me want to live in that era. Jo absolutely loves that show, especially for Moshe's dresses.
Both Js love it. 😊 It is funny, too. New York in the 50s, eh? Fashion, like everything is cyclical, yes?
Maisel is a great shout. It's a great show and the clothes are 👌 makes me want to live in that era. Jo absolutely loves that show, especially for Moshe's dresses.
I love the mix of podcast and newsletter, adding to it with pictures and clips. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you :)
Thanks Gareth! That’s great feedback as it’s the direction I’m planning to move toward. Appreciate it.
Fashion as text is intriguing. In my own doctoral studies, I was introduced to considering the breadth of text:
https://aura.antioch.edu/etds/236/
although my earliest was a “play for the page and not the stage” written by Pedro Pietri (from Illusions of a Revolving Door). Good reading!
Oh great, kindred spirit! I think many things can be a text - a city, tattoos, etc. And thanks a lot for the rec and your comment, Angel.
I just LOVE The Age of Innocence, both the book and the film. It's usually said that the film adaptations are not as good as the original source, but Scorsese's film in wonderful. Plus, you get to see the gorgeous fashion you talk about in your very interesting story.
Scorsese is just brilliant. Thanks for reading and your comment! Would love to hear more about this film from you in the future... :)
Thoroughly enjoyed Kate, as always. I listened to the podcast version, which was perfect for this as I could sit back and try to visualise all those descriptions. I'd forgotten about that scene in Gatsby, so thanks for including the clip, too.
This made me think of one of my pet peeves in certain TV shows/films, and that's when clothes seem far too fresh and pristine for the situation. I think various fantasy shows are guilty of this. They'll spend huge budget on set design and clothing, but none of the clothes look liked in. Game of Thrones did this properly, though -- I believed all of those outfits, they worked oh so well.
That makes me wonder: do you have any favourite films etc where fashion is quite prominent but is not at all of our world/time? I'm trying to think of an example. Maybe The Fifth Element? That was pretty bold with its fashion in a unique way.
A Josephine look? Now I must go see what this is. (My wife's name is Josephine!)
This is such a great question!
I think all of Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s films do this. The clothes (and everything else) seem to fit the strange world he is creating, no matter how plain or elaborate.
Also Fifth Element - yes!
I’m going to think about this and maybe come back to the comments again later 😁
Thanks for the great comment, Nathan!
Yay, great. Thanks. I'm going to look up some of Jean-Pierre's films.
Maybe start with City of Lost Children!
*look LIVED in. On my phone so can't edit that atm 😅
This is a great post and can see how it builds on fashion from last time. I have never really thought about it too much but you see it everywhere in crime fiction. Agatha Christie’s descriptions of her characters for example. It’s like it is hidden in plain sight.
Ooohh. Good angle, Jon!
So fantastic as always 💗
Thanks Matt! Always good to “see” your here 😄
Haha good to be seen too 💕
Love this look at filmic fashions! It's not really something I considered much before, but fashions in film and TV is so important to the visual experience.
Also, thanks for sharing!
Thanks a lot, Kate! It was really fun to investigate. The Sweater Weather author's article in the FT I mentioned a couple weeks back discusses how he does this in his work -- https://blgtylr.substack.com/