Clothes on Film

The study of costume design in cinema and television. Featuring exclusive articles, news, interviews, videos, podcasts, essays and competitions.

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  • Clothes from now,  Girls in Films,  Guys in Films

    A Star is Born: The Cotton Rebel

    12 Oct ’18 /

    MINOR SPOILERS For all the inevitable chrysalis transformation of singer Ally (Lady Gaga) during A Star is Born (2018, directed by Bradley Cooper), the most subtle, yet real sartorial reflection of character belongs to her mentor and lover Jack (Cooper). Costumed by Erin Benach (Drive, A Place Beyond the Pines), Jack is the epitome of the casual rock star. Stage wear, day wear, evening wear, drinking wear, sleeping wear – it’s all the same. His simple clothes mask a mind so damaged it can only be subdued with the bottle. Jack lives in t-shirts (plain, dark or neutral colours), untucked shirts (dark or a green graph-check), brown calf leather jacket,…

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    Powerful Costume in We Need to Talk About Kevin

    27 Feb ’12

    Sons of Anarchy: Costume Identity and the Outlaw

    15 Sep ’14

    The Hangover 2 Image Debuts: More Costume Wackiness to Come

    29 Nov ’10
  • Clothes from 1970s,  Guys in Films,  Premium

    Ken Takakura Wearing Levi in The Yakuza (1974)

    27 Apr ’18 /

    The Levi jacket worn by Ken Takakura as Ken Tanaka in Japan set thriller The Yakuza (1974, costume design by Dorothy Jeakins) is not Japanese denim. It was not made in Japan but is nonetheless representative of a time when denim as symbol of burgeoning Americana in the East would take off into the stratosphere, and has remained so ever since. Although Levi products were imported into Japan before the 1970s (Levi International was created in 1965), it was not until mid-decade that a Tokyo office was established. This was in response to growing popularity of all things American in Japan, especially denim and especially Levi. There was no single…

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    Rush Trailer: Olivia Wilde Looks Sensational in 70’s Costume

    26 Apr ’13

    Barbra Streisand in The Way We Were: Forties Meets Seventies

    16 May ’11

    The Royal Tenenbaums: Gwyneth Paltrow’s Tennis Dress

    1 Feb ’10
  • Girls on TV,  Guys on TV,  Interviews,  Premium

    Sons of Anarchy: Identity and the Outlaw: Women of SAMCRO

    19 Sep ’14 /

    Part two of our essay looking at sartorial identity in Sons of Anarchy, featuring exclusive insight from series costume designer Kelli Jones. Catch up with part 1 HERE. The women of SAMCRO include porn stars and pole dancers, but the club matriarch is Gemma played by Katey Sagal, formerly known as Peg Bundy in Married with Children. Gemma is the Queen of this world so her look is regal rock chick, “to make her look badass without looking like a slut. This sexy mama bitch doesn’t need to TRY” costume designer Kelli Jones says. With her background in music (she has performed with the likes of Bette Midler, Gene Simmons…

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    Game of Thrones Costume Analysis: Sansa Stark

    24 Jun ’13

    Katie Holmes in The Kennedys: Armani’s Copy of a Copy

    5 Aug ’11

    Mildred Pierce: Uniform Appeal

    1 Dec ’11
  • Clothes from now,  Guys on TV,  Interviews,  Premium

    Sons of Anarchy: Costume Identity and the Outlaw

    15 Sep ’14 /

    Sons of Anarchy portrays the fictionalised world of an outlaw motorcycle club; although the plots are dramatic in the extreme, many of the details are firmly based in realism, including the costuming. Series creator Kurt Sutter has described it as pure soap opera, but this family drama has earned the tag of “Hamlet on Motorcycles”. It has been embraced by pop culture and by the biker community, and spurred an upsurge in sales of Harley Davidsons (and a $25k SOA branded bike). Motorcycle club culture took off after WW2, when returning veterans with experience of riding bikes on service, and often undiagnosed post-traumatic stress, took to the lifestyle looking for…

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    Anuvahood: Urban Wear Swagger

    11 Jul ’11

    Brigsby Bear: Interview with Suit Creators Stoopid Buddy Stoodios

    28 Jul ’17

    The Bourne Ultimatum: Paddy Considine Wears a Man Bag

    3 Aug ’10
  • Clothes from 1837-1919,  News,  Premium

    Recreating the Levi’s Spring Bottom Pants Advert from 1905

    4 Jun ’14 /

    Levi’s® Spring Bottom pants are a most fascinating garment. Introduced in 1889 they are essentially jean trousers intended for Victorian (and later Edwardian) gentlemen. This is the first time Levi’s had focused their products on such an audience. Previously their stock in trade was miners and loggers, but this was a very early attempt by the company to branch out. Spring Bottom pants are a classic item of denim history, yet most folk have probably never heard of them. With this in mind we contacted costume designer Jenny Beavan recently and asked if she would consider putting them in the next Sherlock Holmes film. No-one was paying us to do…

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    Review: Jane Eyre at Haddon Hall

    9 Sep ’11

    First Official Image: Sherlock Holmes 2

    15 Jan ’11

    The Young Victoria: Costume Designer Interview

    14 Jan ’10
  • Clothes from now,  Girls on TV,  Premium

    Costume Encounter: Sheridan Smith as Sally Thorn in The 7.39

    10 Jan ’14 /

    Two-part BBC drama The 7.39 could have been your average ‘man meets woman and has an affair’ tale. However, the overall verdict has been one of admiration at not only the amazing acting from its star players but also the script, which took the audience on an emotional rollercoaster throughout its glorious two hours. But again, often overlooked is the costume, in this case contemporary. The story of the female lead, Sally Thorn, played by Sheridan Smith with a wonderful naturalness, is particularly clearly told through what she wears (costume design by Lucinda Wright). Carl Matthews (believably played by David Morrissey) is stuck in a rut. Tired of his job,…

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    The Wolverine International Trailer: Yakuza Style

    27 Mar ’13

    Iron Man 3: A Different Kind of Suit

    24 Apr ’13

    Kurt and Bart Discuss the Costume Design of Stoker

    8 Mar ’13
  • Clothes from Fantasy & Sci-fi,  Clothes from now,  Girls in Films,  Guys in Films,  Premium

    Realism through Identity: Clothing in The Last of Us

    30 Nov ’13 /

    If you have played The Last of Us on Playstation 3 it has likely ruined video gaming for you. The world created is so vivid and believable that every game afterward just feels dated and empty. Throughout, The Last of Us is unwaveringly real, full of seemingly inconsequential details such as every weapon or object you carry being attached or able to fit into your character’s backpack. Contrast this with Grand Theft Auto V where a rocket launcher appears out of your trouser pocket and it’s clear that if game developers really want to create a living, breathing parallel to reality they need to treat it as reality – no…

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    Lord Christopher Laverty 2 Comments

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    Michael Wilkinson Discusses Costume Design in Man of Steel

    21 Jun ’13

    Net-a-Porter to Launch Hunger Games Capsule Collection

    5 Sep ’13

    Steamy Sucker Punch Trailer Hits

    5 Nov ’10
  • Clothes from 1980s,  Girls in Films,  Guys in Films,  Premium

    Working Girl: The Culture of Power Dressing

    27 Sep ’13 /

    Costume designer Ann Roth’s template for Working Girl (1988, directed by Mike Nichols) is especially astute with regards to the social and geographical make up of its characters. Protagonist Tess McGill (Melanie Griffith) is a homely girl raised and living in Staten Island, New York. Currently working as a secretary in Manhattan (not ‘executive assistant’, reflecting vernacular of the time), as is her best friend Cynthia (Joan Cusack). Tess, however, has gained a degree through night school and harbours ambitions to use it for more constructive tasks than answering the telephone and fetching toilet paper for bawdy stockbrokers. After being set up for a ‘date’ that turned out to be…

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    Style Icon of the Season: Cousin Eddie in Christmas Vacation

    18 Dec ’13

    Ghostbusters: Sigourney Weaver’s Cape Coat

    15 Sep ’09

    Wall Street: Michael Douglas’ Gekko Shirt

    6 Apr ’10
  • Clothes from 1990s,  Clothes from now,  Girls in Films,  Guys in Films,  Premium

    The Place Beyond the Pines: Don’t Try This Look at Home

    15 Apr ’13 /

    If you thought a scorpion embroidered bomber jacket was tough to pull off, just wait until you see Ryan Gosling in The Place Beyond the Pines.

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    Lord Christopher Laverty 3 Comments

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    Basic Instinct: Sharon Stone, Devil in a White Dress

    22 Feb ’11

    Tailoring The Wolf of Wall Street

    7 Feb ’14

    The Big Lebowski: Jeff Bridges in a Pendleton Cardigan

    31 Aug ’10
  • Clothes from now,  Guys in Films,  News

    Alan Partridge Movie Trailer Hits: He’s Wearing a Varsity

    15 Mar ’13 /

    Teaser trailer for Alpha Papa aka Alan Partridge the movie arrives. He may dress hideously but costume design is vital for the character.

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    The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo: Full Costume Trailer

    24 Sep ’11

    Review: The Dark Knight Rises

    21 Jul ’12

    Contemporary Costume: Where Have the Aloha Shirts Gone?

    20 Jun ’14
  • Clothes from now,  Girls in Films,  Premium

    Illuminate More Than Hide: Costume Design in A Separation

    1 Jun ’12 /

    The religious and cultural significance of the costume design in foreign language Oscar winner A Separation.

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    Midnight in Paris: Nostalgia Fashion

    3 Feb ’12

    Review: The American

    15 Oct ’10

    Crazy, Stupid, Love: Suits and 407s

    27 Jan ’12
  • Clothes from 1990s,  Guys in Films,  Interviews,  Premium

    Reservoir Dogs: Gangster Silhouette

    2 Apr ’12 /

    Betsy Heimann chats exclusively about one of the most iconic costumes of the 1990s.

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    Lord Christopher Laverty 3 Comments

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    The Grifters: Be Careful What You Wear – Part 2

    20 Jun ’13

    Basic Instinct: Sharon Stone, Devil in a White Dress

    22 Feb ’11

    Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman: Elegant Opera Dress

    25 Jun ’10
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