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[…]
Tag: leather jacket
The Fabric of Film: Tough Guy Wear
In honour of The Times’ film critic Kevin Maher’s list of iconic movie rebels, we take a look at what it truly takes to make a tough guy in cinema. What constitutes a tough guy,[…]
Sons of Anarchy: Identity and the Outlaw: Women of SAMCRO
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[…]
Sons of Anarchy: Costume Identity and the Outlaw
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[…]
Doctor Who: A Contemporary Costume Evolution
Doctor Who, the quirky British sci-fi television series about a time travelling alien and his friends, premiered in 1963. Since then there have been twelve Doctors (and a War Doctor), each with their own unique[…]
From Bum to Italian Stallion: Sylvester Stallone as Rocky
In the very opening scene of Rocky (1976, costume designer Robert Cambel), we see the title character in the ring, bare chested, hands encased in boxing gloves, the picture of sporting violence and masculinity. But[…]
Michael Caine in The Italian Job: Part 2
This is part 2 (part 1 HERE) of an expanded article Clothes on Film editor Christopher Laverty wrote for men’s style resource MR PORTER analysing Michael Caine’s suits in The Italian Job. This post covers[…]
Take Me to my Tailor: Michael Caine in The Italian Job
The following is an expanded article Clothes on Film editor Chris Laverty wrote for men’s style resource MR PORTER analysing Michael Caine’s suits in The Italian Job. This post covers all the costumes he wore[…]
Working Girl: The Culture of Power Dressing
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[…]
The Place Beyond the Pines: Don’t Try This Look at Home
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.
Looper: Costume Designer Sharen Davis Reveals Inspiration
Costume Designer Sharen Davis talks us through her retro-vision for Looper.
Review: Looper
A mishmash of sci-fi conventions and clichés cobbled together as something we have never quite seen before.