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 Fantasy & Sci-fi,  Girls in Films,  Guys in Films,  Premium

    Superfly Solo

    18 Jun ’18 /

    MILD SPOILERS Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) is far and away the most ‘A New Hope-like’ film in the series yet. In terms of tone, sure, but particularly costume. What costume designers Glyn Dillon and David Crossman have so expertly achieved with Solo is making a contemporary looking movie set during the late 1960s. Star Wars: A New Hope was released in 1977 which puts Solo’s timeline around a decade before, or likely just over. But hang on, isn’t this a science fiction movie? What does when it’s made have to do with the space opera world being brought to life on screen? Well the seventies in particular was…

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    Scott Pilgrim vs The World Trailer Arrives on Fire

    25 Mar ’10

    Seventh Son Trailer: Filthy Fantasy

    12 Jul ’13

    UK Film Review: Terminator Salvation

    23 May ’09
  • Clothes from 1930s,  Girls in Films,  Guys in Films,  Interviews,  Premium

    Murder on the Orient Express: Interview with Costume Designer Alexandra Byrne

    2 Nov ’17 /

    Clothes on Film were fortunate enough to be invited to a display of costumes from the latest adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express (2017), plus interview its costume designer Alexandra Byrne. An Oscar winner for Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2008), and well known for her period design work, since 2011 Byrne has become connected to the world of Marvel, her most recent project being Doctor Strange in 2016. Here she chats candidly about recreating the (mainly) glamorous side of the early 1930s and the challenges that faced her and her team. Alexandra Byrne on shooting in 70 mm: “Director Ken (Branagh) and I did Hamlet (1996) together which was…

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    Film Review: 42nd Street

    5 May ’09

    Costume Designer Ann Roth: “I Don’t Dress Movie Stars”

    29 Mar ’11

    Johnny Depp in Public Enemies: Costume as Plot

    12 Apr ’11
  • Clothes from 1940s,  Girls in Films,  Girls on TV

    The Star Wattage of Mildred Pierce (1945)

    6 Mar ’17 /

    The 1945 cinematic adaptation of Mildred Pierce, directed by Michael Curtiz and starring, of course, Joan Crawford, is a very different beast to the 2011 HBO mini-series starring Kate Winslet. In all honestly it is not as good, but more significantly it is very different in terms of costume. Interestingly enough the mini-series, which is evidently a period piece, is closer in terms of historical accuracy than the near contemporary set Crawford version. This is not the be all and end all, because while Winslet’s Pierce may feel more real in terms of costume and setting, Crawford’s is arguably more fun. If for no other reason than to exemplify how…

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    His Girl Friday: Rosalind Russell’s Chevron Striped Coat

    18 Jun ’09

    Barbra Streisand in The Way We Were: Forties Meets Seventies

    16 May ’11

    Cinema Paradiso: Invisible Costume

    9 Feb ’15
  • Clothes from 1930s,  Girls in Films,  Guys in Films,  Premium

    Dressed to Serve: Costume in The Grand Budapest Hotel

    4 Jul ’14 /

    SPOILERS From a costume point of view, and therefore a character point of view, The Grand Budapest Hotel (directed by Wes Anderson) is all about uniforms; those worn by men and women in official capacities and those adopted as a life uniform by those trapped in the past. Eccentric La Belle Époque hangover Madame D (Tilda Swinton) is the latter, Moustafa Zero (Tony Revolori), a newly appointed lobby boy in the pinnacle of majestic 1930s hotels, The Grand Budapest, is the former. While Madame D goes nowhere, perhaps because she has already been everywhere, Zero undertakes a journey and evolution of character, which subsequently means his clothing does too. In…

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    The Secret Sharer: Abbie Cornish & Andrea Riseborough in W.E.

    20 Mar ’12

    Murder on the Orient Express: Interview with Costume Designer Alexandra Byrne

    2 Nov ’17

    Puttin’ on the Glitz at The British Library: A Look Back

    11 Apr ’14
  • Clothes from 1920s,  Clothes from 1930s,  Interviews,  Premium

    Puttin’ on the Glitz at The British Library: A Look Back

    11 Apr ’14 /

    A fortnight ago to the day, Clothes on Film creator and editor Christopher Laverty joined fashion historian Amber Jane Butchart to give one of two talks and a Q&A chat at The British Library in London. The subjects under discussion were, respectively, the unexpectedly colourful clothing of Prohibition era gangsters as portrayed in the HBO television series Boardwalk Empire, and the influence of movies and movie star style on fashion during The Jazz Age. After Christopher and Amber finished their talks to a delighted audience (they clapped), everyone reconvened to the elegant backdrop of the main library grounds to swig cocktails and dance the night away to Alex Mendham &…

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    HBO Sessions Video: Clothes on Film Discuss Boardwalk Empire

    3 Jan ’12

    The Great Gatsby Costumes at Brooks Brothers in London

    2 May ’13

    Changeling: Angelina Jolie’s Fur Trimmed Coat

    5 May ’10
  • Clothes from 1920s,  Clothes from 1930s,  Interviews

    Puttin’ on the Glitz: An Upcoming Fashion and Film Event

    12 Mar ’14 /

    Here’s a bit of justified promotion for an event you will absolutely want to see: fashion historian, DJ for Jazz FM, author and Clothes on Film contributor, Amber Jane Butchart, teams up with your very own editor, Christopher Laverty, for an exquisite evening entitled Puttin’ on the Glitz on 28th March in London. Taking place at the sumptuous, gorgeous, you-really-should-have-been-there-by-now British Library, Amber and Christopher present two separate talks pertaining to the 1920/30’s Jazz Era before coming together to answer questions from the audience. After that, there will be cocktails and period frivolities courtesy of The Vintage Mafia. It all starts at 6.30 pm and finishes around 10.30, so plenty…

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    HBO Sessions Video: Clothes on Film Discuss Mildred Pierce

    21 Nov ’11

    The Great Gatsby: A Conversation with Catherine Martin

    20 May ’13

    Midnight in Paris: Nostalgia Fashion

    3 Feb ’12
  • Clothes from 1960s,  Clothes from 1970s,  Guys in Films,  Premium

    Black Caesar: Blaxploitation Gangster

    1 Nov ’13 /

    Fred Williamson as Tommy Gibbs adopts the gangster codes of 1930s cinema in blaxploitation classic Black Caesar.

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    Deena Appel on Creating the Costume World of The Spy Who Shagged Me

    2 Oct ’18

    Get on Up: Sharen Davis Shares Costume Design Sketches

    9 Dec ’14

    Favourite Fashions From Beyond the Valley of the Dolls

    4 Oct ’10
  • Clothes from 1837-1919,  Clothes from Fantasy & Sci-fi,  Girls in Films,  Guys in Films,  Interviews,  Premium

    Oz the Great and Powerful: Costume Interview with Gary Jones

    5 Jul ’13 /

    We chat to costume designer Gary Jones about his work on Oz the Great and Powerful.

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    Dual Analysis: The Young Victoria – Chris’ Thoughts

    28 Jul ’10

    Review: The Woman in Black

    10 Feb ’12

    Dress like a Peaky Blinder

    13 Sep ’13
  • Clothes from 1970s,  Girls in Films,  Guys in Films,  Premium

    Kramer vs. Kramer: Meryl Streep in a Burberry Trench Coat

    21 Mar ’13 /

    Meryl Streep’s timeless Burberry trench coat is one of the most recognisable contemporary costumes of 1970s.

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    Boogie Nights Costume: Dirty Time

    11 Nov ’11

    Film Review: The Lovely Bones

    20 Feb ’10

    Dark Shadows Trailer: Campy, Period Blending Costume Fun

    16 Mar ’12
  • Clothes from 1930s,  Clothes from 1940s,  Girls in Films,  Guys in Films,  Premium

    Gangster Squad: Gangster Gloss

    28 Jan ’13 /

    The glossy costume world of gangster squad is faithful to history, but not a slave to it.

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    Review: Hugo – With Exclusive Insight From Sandy Powell

    23 Dec ’11

    Swing Time: Ginger Rogers’ Day Dress

    26 May ’09

    Film Review: Chinatown

    19 Oct ’09
  • Clothes from 1920s,  Clothes from 1930s,  Girls in Films,  Guys in Films,  Interviews,  Premium

    Lawless: Interview with Costume Designer Margot Wilson

    27 Sep ’12 /

    Costume designer Margot Wilson talks exclusively to Clothes on Film about her impeccable work on Lawless.

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    The Artist: Interview with Mark Bridges

    22 Nov ’11

    Exclusive Boardwalk Empire Costume Design Clip

    5 Jan ’12

    The Great Gatsby: A Conversation with Catherine Martin

    20 May ’13
  • Clothes from 1920s,  Clothes from 1930s,  Guys in Films,  Interviews,  Premium

    Tom Hardy in Lawless: The Knitwear Anti-Hero

    21 Sep ’12 /

    Tom Hardy heralds dawning of the knitwear anti-hero. Margot Wilson discusses her use of the cardigan for Lawless.

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    Latest Trailer for The Great Gatsby: Fancy Clothes

    4 Apr ’13

    Boardwalk Empire Trailer Hits. Can. Not. Wait.

    14 Jun ’10

    Costume in The Great Gatsby: Use Your Imagination

    23 May ’13
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