Fashion In Film Friday - Clueless

The 1995 movie 'Clueless' starring Alicia Silverstone & the late Brittany Murphy was surprisingly an instant box office hit given the mediocrity of the storyline.  The plot surrounds a group of Beverly Hills teenage girls who are gorgeous, popular & wealthy high school fashionistas on the hunt for the opposite sex.  This popular 90's film had the same impact on slang trends as the movie 'Valley Girls' did in the 80's.  The girls of Clueless were definitely the modern day version of 'Vals'.    

Aside from the jargon catching on, the clothing styles in 'Clueless' made it the fashion film of the year and the title was totally earned by costume designer Mona May who came up with the sixty different wardrobe changes for Silverstone's character.

May stated in an interview with Nylon Magazine that her designs for the movie Clueless were greatly influenced by runway shows.  She said the tricky part was bringing haute couture to the classroom setting & having it fit in.  Her designs for the film were fresh, outrageous & soon after the movie was released the trends were catching on.  Berets were back with a passion. Baby doll dresses with puffy sleeves, otherwise known as 'cute baby wear', micro minis with tights, slip dresses worn over t-shirts, plaid two piece mini skirt suits and thigh high stockings worn with platform Mary Jane's were big fashion fare the year this film came out... 

Although the fashion styles of the movie 'Clueless' were so sixteen years ago, elements of them pop up here and there, every now and then and sooner or later it's going to be back around again! 


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Goldie Hawn - MOD Monday

Not too many of our generation knows that actress Goldie Hawn was the MOD 'it girl' back in her heyday, or that she got her big break on the now vintage, no longer in syndication Rowan & Martin's sketch comedy show 'Laugh In'.

Her painted bikini clad body made her a popular staple on the show every week and was considered too much for t.v. back in the late 60's, early 70's.  She went on to often portray a bimbo'ish character in her films but that persona is what brought her to star status.  

   
Goldie re-popularized the baby doll mini dress and had a way of making the most simple frock into something fresh and exciting!

Goldie Hawn's daughter, Kate Hudson has definitely followed in her mother's foot steps with her fashion forward persona as well as a vintage vibe that's all her own.

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It's MOD Monday Baby!

It's MOD Monday here again at Retro Threadz and this week we're discussing the origin of the 'baby doll dress' since it was a fashion staple of the 60's.  The baby doll style started out as a sometimes sleeveless, comfortable, usually nylon fabric, short, loose fitting night gown that shortly thereafter migrated into a dress.

The name given for the garment style 'baby doll' was popularized by the movie of the same name in the late 50's which portrayed the title female character as a young and sexy nymphet and the whole idea of that set off the garments popularity amongst young women.

Both Twiggy and Goldie Hawn were most associated with the baby doll style of the 60's...

The style faded a bit through the late 70's and 80's but made a resurgence in the 90's when grunge goddess Courtney Love gave it a new spin and the birth of the punk rock style called 'kinderwhore' was born!  Basically it's a baby doll dress that has been torn, ripped up or cut low in the front paired with platform Mary Jane's.

     
The trend had died down again a bit but popped up in the 'here and now' as  designer Julien MacDonald fashioned up quite a variety of baby doll dresses circa 2011 as he showed his collection at the Spring Fashion week.  

If you notice, there hasn't been too much evolution regarding the shape of the style with the baby doll dress, just a lot more variety where color and textures are concerned.


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