Fashion In Film Friday - Pulp Fiction

The film Pulp Fiction, that revived John Travolta's career and put him back on the list of Hollywood's leading men, was released in 1994 and has since become a cult classic.  Directed by the infamous Quentin Tarantino, the movie has several stories within the main plot that centers around two hit men, Vincent Vega & Jules Winnfield played by Travolta & Samuel L. Jackson.

Fashion becomes a part of the films allure when in walks Mia Wallace, as portrayed by actress Uma Thurman.  Thurman's character in the film is the classy coked up wife of a high profile mobster/loan shark.  Mia's style is a cross between the vintage bad girls of the 50's & 60's, peppered with a touch of MOD.  The black flared clam diggers paired with a simple tailored white shirt (tunic length), finished off appropriately with ballerina flats was sheer perfection in regards to the costume designs that gave this move it's retro vibe.

This is such an absolutely easy look to obtain because it's basically an effortless, yet timeless style.  So whether you opt to shop at high end department stores such as Neiman Marcus or Saxs Fifth Avenue or scale it down a bit to Macy's or Nordstrom, you're sure to find your 'Mia inspired outfit'.  

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Hive Jive

It was called 'the bouffant, the up-do & the B52', but the beehive that originated in Chicago in 1960 was the true definition of the 'big hair' fad that caught on like wild fire and gained world wide appeal.  The overly back combed, overly aqua netted style, was named the 'beehive' because it actually looks like a hive, or a nest of some sorts.  It's been said that part of the allure of the style is that it added the illusion of height to the wearer.  I know the history of the hive first hand as my mother who grew up in that era told me she sported the style when she was 16.  She said..."The higher the hive, the cooler you were considered to be".  The first girl group to get on board with this style was 'The Ronettes' but the trend lasted through to the late 70's with the emergence of the pop culture iconic group 'The B52's', as band members Kate Pierson & Cindy Wilson rocked their own retro version of the boof.

Well into the 80's it continued to trail blaze & continued to be re-popularized, especially after the cult John Waters film, 'Hair Spray' starring drag queen Divine & Ricky Lake was released, & over dramatized the 'do' to the hilt! & it made it's way back again with a re do of the popular movie from the same script starring John Travolta in drag & newcomer Nikki Blonsky in 2007.

In 2006, Amy Whinehouse stepped on the music scene with her signature style which was soon to be emulated by her female followers.  Her hair was what she was known for aside from her amazing other worldly vocal abilities. It was stated that her poof measured close to a half of a foot high!  In her whole career regardless of her state of being, you never saw her minus the hair-do.  She was quoted as saying ...  "My hair is always on point, even if the rest of me is really naff." 

This vintage hairstyle just seems to keep evolving but has definitely come along way from it's beginnings when it was originally created by Margaret Vinci Heldt, winner of the 1954 National Coiffure Championship.

This variation of the style won an award at a British hairstyling competition in 2010 which is sheer proof that in years to come we're just going to keep seeing the style moving into new and exciting directions!

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Fashion In Film Friday

In 1977 John Travolta's role in the classic hit movie Saturday Night Fever about a troubled Brooklyn teen trying to make it as a dancer, shot him to stardom as an instant sex symbol of the 70's.        

  
Besides popularizing disco music around the world, the fashions in this film started a major style trend with synthetic fabrics that gave four star status to nylon and polyester.  This was the time of butterfly collars, bell bottom pants and handkerchief hemline dresses.  Clothing was comfortable and most of all danceable!

This style is still, and always will be quite universal so much so that it even made it's way to Suneet Verma, the Delhi based designer who closed the Lakme '10th Annual Fashion Week' last year with his 'Night Fever Collection'.
His pieces included silk georgette net and organza of the late 70's & sequin sheeting of the 80's. Staying true to the theme, his show was full on with mirror balls and Donna Summers/Bee Gees disco tracks!

Whether you love it or hate it...DISCO is never gonna die!!! 

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