Fashion In Film Friday - Pleasantville

In 1998, Reese Witherspoon and Tobey McGuire starred in what could be considered a period piece film titled 'Pleasantville'.  The movie was set in the modern day and follows the two main characters as they are sucked into their television into a 'Leave It To Beaver' type black & white sitcom.  The costume designs for Pleasantville were immaculate in replicating the styles that both men and women incorporated into their daily wardrobes in the more 'simpler' time that embodied the era of the 1950's.  

The name of the film is connected to the idealism that everything was pleasant in the 50's and representative of a more puritanical time.  In all reality, less the obvious changes in censorship and morals, individuals in that time frame faced the same challenges that we do in this day and age in regards to making our way in the world and dealing with relationships.  The movie was instrumental in giving insight to the fact that we all have the same wants and desires in life and that as a whole, our ideas really haven't changed that much throughout the decades. 

The fashions of the 50's were absolutely recreated to give this flick a realistic quality.  Tight sweaters, circle skirts and cardigans.  If you love all things 50's check out Pleasantville now on DVD...

Currently 'in shop' we have tons of 50's vintage apparel, jewelry and accessories so if that's what you dig, make sure to stop on by!...


pics: katreeena.wordpress.com, sethvan.blogspot.com, listal.com, whowhatwear.com, tumblr.com 

Emmy Winner Designed Her Own Dress...

Up until this weekend, I had absolutely no idea who actress Melissa McCarthy was and then I saw the hilarious movie 'Bridesmaids' that's out on DVD today.  I'm not one for watching television so the sitcom 'Mike & Molly' that she won her Emmy for 'outstanding lead actress in a comedy series', was news to me!  In an interview she stated that she couldn't find a dress that appealed to her to wear to the yearly event, so she decided to design something for herself.  McCarthy said her love for creating fashions goes way back to her college years as she initially pursued her passion for textiles & fabrics by attending design school with the intent of ending up in that field.  The purple gown created was a joint effort being that she got Danielle Pearl who is a reputable couture dressmaker on board with her in her project.  Melissa was quoted as saying the piece was "wildly comfortable".  In my opinion, the dress did absolutely nothing to flatter her plus size figure and there was a definite lack of lines or variations in patterns to do the job.  I'm totally not fond of the empire waist on full figured gals and the dress was so long that you can't even see the shoes she chose to wear which could have been a focal point for accentuating the otherwise dismal dress.  Because she's rather short, I would have chose a more delicate fabric, like a layered chiffon in anything but deep purple, maybe black with intricate beading accents and perhaps a bolero jacket to give the illusion of height.  Seriously, anything but this!... 

This comedic actress is far from a plain Jane, so it really disappoints me that it was her first time to shine in the spot light and she didn't hit the mark!   


pics: nydailynews.com