One of the great influencers of fashion in America has always been the movies. With the Oscar’s just around the corner let’s take a look at some of the iconic nominated movies of the past and their fashions that both showcased and influenced styles in earlier decades and today.
First up is one of my all-time favorite musicals, “Singin in the Rain”. Starring Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Cyd Charisse Jane Hagan and Donald O’Connor, this delightful movie scored Oscar nominations for best supporting actress and best music scoring. Made in the 1950’s this song and dance movie showcased 1920’s fashion in all its glory. Walter Plunkett, the costume designer, whose previous work included “Gone with the Wind”, was challenged by two things on this movie: creating clothing that would stand up to the rigors of dance routines and rain while also being true representations of 1920’s style.
Some of the most famous styles of the 20’s were featured in Plunkett’s costumes, including drop waist and flapper dresses and skirts with fringe, slits and pleats. Geometric patterns, costume jewelry, headbands and fur were wildly popular during those years, so he included them in many of his designs.
Debbie Reynolds represented the girl next door. In the good morning routine, she wore a blue greyish straight-line dress decorated with art-deco zigzags that made it both simple yet captivating as she danced and sang with Gene and Donald.
As Gene was singing the love song “You Were Meant for Me”, Debbie wore a chiffon lilac and silver outfit with a drop waist and a ragged hemline. The drop waist included a sash with a glittering broach attached to finish the look. It created an intimate compliment to Gene’s white pants and sweater, flowing beautifully as they danced together.
When she later sang “Would You” to Gene in the shooting of “The Dancing Cavalier”, Debbie wore an art deco green leaf geometric patterned dress which included shape defining angular green panels at the hips along with scalloped edge shoulder sleeves.
In one of the final scenes, Gene and Donald pull the curtain away behind the character Lena Lamont to reveal Debbie in a frilly bubble gum pink formal dress with spaghetti straps and a mildly flowing mesh and tulle fabric.
In “Singin in the Rain”, Jane Hagan plays the role of glamour girl Lena Lamont. Walter Puckett made sure her clothes were very different from the up and coming Debbie Reynold’s character. Her outfits had to reflect all the glitz and flamboyant styles of the 20’s. He did it with gusto.
In the opening red-carpet scene, Jane wears a pastel-green, knee length dress with beaded tassels and spaghetti straps along with a sparkling headband and extravagant costume jewelry. Topping off the look was a gorgeous white fox fur coat. This look created a captivating and alluring magnet for men in the movie. Women across America loved this type of outfit during the 1920’s and sought to recreate the style.
One of Lena’s most interesting looks in the movie was the monkey-fur lined full-length coat with patterned sleeves and standout white sunglasses. The outfit screamed wealth and demanded attention from all who saw her.
Midway through the movie, Lena barges into director R.F. Simpson’s (Millard Mitchell) office. Wearing a striking pale pink lilac dress with matching gloves, pink boa fur, satin white clutch purse and a wide-brimmed see-through hat, she hatches her plan to use Debbie Reynold’s voice in future pictures.
In her final scene Jane Hagan’s Lena character wears a dazzling full-length drop waisted sliver beaded spaghetti strapped dress whose lower half is covered by ostrich feathers. She also wears a matching ostrich feathered headband. This certainly made her stand out from the crowd. The use of feathers and beads were coveted by fashion conscious ladies throughout the 1920’s, as the represented luxury and modern fashion of the day.
The nameless character of Cyd Charisse is perhaps the most seductive woman in “Singin in the Rain”. She stands out from everyone else in the “Broadway Melody” scene. At its outset, Cyd wears one of the most famous and seductive outfits in movie history. The emerald green flapper she wears isn’t your normal dress. Its shimmering panels from her neckline to her waist extend to her knees, making them swing as she dances with Gene Kelly. It’s finished off with chandelier earrings, glittering choker, bracelets and emerald green high heels.
Another of Cyd Charisse’s outstanding and elegant dresses that everyone talks about in the “Broadway Melody” is the white satin flapper dress with silver beaded details, a chiffon cape pinned with diamond broches and attached to spaghetti straps along with a sparkling diamond studded feather headpiece. It’s not wonder that this outfit catches the eye of Gene Kelly and everyone else who sees it on the screen.
From its opening moments to the “Beautiful Girls” number with models dressed in sumptuous gowns and outfits to its final scenes, a treasure trove of fashion cascades before our eyes. With its striking designs, colors and glamour, this musical represents the women of the 20’s so very well.
