So this weekend, I finally put on my brave face and sat down to watch a movie that I'd been dying to see for really long. But somehow, I just couldn't summon the courage to witness the silver screen manifestation of what can only be known as the Fitzgerald's greatest prose and a significant allegory of the fuzzy Jazz Age. The movie was a kaleidoscopic delight to the eyes but missed an important detail - the disclaimer that before watching this movie, pull the intellectual mantle down and keep all your cult worshipping at bay.
My first impression was "Wow, this movie's far more grandiose than my imagination....Tad loud though, eh?" The way Baz Luhrmann gives us an obscenely flamboyant and a larger-than-life theatrical rendition to the beautiful, sombre prose of Fitzgerald was not quite what I expected, to say the least. However, as you watch the movie, you realize that it is this reinterpretation that struck a chord somewhere. And thus, swaying to Jay-Z urban hip-hop and donning a flapper-style spirited nonchalance, we are flimsily glided through Gatsby's life in a lavish and an emotionally-charged ride, much like one of his party crashers.
All of which adds up to the fact that this movie is not about delicacy or light breezes or the lyrical prose of Fitzgerald that coolly embodied the bittersweet abstractness of his characters' mental landscape. It is about the jarring cacophony of money, the overstated thoughtlessness of a hedonistic lifestyle, and above all.....Prada's exquisite tribute to the Flapper woman's exuberance and flair.
Right, about the fashion then. So if you're a "less is more" sort of fashion enthusiast, then read no further as the flapper style statement was all screeching, in-your-face embellishments of crystal and lustrous pearls, fur collars, opulent headdresses and jewel-encrusted gowns. The Roaring Twenties woman, the one armed with money and who was, I believe at that time, making waves to embrace the new and shed old inhibitions, obviously couldn't resist the swagger of excessive consumerism. And sartorially, Miuccia Prada and Catherine Martin were spot on in depicting her! This iconic woman unabashedly wore her shimmering "I couldn't care less" attitude on her sleeve with a trademark ease, and that's what makes her truly modern. No wonder, designers are drawn to the Flapper woman time and again in an attempt to touch her spirit and shape her mercurial personality in all kinds of feathery fabrics that dance up a storm when urged into the slightest motion.
So here are my personal favourite costume picks for two of the most iconic women of the 20s
1. Daisy Buchanan:
I'm personally in love with this black robe! This stars in my to-be-designed list as a short black silk kimono dress with similar details. I think it'll be very flattering for a relaxed lounge wear sort of thing. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a better image but if you've seen the movie, you know what I'm talking about.
Jordan Baker:
Strong, sexy, debonair, fiercely independent and modern, not just in her look but spirit. Jordan's not tied down by the men who're with her, much contrary to someone else we know. She's a pragmatist and also a highly-skilled golf champ, the occupation itself lending to her largely boyish mannerisms and choice of wardrobe. "She wore her evening dress, all her dresses, like sports clothes.", Fitzgerald quotes. But the essence of Jordan Baker is not her gawkish, masculine personality but that she's unconventional, aloof and has a likeable coldness to her. Baz Lurrmann retained all that and gave her a raw sensuality and a sophisticated look that is more recent than the 20s. Because her wardrobe's more relatable and not silly and soppy like that of the other one's, (considering we're in 2014), she becomes the fashion protagonist of the movie.
The narrow breastplate of sparkle frames her slender shoulders gorgeously! This dress is perfection for her as it brings out her the strong, resilient and slightly lethal personality - that is so Jordan Baker. The black veiled hat gives her an enigmatic edge.
In all, I am not really impressed with this loud and shallow representation of Fitzgerald's subtle prose (and I would have really liked to believe that underneath all those collossal party scenes, the characters were deeply broken and misguided). The only saving grace that shines through, like the Fitzgerald novel, are the costumes of the movie. Maybe they did betray the factual Flapper fashion by adding modern elements but strangely enough, the contemporary twist is what brought his prose to life for me.
My first impression was "Wow, this movie's far more grandiose than my imagination....Tad loud though, eh?" The way Baz Luhrmann gives us an obscenely flamboyant and a larger-than-life theatrical rendition to the beautiful, sombre prose of Fitzgerald was not quite what I expected, to say the least. However, as you watch the movie, you realize that it is this reinterpretation that struck a chord somewhere. And thus, swaying to Jay-Z urban hip-hop and donning a flapper-style spirited nonchalance, we are flimsily glided through Gatsby's life in a lavish and an emotionally-charged ride, much like one of his party crashers.
All of which adds up to the fact that this movie is not about delicacy or light breezes or the lyrical prose of Fitzgerald that coolly embodied the bittersweet abstractness of his characters' mental landscape. It is about the jarring cacophony of money, the overstated thoughtlessness of a hedonistic lifestyle, and above all.....Prada's exquisite tribute to the Flapper woman's exuberance and flair.
Right, about the fashion then. So if you're a "less is more" sort of fashion enthusiast, then read no further as the flapper style statement was all screeching, in-your-face embellishments of crystal and lustrous pearls, fur collars, opulent headdresses and jewel-encrusted gowns. The Roaring Twenties woman, the one armed with money and who was, I believe at that time, making waves to embrace the new and shed old inhibitions, obviously couldn't resist the swagger of excessive consumerism. And sartorially, Miuccia Prada and Catherine Martin were spot on in depicting her! This iconic woman unabashedly wore her shimmering "I couldn't care less" attitude on her sleeve with a trademark ease, and that's what makes her truly modern. No wonder, designers are drawn to the Flapper woman time and again in an attempt to touch her spirit and shape her mercurial personality in all kinds of feathery fabrics that dance up a storm when urged into the slightest motion.
So here are my personal favourite costume picks for two of the most iconic women of the 20s
1. Daisy Buchanan:
Daisy Buchanan...The girl we hate so much that we love her to death...fleety, impressionable, selfish and of course, highly-coveted. The golden girl with sad, enchanting eyes and the voice full of money... who's incapable of real emotions - her artifice is the stuff that legends are made of, probably the same stuff that inspired reality TV too.
We can only conclude that Daisy Buchanan is not an easy woman to style, for she's all about the manic, dream-like light she radiates, more than her wealth and glamour quotient. And Miucca Prada, although she confesses that none of the dresses were inspired by the 20s fashion, has captured her essence with perfection. Floaty silhouettes, ruffled feathers, fringes, faux collars, sheer silks, enhanced with bejeweled overlays and flashy headdresses all work like magic to enhance her Bambi-ness. Cary Mulligan's slender frame in sharp body-hugging dresses and the absurd burst of colors, fringes and sparkle, are totally in tandem with the over-the-top lifestyle of the 20s. Ofcourse, I didn't think any of her dresses, stunning as they were, are wearable otherwise. Nevertheless, the winner of all for the sheer craftsmanship is this magnificent chandelier dress with a dangling crystal overlay and the diamond-encrusted headdress. |
| Chandelier Dress |
FYI, the ruffled fabric details in this lavender and cool blue garden dress were a strong influence from the 20s as women of that time wanted to emphasize movement through dress and make the most of their hip swings.
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| Garden Dress |
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| Black Silk Robe |
Jordan Baker:
Strong, sexy, debonair, fiercely independent and modern, not just in her look but spirit. Jordan's not tied down by the men who're with her, much contrary to someone else we know. She's a pragmatist and also a highly-skilled golf champ, the occupation itself lending to her largely boyish mannerisms and choice of wardrobe. "She wore her evening dress, all her dresses, like sports clothes.", Fitzgerald quotes. But the essence of Jordan Baker is not her gawkish, masculine personality but that she's unconventional, aloof and has a likeable coldness to her. Baz Lurrmann retained all that and gave her a raw sensuality and a sophisticated look that is more recent than the 20s. Because her wardrobe's more relatable and not silly and soppy like that of the other one's, (considering we're in 2014), she becomes the fashion protagonist of the movie.
The narrow breastplate of sparkle frames her slender shoulders gorgeously! This dress is perfection for her as it brings out her the strong, resilient and slightly lethal personality - that is so Jordan Baker. The black veiled hat gives her an enigmatic edge.
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| Jordan Baker |
Ah, this geometric satin silk tunic with its sheen in that lovely color of champagne! Teamed with beige pallazos and strings of pearl, there's nothing that can look more sleek and elegant and above all fuss-free! The only drama going on is in her smokey eye make-up and coral pout. Thumbs up!
In all, I am not really impressed with this loud and shallow representation of Fitzgerald's subtle prose (and I would have really liked to believe that underneath all those collossal party scenes, the characters were deeply broken and misguided). The only saving grace that shines through, like the Fitzgerald novel, are the costumes of the movie. Maybe they did betray the factual Flapper fashion by adding modern elements but strangely enough, the contemporary twist is what brought his prose to life for me.
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