Empire Cinemas Selects Top 10 Fashion Moments

27th June 2016

The fashion world will bow down this July when Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie finally hits the big screen. Eddie (Jennifer Saunders) and Patsy (Joanna Lumley) may have proved to be mildly bonkers, but they were always at the forefront of fashion. Indeed fashion cameos pepper the new film, with Kate Moss, Stella McCartney, Kim Kardashian, Cara Delevingne, Anya Hindmarch, Jean Paul Gaultier and Giles Deacon all set to be fabulous darling. Empire Cinemas has put together their top ten fashion moments in the movies, hotter than Cara and Kate:

Breakfast at Tiffany’s

The chicest fashion moment to ever enter the zeitgeist, a Givenchy clad Audrey Hepburn, wielding a cigarette holder and Oliver Goldsmith sunglasses is an enlighteningly sophisticated society girl. Author Truman Capote based the book’s character on Marilyn Monroe, and never forgave Paramount for casting Hepburn. Yet Hepburn epitomises 1961 complete with the infamous black clean-lined dress. One of the dresses was sold at Christie’s in 2006 for $923,187.

Clueless

Taking up the school cool girl clique mantle from Heathers, Clueless was a sea of plaid, Alaia dresses and knee socks. After the film’s release, these were accordingly only worn by the coolest girls.

Cleopatra

65 costumes costing $194,800 meant Elizabeth Taylor’s wardrobe budget was the highest ever for a single screen actor. Trends such as arm cuffs, maxi dresses and the Cleo black kohl eye emerged after, despite the film nearly taking 20th Century Fox under.

The Seven Year Itch

That dress is one of Hollywood’s most potent symbols. Marilyn Monroe’s white halter neck once seen blowing up in the hot air from a Manhattan subway grid (although the film’s final shot is a studio one) last sold at auction for $4.6 million – clearly still one of Hollywood’s iconic dresses.

Grease

Never mind the message that you need to change to look cheap to find the object of your affection, Olivia Newton-John’s fashion moment as “bad” Sandy saw her sewn into the world tightest trousers for the final scene of the film. And lo, a trend was born.

The Devil wears Prada

Fashion united for this take on life at Runway magazine, a thinly disguised parody of Vogue and its formidable editor Anna Wintour. Patricia Field, famed for styling Sex and the City, stepped in to use at least $1 million of clothing making the film the most expensively costumed in history.

Sex and the City

Stylist Patricia Field flies again in the movie version of the ever-popular series. While the four girls seem to have infinite budgets for their winsome wardrobes, designers were keen to lend to the film after eight years of the series. Vivienne Westwood made Carrie’s wedding dress while jeweller H. Stern lent over 300 pieces to the film.

The Great Gatsby 2013 vs The Great Gatsby 1974

In 1974 we had Mia Farrow all in white, wafting her way around the Jazz Age to win a Best Costume Design Oscar. In 2013, director Baz Luhrmann’s wife Catherine Martin took on the challenge as his long time production and costume collaborator. With four Oscars under her belt she created a dazzling visual display using archive pieces from Prada and Miu Miu that were altered for the film’s look. It may not have been as authentic as in 1974, but it certainly has flair.

Blade Runner

It’s hard to know where to start with this stunning futuristic thriller. ‘Eighties meets ‘forties noir set in 2019 means that costume designers Michael Kaplan and Charles Knode had some great inspiration to play with. Replicant Zhora (Joanna Cassidy) is seen naked encrusted with jewels and wielding a snake before a chase scene in a transparent raincoat. Rachael (Sean Young) rocks shoulder heavy suits inspired by 1930s Hollywood Golden Age designer Adrian and a huge fur coat. Finally Pris (Daryl Hannah) wears blacked out raccoon eye make-up along with her feminised punk look.

Black Swan

Designer Amy Westcott worked on the costume design in this unsettling drama set in the world of ballet. Encrusted tutus and bejewelled tiaras work in a unique colour palette that is intended to show the evolution of Nina’s character. She also worked with fashion designers the Rodarte sisters on seven of the costumes.

To book tickets for Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie visit www.empirecinemas.co.uk/synopsis/absolutely_fabulous_the_movie/f5045

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