the torrid affair between film and fashion
the art of costume design and how we can apply it to our every day style
My life, as it is, is permanently intertwined with the movies and fashion. Film, as an art, has been a part of my bloodline and will continue to be so long as I walk this earth. The idea that fashion reflects film and vise versa is a concept that has always intrigued me, and one that I continue to explore in my work.
I have fallen in love with film and fashion, from the threads that weave pieces of fabric to the translation of sketch to screen. This mad art which is often overlooked by the everyday person is only ever appreciated in the dim, intimate corners of my bedroom, is so consuming and so detailed in its attempt to bring fantasy to life. It drives me insane with ideas, both a blessing and a curse for artists who understand.
My focus in today’s write-up is to explore style through the lens of costume design, an unusual way to explore style development but in my opinion a valid one to try if you’re stuck in an endless cycle of empty inspiration. I seek the intimacy between clothes and the human psyche –(understand it)– why clothes dictate character, and how my designs fit into it. To explore fashion, to dig deep into its rotting carcass and find its heartbeat in the mess of it all– starting with film and costumes.
costume design and what we can learn from it
One thing about costume design that I admire so is that every single detail of a well-designed costume is wrapped in layers and layers of context and story. No pleat, no bead, no stitch made without purpose, without life. Costumes bear the great burden of telling the untold history of characters. The art of costume design is such a beast to tame, and designers like Oscar-winner Paul Tazwell stand out because they care. They know their story, they care about the characters. He’s a costume designer that understands his characters on a symbolic level, making costumes that are practical yet deeply artistic reflections of their wearers. Many interviews with Paul Tazewell detail how history and surroundings reflect on a character, and how it informed his designs for Wicked.
Good character design like that happens only when this level of attention and life is breathed into the story- one look at a good costume and you can tell so much about the character’s life- where they came from, what era they live in, their status, so on and so forth. The same can be observed in the way a person self-styles. They are the amalgamation of all they have consumed and lived through, but at the very end of the day the most stylish of them all actually seek inspiration, and live in their stories instead of following trends.
what surrounds you is inevitably what inspires you to create
Inevitably, we are inspired by what we live in, the same way characters and their costumes are responses to history and life (however fictional that life may be).
The motifs that inspire me and my styling this month (and hopefully what might inspire you too), come from my own history of collecting, my love for historical garments and eras, and my old, withering soul. These have seeped into my wardrobe this last month, informing and evolving as I live my main character life:
beaded bags, vintage.
silk and chiffon scarves (draped on one’s neck), inspired by South Asian dupattas and my grandmother’s own way of styling her collection
the old Hollywood dramas
my boss’ chic office wear
films I watched recently, like Conclave and Roman Holiday
chess
Use your ever-changing surroundings not to just inform your style but inspire it— just because you’re going to a school or to the office doesn’t mean you have to blend in. You are the main character of your movie, act accordingly!
ACT I. LAYERS OF CONTEXT
Literal layers upon layers set the scene for her life story. She wears her history like her mother’s pearls: draped on her for all the world to see, unashamed. History speaks through her actions and her dress. Silks and laces are the main highlight, layered and sandwiched together to create one cohesive Spring look set in a world from another time
ACT II. SUBTLE FORESHADOWING
A dangerous woman, mysterious but ever looming. The dice have been rolled, the stage has been set, and destiny takes control. Embroidered linens whisper hints at the future, with checkerboard patterns and satins shaping her plot.
ACT III. PLOT RELEVANCE
She wears what works for her, what has always worked for her. She is impactful, making strides wherever she goes and is never forgotten. Draped in fine satins, she bares the responsibility of keeping life moving, so she must indeed dress to match her status.
ACT IV. BACK TO THE BEGINNING
When all else fails, go back to the beginning. Motifs surround her story, as she looks to her past to influence her future. Childhood florals and ruffled trousers- little bits of history seep their way into her wardrobe in a perfect mix of playful colours and neutrals.
Inspiration is rooted in one’s surroundings– such is the greatest learning I can take away from the intersection of fashion and film. A person (and their style) cannot exist without being affected by the world around them in the same way a character’s wardrobe is driven by their journey and story arc. Be inspired by this, and turn your closet, your life, into that main character fantasy you’ve always dreamed of achieving.
The muses whisper, Create, fool! There is beauty in our surroundings if you develop an eye for it, and that my dear reader is how you can develop your art and style. Find the hidden motifs and patterns of your story. Live.
Until the next dress rehearsal,
