Mid Week Movie - Bill Cunningham New York

Bill Cunningham New York
Director: Richard Press
Zeitgeist Films

Purchase and watch Here: Dogwoof Films

I can't quite understand why it's taken me so long to share this wonderful film. I know most of you have probably watched this already but just in case you haven't this is my favorite fashion documentary.
Lately this film has grown even more as a comfort blanket to me, watching it over and over and over as I try to grasp a little freedom in my work and gain the strength to walk away from the work I have began to hate. As Bill would say 'Don't Sell Out'.

Bill Cunningham is the original street style photographer. Now aged 83 Bill photographs and curates style on the streets of New York and Paris from showing how high end fashion is styled in real life to picking up on micro trends in a certain colour or cut or accessory.
It's all about the clothes. His absolute obsession with clothing and fashion that makes this man the knowledge on costume and dress throughout history. Knowing instantly what a particular cut is a reference to in history and where and when it has been used by a designer.

What's more important is that this man represents true freedom in creativity. Something that I am just realizing the value of. Being able to work at your best without a monkey on your back telling you 'I want it like this' is essential to producing something you can really stand by.

Bill Cunningham lives to photograph beautiful people, he takes little if any money for his work so that he can keep control and stay free. He is kind, modest and the finest gentleman I think exists, someone everyone should look up to.

Here are a few of my favourite quotes from the film ...

On money and creativity.

'If you don't take money, they can't tell you what to do kid' 
'money is the cheapest thing, liberty and freedom is the most expensive' 

This might be a little tricky when you have to survive but the sentiment works when it come to creative work.  

On clothes.

'I'm not interested in the celebrities with their free dresses .... look at the clothes, the cut, the new cut, the colours, that's everything .... Its the CLOTHES ... It's as true today as it ever was. He who seeks beauty will find it'

'we come for your hats not the decor' A Rockerfeller

When I grow up I want to be like Bill. Note to self - work harder at what you love and don't worry about being fancy.

Mid Week Movie - The Eye Has to Travel

              

This weeks Mid Week Movie is the fashion documentary on Diana Vreeland titled ......
The Eye Has To Travel.

If you want an inspirational and motivational film to watch that will spark your imagination into light then this will do it nicely. Providing you love all things completely over the top and fabulous that is.
I never really knew too much about this lady, Diana Vreeland editor of Vogue and Harpers Bazaar. This film is a great introduction. I'll be buying the biography to read as I just want to know so much more about this utterly extravagant woman.

Mad, Maaad, Maaaaaad as a box of frogs, I love the tall tales, oh and her voice I could listen to this forever.  The stories of Chanel, Russia, The Ballet Russe, Nijinsky ...... rightly so, imagining in your head is far better in beautiful fiction rather than cold dull fact.

Faction is the new way forward, forget about the real world and let your imagination run wild with wonders.

Buy on Amazon here.

Mid week Movie - My Week With Marilyn

My week with Marilyn directed by Simon Curtis 2011 and written by Colin Clark and Adrian Hodges.
We watched this last night for the first time. I want to watch it again, and again.
Michelle Williams (Marilyn) and Eddie Redmayne (Colin) were fabulous, she got the character of Marilyn perfectly without it being an impression, making the role her own. I could have watched those two for the whole length of the film, maybe bringing in the Arthur Miller character (played by Dougray Scott) for a scene as he looked amazing too.
The one thing that didn't seem to sit well on first viewing was that it felt a little forced with such Great British cliches in the story (which I'm sure really happened!). Visits to Eton and Windsor castle, Judy Dench and the cast that made it appear there are only five British actors in the world. They are brilliant actors but the old familiar faces were quite distracting for this story, some unknown names could have been better.
Its difficult when the story involves film stars that are inbedded in our memory, and have become almost untouchable. We're all going to be critical if they don't meet our set fantasies of the Hollywood stars.

My favourite scene - when Marilyn first steps off the plane and the press conference. I just love Marilyn and Arthur Miller together. The next scene is the skinny dipping, she just seems to capture that sexy, exciting side that everyone imagines Marilyn Monroe must have had.
My favourite costumes ........... By Jill Taylor
Colin's suits, the wide cut trousers and longer fitted jackets with the shirts.
Arthur Millers shirts and chinos, effortlessly so handsome with the glasses
Of course Marilyn's Prince and the showgirl hourglass white dress, I'm sure there's some padding in those hips which make her curves just look incredible. (must research)
Marilyns chined waist wiggle dress with the empire line cut tightly under the bust with darts to make it pop at a fabulous angle.
Marilyns super simple camel pencil skirt and cream shirt with the collar folded back. It's all about the cut being so perfect to show of the figure and the waist at its best.

Inspirations it's left me with - to go blonde, wear red lipstick, hourglass cuts in plain fabrics and silhouette, silhouette, silhouette.

Mid Week Movie

Wing and I watch a lot of films and use them as a major source of inspiration for our work. Each week I'm going to share a mid week movie that's inspiring, brilliant, beautiful and something I come back to again and again. It will be a film I have watched during the week so it's my perspective at the time not me just reminiscing (too much!).
Be prepared for lots of pretty, singing, dancing and happy endings. For me films are escapism and fantasy and this is only my opinion of what I like, I'm no film critic.
However, I certainly don't want to escape to a grim, grey miserable world, so you won't find realism, British misery, requiem for a dream here. There's plenty too much misery in the world in real life.


This weeks film is ................ Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet directed by Baz Luhrmann 1996

I hadn't watched this in ten years until this week whilst hand stiching a wedding dress. I always used to switch off the ending as it annoyed me that the priest didn't just wait in Juliet's tomb to tell Romeo that she would wake up in a bit. Watching it again I realised how much older I am, I must have watched it, over and over as a teenager.

When I first watched this film - I think we watched some parts at school in English Lit lessons but I watched it again at home so many times properly. I, along with every girl on the planet developed a major crush on Leonardo DiCaprio who is now like a comfort blanket, you know you're safe in a film with him.
I also listened to the soundtrack constantly, it's full of 90s pop that plays an all important role in the film. Both the main and the classical versions are excellent.

Favourite Scene - now it's the dressing at the Capulet mansion, Juliet's mother (played by Diane Venora) as Cleopatra with the corset lacing and cigar smoking edit that is genius. Her running around in a vintage corselette and pink feather trimmed dressing robe, hollering for 'JULIEEEEEEEETE'. It's just perfect.
I love the Verona beach and theatre scene with the sky changing colours and the silhouettes created by the sun. The location and scenery are amazing with so many Shakespearean winks.

And of course the wedding scene, how could anything be more romantic than this? Find a beautiful chapel and elope with two witnesses, I don't think there is a more heart fluttering wedding on film or in history?

Favourite Costumes by Kym Barrett - this will have to be a list ....

Juliet's chiffon angel wing chiffon dress, I think it's the fact that the wings look like real wings, they might well be? Will need to look into this.
Romeo's knight in shining armour worn grunge style so coolly
Hawaiian shirts, I think they are needed this summer boys and girls. It's time.
Juliet's wedding dress, the white cutaway shoulder,  button down, full fifties tea length with a simple bouquet. Understated in it's crisp whiteness.
Mercutio's diva sequins and white Afro wig.  Lipstick on boys is the way forward.
Juliet's mother's Cleopatra dress and all trimmings. 

What inspirations it's left me with?

Nineties beach trash versus glam versus beauty combo. The importance of setting the scene, (Baz Luhrmanns L'Amour Coco Cola sign in particular) backgrounds and a soundtrack. Hawaiian shirts with white Catholic cotton and a sprinkling of sequins and so much romance.

I know most of you have watched this film, if you haven't get your 14 year old head on and watch it. 

Enjoy the break, watch the movie and share your thoughts on the film after with a little cake.

We'll start a film club!  xxx