Fashion of 1940 in Cinema and Its Influences - Essay Example

?Fashion of 1940 in Cinema and Its Influences INTRODUCTION Cinema has always played the role of a driving force which has taken people to the world of imagination. During the Second World War, Hollywood cinema essentially wanted an escape from the realities of the practical world. In order to depict a dreamy perspective of life, romantic settings, outward romance and beautiful people with elegant apparel appeared on the silver screen. This significantly attracted the millions of people who were rushing to theatres and coming out looking like their favourite onscreen heroes and heroines. During this era, Hollywood or cinema was becoming an imperative part in the development of the fashion industry. Cinema became the mode of shifting attention from the sorrowful scenario generated due to war. Hollywood actresses played crucial roles in determining the fashion statements of the year. Uche Okonkwo in the renowned book; “Luxury Fashion Branding: Trends, Tactics, Techniques” mentioned, “This led to the increase of the style and fashion influences of Hollywood actresses like Marilyn Monroe, Liza Taylor, Audrey Hepburn and Brigitte Bardot” (Okonkwo 30). THESIS STATEMENT This essay intends to focus on the influence the costumes of the movies in 1940s had on the general fashion of the era. Moreover, keeping in view the two prominent actresses who were extremely popular in that generation in Hollywood, Audrey Hepburn and Katherine Hepburn, the essay focuses on the stylistics and fashion statement of these two divas on the society as a whole. FASHION OF HOLLYWOOD IN 1940s To understand the fashion and style of Hollywood films during 1940s, it is essential to study the nature of film produced during the era and the characteristics and features of those films particularly. Film Noir is a product of these decades, but 1940s and 50s observed the increase of Hollywood musicals as well. The decade viewed a mix feeling of emotion and maturity in the films. With the disappearing of the war generated distress among people, it was a suitable time for the people to celebrate a new beginning and reunite. Depressing activities of war time started eradicating slowly during this decade. In its place, action, adventure and fun began to take priority for the subject of the movies. Taking the opportunity, Hollywood started focusing on entertainment, making it a component for profitable film making. This kind of fun, adventure and family dramas did involve a considerable amount of scope for fashion and decorative settings. People were significantly motivated towards following the decoration appearing on the film sets and the hair style, shoes and bags along with jewelleries worn or used by their dream man or woman on the silver screen. ROLE OF ACTRESSES IN DETERMINING THE FASHION STATEMENT OF 1940S: A CLOSE STUDY OF STYLISTICS OF AUDREY HEPBURN AND KATHERINE HEPBURN The movies of 1940s did give birth to a number of new actors and actresses in Hollywood films. The emergence of such new talents brought with it a combination of new tastes and new faces which positively altered the meaning of cinema. It also expanded cinema totally from a very conventional form. The spectacular aspects depicted in the films started to get apparent through the costumes and fashion statements of the heroines. It would be unfair to take the name of one of the timeless beauties of Hollywood when fashion statement and its depiction in cinema become the topic for discussion. Audrey Hepburn made a stunning performance in the film ‘Roman Holiday’ in the year 1953. As regards to her fashion statement, it is quite necessary to mention that Audrey Hepburn has made her space in the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame. The appeal and style with which she carried all her apparel added an extra attraction to them. Actually, 1940s witnessed the huge addition of women into the film industry. Thus, the pioneers like Hepburn had to take the extra care of maintaining the dignity and respect of women appearing on screen as icons of independent American ladies of post-war era. To quote within a single line, the fashion of Audrey Hepburn was simple and elegant when put together to form a flawless style which became more virtual and dominant. Audrey had a slim figure that was very boyish. As a result, shirts and pants became her iconic style statement. Black colour was almost a spontaneous addition into all her dresses and made the colour a label of prohibition. Her classic black short dress which she had put in the film, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” is most popular fashion till date. This elegantly created dress by designer Hubert de Givenchy became a style statement for women across the United States during later half of sixties. Audrey dressed simple and chic. Her accessory contained pearls which were followed by women in fifties and sixties thoroughly. In the films like “Sabrina” and “My Fair Lady”, Audrey was seen putting basic yet subtle silhouettes and dresses which made her more graceful and popular because she was well aware of her body. She did not show much skin. Unlike the other contemporary actresses, Audrey was also not voluptuous. As a result, her styles were comfortable for the general women to ape. She made men’s button down shirts and Capri pants and ballet flats so popular that those dresses were taken up by women as their favourite casual (RTE Commercial Enterprises Ltd., “Fashion Icon: Audrey Hepburn”). Audrey Hepburn’s body style and elegance are still a matter of envy for women watching her flying like a swan on the silver screen. Pamela Keogh Clarke in her renowned book on Audrey Hepburn entitled, “Audrey Style” remarks most prudently, “Dressed in a black dress slim as line, her upper arms lithe and yearning, wearing paste jewellery, as she contemplates the real thing, she looks in it at a world more peaceful, more ordered, more glittering, than her own- having breakfast at Tiffany’s” (Clarke 1-8). Another fashion icon and diva in Hollywood is Katherine Hepburn. Her 60 years of fame and career at American film industry is still unbeatable. Extremely determined and independent in spirit, Katherine was the personification of modern American woman in the post war era. She bonded herself to the silver screen during the golden era of Hollywood making her dramatic appearance in her academy winning film ‘Morning Glory’. She was more popular for opting ‘khakis’. Her shirts over the conventional skirts were the style statement for the era. Katherine was located off-screen with a more neutral look. But on-screen, she popularised extreme typical designs suitable for women of her era. Those typical and elegant long party gowns were designed by Adrian, one of the top fashion designers of the time at MGM production house. Katherine’s blouse even made a revival of a huge level during the 1980s. The collarless jacket, matching gloves, big round Victorian hats and mock neck blouse over conventional skirts began to be very popular among office going women. Naturally, Katherine was shown putting them on-screen while attending her workplace in the film. Another iconic style statement from the film was the off-shoulder gown designed by Adrian for Katherine. Pretty pants decked up with polka dots, was also introduced by Katherine Hepburn in the 1940s. The ‘Gingham check pattern’ in the suiting of Tess and the velvet smoking jackets and pants, all were brought into the limelight as probable dressing apparels amid women by Katherine from her fashion design based selections on–screen during the 1940s (Cornell 1-50). CONCLUSION Styles will change. But, there are pioneers like Katherine Hepburn and Audrey Hepburn who significantly attracted millions of hearts on the screen and became the trend-setters of their age. Till date, these personalities continue to influence the attire of women because they were able to create a separate space for themselves which symbolised the modern women of the era. These women were women of substance. Through their style, grace and appeal, they shall remain as popular figures in the fashion world till eternity. Works Cited Clarke, Pamela Keogh. Audrey Style. United Kingdom: HarperCollins, 2010. Print. Cornell, Kari. Modern Knits, Vintage Style: Classic Designs from the Golden Age of Knitting. United States: Voyageur Press, 2010. Print. Okonkwo, Uche. Luxury Fashion Branding: Trends, Tactics, Techniques. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan, 2007. Print. “Fashion Icon: Audrey Hepburn.” Features. RTE Commercial Enterprises Ltd., 2012. Web. 16 May 2013. . Read More