KEY POINTS:
Fashion insiders revel in films where the clothes star.
When it's freezing outside and you can't be bothered to get dressed up in anything other than your dressing gown, what better way to get a dose of glamour and fashion inspiration than with a good-looking movie or two?
Find yourself a fur rug to sprawl on, a glass of warming vintage port and a nice big heater and settle back to watch the cinematic delights that have regularly inspired some of this country's most fashionable film fans.
Karen Inderbitzen-Waller
Stylist
Lost Highway, directed by David Lynch, 1997
The scene from this movie of Patricia Arquette walking into the garage wearing the slip, killer high heels and blonde wig has to be one of my all-time favourites. I constantly reference this scene, it feels like some sort of modern-day incarnation of Marilyn Monroe, who was one of my former bedroom wall icons.
The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover, directed by Peter Greenaway, 1989
I can remember this film as though I have watched it every day and I've actually only seen it once or twice. I was so mesmerised by the way the outfits, all designed by Jean Paul Gaultier, changed colour from room to room, depending on the interiors. I also love The City of Lost Children - that's another French favourite.
Dead Man, directed by Jim Jarmusch, 1995
This film is like dark poetry, such a beautiful gothic piece, kind of like an artistic version of Edward Scissorhands, which is also amazing. The dark deathly styling of the characters and the juxtaposition of the looming futuristic factory make for great costume. Johnny Depp and Iggy Pop also help. All that's missing is Jack White, whom I watched Cold Mountain just to see. Definitely an obscure and inspiring film. Jim Jarmusch is a genius. I referenced this film layer by layer when I was styling for Nom*D's 2006 fashion week show.
Karen Walker
Designer
Funny Face, directed by Stanley Donen, 1957
A musical set in the world of a magazine based on Harper's Bazaar circa 1950s. Audrey Hepburn plays a bookish beatnik who's discovered by Dick Avery (that is, Richard Avedon). Avery is played by Fred Astaire - and who knew Richard Avedon could dance like that? Avedon also art directed the film and the stills are by him. Kay Thompson does a great job as a singing, dancing magazine editor, Maggie Prescott - based on Carmel Snow, Harper's brilliant editor throughout its strongest time. The best track, sung in the editor's office, is Think Pink and it's enough to make anyone want to be in the fashion industry. Plus all Audrey's outfits are by Givenchy. Of course!
A Day At The Races, directed by Sam Wood, 1937
Anything by the Marx Brothers is brilliant but this is my favourite. Harpo always brings a smile to my face and has the best style of almost anyone I can think of - he's inspired such style icons as Johnny Rotten and Mark Gonzales. The scene where he smashes up the grand piano until it's just strings and then plays them (like a harp) is one of the greatest fashion musical moments ever. The finale is raw and street and ahead of its time and a wonderful contrast to all the sanitised, white, polished song and dance routines of the 1930s. Punk rock before punk rock!
Gimme Shelter, directed by the Maysles brothers, 1970
A great documentary about the Rolling Stones. It's an astounding mix of glamour and darkness, beauty and disaster. A perfect fashion film. My two favourite shots in it: one of the Stones stepping from hotel to limousine in a typically brilliant outfit, including a long silk scarf that gets caught in the car door when it's shut. There's an editorial waiting to happen right there. And the scene, just before the audience member gets murdered by Hell's Angels in front of the stage, of Mick doing his thing while the head of the California Hell's Angels stands, side stage, eyeing him up like he wants to stab him. Watch it raw, then with the director's voiceover.
Karlya Smith
Stylist
The City of Lost Children, directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro, 1995
It's been at least five years since I've seen it but Jean Paul Gaultier's simply tailored bright costumes mixed with the murky lighting and dark storyline has left a permanent impression. And I love the way you leave the film questioning your sanity!
Wife vs Secretary(1936), directed by Clarence Brown, 1936
This also left a big visual impression. The beautiful interiors and clever cut of Jean Harlow's elegant costumes leaves me wishing I was living in the 30s.
Kate Sylvester
Designer
Don't Look Now, directed by Nicholas Roeg, 1973
Julie Christie is one of my all-time style icons and I've referenced this movie in two collections, Hope from Winter' 04, and Wolf from this winter. It's beautiful and sophisticated and Christie's wardrobe is to die for.
Punk Attitude, directed by Don Letts, 2005
A glorious mix of incredibly influential music, attitude and clothes, it includes footage of the entire punk movement from the New York Dolls to The Clash. It's both a revelation and a great nostalgia trip.
James Dobson
Designer of the Jimmy D label
Wild At Heart, directed by David Lynch, 1990
I'm a big fan of his films, and I recently watched this one again. I have a bit of a style crush on Laura Dern's character Lula Fortune. She has the trashiest, hottest outfits ever, lots of skin tight Lycra and leather. Very cool!
Margi Robertson
Nom*d designer
Knife in the Water, directed by Roman Polanski, 1962
With movies, it's interesting for us as it tends to be more about the feeling of the movie rather than the actual clothes. Although in this film, the knife game where the player is blindfolded and places the knife between his fingers did become the inspiration for the Knife Game T-shirt in our Summer 2005 Collection.
Ciao Manhattan, directed by John Palmer and David Weisman, 1972
Andy Warhol's movie with Edie Sedgwick, the last movie she made before she died. Sedgwick reminded me of a Bambi, those long legs and doe-eyed. This film influenced me way back for winter 2004 collection, Don't Shoot, and we referenced the 60s styles of her era, and set up the catwalk in very Factory atmosphere with silver foil runway.
Beales of Grey Gardens, directed by the Maysles brothers - one Grey Gardens documentary in 1975 and another in 2006
It's not something that's ever inspired us at Nom*D but one movie that all fashionistas should watch is Beales of Grey Gardens. Fascinating from a fashion point of view, it has provided lots of stylists and designers with ideas for collections.
Cybele Wiren
Designer
Powers of Ten, directed by Charles and Ray Eames, 1977
It is all about the relative size of things from the microscopic to the cosmic. The film travels from an aerial view of a man in a Chicago park to the outer limits of the universe directly above him and back down into the microscopic world contained in his hand. This concept of macro/micro really appeals to me and was a point of inspiration for my summer 08 collection, Hi-Fiction Science - in particular my chemical print. The swirls could represent the expanse of the universe or tiny molecules magnified under a microscope.
Denise L'estrange-Corbet
World fashion designer
Pride and Prejudice, BBC television adaptation, 1995
I am not really into fashion mags or fashion films per se, but more the books on history, which of course includes costume. I love English history, and this may have something to do with being educated in England and being dragged around the Tower of London or Hampton Court on every dreaded school trip. I love the Tudor period of the 16th century, particularly when Henry VIII reigned. In terms of movies, I love the BBC's adaptation of Pride and Prejudice with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth. The dresses were very simple for day, and quite grand for evening, depending on how rich you were. It all seems a bit of a palaver compared with today when the universal uniform is jeans and a T-shirt thrown on as you run to the front door. I also find it sad that New Zealand women do not dress up for events, but see "black tie" as a summer dress and sandals. Maybe I was born in the wrong century.
Trelise Cooper
Designer
The Devil Wears Prada, directed by David Frankel, 2006
An hilarious look at the fashion industry with the most fabulous designer clothes. I read the film's costume budget is the largest in film history - apparently the total value of clothing lent by designers reached US$1 million. I absolutely loved the way Patricia Field (stylist from Sex and the City) put together the looks for the main characters.
Marie Antoinette, directed by Sofia Coppola, 2006
I had to buy this film on DVD as it was so inspiring. It is a visual feast of sherbet colours, opulence and beauty. Every frame was full of luxurious textures, mouth-watering colours and decadent fashions.
De-Lovely, directed by Irwin Winkler, 2004
This film about Cole Porter was inspiration for one of my winter collections a few years ago. I just love the 1920s flapper era where all the garments are bejewelled and so elegant, feminine and soft.
Breakfast at Tiffany's, directed by Blake Edwards, 1961
Probably a predictable choice but the classic beauty of Audrey Hepburn and the Little Black Dress means it can't be left out.
And a few more from Viva
Pretty in Pink, 1989
You think you know 80s fashion inspiration? Well, if you haven't seen this cool coming-of-age movie, written and directed by John Hughes, the king of teen schlock, then you ain't seen nothing. Fabulous geek-makes-good storyline and a great 80s soundtrack too.
The Virgin Suicides, 2000. One of the two prettiest films by Marc Jacobs' buddy, director Sofia Coppola (the other is Marie Antoinette). It is a triumph of style over substance - a floaty paean to filtered sunlight and a 70s adolescence.
The Fifth Element, 1997 A trashy and totally unbelievable (therefore actually quite funny) sci-fi thriller starring Bruce Willis and the amazing figure of Milla Jovovich, directed by French action-directing genius, Luc Besson. Jovovich makes the rags she wears, which barely cover her most of the time, look amazing and that's probably because all the costumes were designed by Jean Paul Gaultier.
Bonnie and Clyde, 1967
The film can drag on a bit but Faye Dunaway looks so incredible in this tragic tale of cops and romantic robbers that you shouldn't get too bored.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, 1969
Before there was Brokeback Mountain fashion, there was Robert Redford and Paul Newman looking hot, dusty and playing at smart-ass bank robbers, while the beautiful Katharine Ross looked like the ultimate 70s-styled cowgirl. In fact Ross had just finished filming her part in The Graduate (1967), another excellent film to watch for costume delights. A great one for fashion-minded boys.
La Reine Margot (Queen Margot), 1994.
French film about another royal family with a tragic tale, featuring the beautiful Isabelle Adjani and the very hot Vincent Perez. The costumes, the beautiful pictures and the love story in this put Coppola's Marie Antoinette to shame.
Clueless, 1995
It's cute and funny and, if you can cope with another American teen flick, you can't help but be entranced by the different outfits that Alicia Silverstone wears to the mall. So last century but, like, totally awesome.
Also noted: American Gigolo, The Women, Annie Hall, In The Mood For Love
