FIERY FUTURISTIC FASHION

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

 Costume and fashion designer Trish Summerville is best known for the pierced, punk look of Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, (2011 version), which sold out in the H&M collection online.  How do you follow an act like that?

 

You design knockout styles for the film version of the second instalment of the Suzanne Collins dystopian trilogy.

 

 

Katniss Everdeen--Girl on Fire:

 

Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) have emerged as winners of Panem's Hunger Games. The powers that be are not amused, however. There was to be only one survivor.

Panem's Capital, with the Arena at centre

The Victory Tour:

While Katniss, Peeta and their families are now allowed to reside in the comfort of Victor's Village, President Snow (Donald Sutherland) has plans for them.



Katniss in casual leather and wool





Returning home to Victors' Village at sundown

 

 

With chaperon Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks) in tow, they are to embark on a 'Victory Tour' of the other Districts and Capital, posing convincingly as star crossed lovers to explain their breaking the rules to both survive the Hunger Games.

 

 

Peeta, Chaperon Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks) and Katniss

 

 

 

It is Banks, as Effie, who wears the most eye-popping wardrobe. Pictured below, is a dress which appears to be made entirely of monarch butterflies. It was loaned by the Alexander McQueen company and actually made mostly of feathers. Butterfly decals were glued to her hair, face and body as well.

 

 

 

 

Effie's monarch butterfly dress loaned by Alexander McQueen

 

 

 

 

 

  

 The airy flightiness of this look is a perfectly contrasting backdrop for one of the movie's most disturbing dramatic scenes.

 

 

 

The Capital and Gala: 

 

  

 

Katniss and Peeta in Victory Tour Poster

 

 

 

The sets in this film are beautifully done.  The Districts are grim and impoverished while the Capital is grand and light-show bright. 

 

 

Katniss on board the luxurious train to the Capital

 

 

When the tour of the Districts goes awry the group is dispatched to the Capital for a Gala celebration. On board the elegant futuristic train, Effie wears what designer Summerville calls the 'fan dress'.  

 

 

 

Effie made up like a celebratory Kewpie doll

 

 

Fuchsia ruffles engulf the chaperon right down to her shoes. Silver bracelets, earrings and belt; lacy gloves; bright purple and electric blue wristbands--the look is over the top and dazzling. Even her hair is tinted pink.

 

 

 

Accessorised and coordinated right down to frilly footwear

 

 

 

At the Capital, Katniss and Peeta are presented as a couple. Here Josh Hutcherson as Peeta gets to wear some sleek ultra-modern suits. 

 

 

 

Katniss (in neon blue moire) and Peeta (looking sharp in tan suit)

 

Their engagement is announced and the Capital prepares for a lavish wedding. 

 

  

 

 

The Capital lit up for the Gala

 

 

At the Gala, once again it is Effie Trinket, awash in a sea of lavender ruffles, who steals the show.

 

Katniss and Peeta are no slouch either. Josh Hutcherson sports a razor-sharp gunmetal morning coat with black leather pants.

 

Jennifer Lawrence wears a stunning black gown, sheer from the hips down. The gown is brocaded heavily with 'bird' detail right up to the feathery shoulders. This reflects the Mockingjay theme of the film, the Mockingjay being the symbol of silent revolt.

 

   

Fabulous "Gala Gear" for Peeta, Effie and Katniss

 

 

 

Katniss' dark hair is braided at the top, and her makeup reflects the brilliant shoulder detail of her gown. 

 

  

 

Hair, make-up and shoulder detail

  

 

Mockingjay:

 

 

 

The dazzling stage, set for the Flickerman interviews of the tributes

 

 

President Snow has not been idle. He has plans for Katniss. There will be another round of the Games, the Quarter Quell, with the 'tributes' chosen solely from previous winners. Caesar Flickerman (Stanley Tucci) interviews Peeta, who has an unexpected announcement. 

 

 

 

Caesar Flickerman (Stanley Tucci) interviewing Peeta in white wedding suit

 

 

Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence in Wedding whites.

 

 

 

Flickerman then interviews Katniss, radiant in her wedding gown. 

 

 

  

The amazing wedding gown, designed by Tex Saverio...

 

As Flickerman and the crowd look on in stunned amazement, Katniss twirls. The wedding gown burns off, revealing a black Mockingjay dress. 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...which has a built-in surprise

 

  

Katniss' metamorphosis into Mockingjay

 

Katniss' revolt is now public. The wedding is off and she and Peeta must begin to train for the Quarter Quell.

 

 

 

The 75th Hunger Games: Quarter Quell: 

 

 

The training sessions are rigorous, as President Snow wreaks his vengeance on the couple for defying the Capital.

 

 

Peeta and Katniss in training gear

 

 

Paraded in an arena resembling the Ancient Roman Coliseum, Katniss and Peeta are alight with flame, another stunning special effect.  

 

 

 

The parade in the arena: timpani at left; chariots at right

 

 

 

 

 

 

Katniss and Peeta in flaming chariot

 

 

 

 

 

Peeta and Katniss ablaze in the pre-Quarter Quell costumes

 

  

 

 

The official jumpsuits of the Quarter Quell

 

 

 

 

 

Johanna and Finnick: Friends or Foes? 

 

 

 

  

District 7 tribute, Johanna Mason

 

By far the most fascinating 'tributes' from other Districts are Johanna Mason (Jena Malone) and Finnick Odair (Sam Claflin). 

  

 

 

Johanna's incredible Gala Dress

 

 

 

As Johanna, Jena Malone wears a Gala dress to rival anything Effie Trinket wears: a pumpkin-coloured gown of lace and ruffles. 

 

 

 

Johanna (Jena Malone) in Quarter Quell jumpsuit

 

 

Handsome Sam Claflin as Finnick, shocks Katniss in a semi-sheer loincloth of metallic gold, topped only by a bright blue necklace.

 

 

 

Finnick Odair (Sam Claflin): blue bling; gold metallic wrap

 

 

Let The Quarter Quell Begin...

  

 

Cover girl and boy: Finnick and Katniss in Quarter Quell suits

 

 

The tributes proceed to the Quarter Quell games, where all manner of challenges and horrors await them. Who will survive? 

 

As Crème de la Crème always advises:  if you haven't already--see the movie. As of March 7, 2014 it was available on DVD and Blu-Ray.

 

 

 

Creme de la Creme Exclusive: Sneak Peek: 

 

 

Late in 2014, the first part of Mockingjay will be released in theatres. Suzanne Collins third book will be made into two films. The more suspense, special effects, and--of course, Fabulous Futuristic Fashions.

 

Katniss and Peeta all leathered up for "Mockingjay"--the next instalment

 

 

 

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DO THE (AMERICAN) HUSTLE!

David O. Russell's latest film, American Hustle is getting rave reviews all round: directing; screenplay; acting and, last but not least--the funky, fun fashions. The movie is set in the dizzying disco era of 1970s New York.




Costumer, Michael Wilkinson used many bona fide vintage designer garments, accessories and footwear: Halston; Gucci; Diane von Furstenberg; Charles Jourdan; I. Magnin--to name a few. He embellished with 'made for the movie' clothes that look so authentic, you'll think it's 1978!

 

 

 Con man, Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) meets an attractive young woman Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) at a pool party.

 

 

One of the 1970s re-creations: a genuine macramé swimsuit

  

 

 Ms. Prosser is wearing a macramé swimsuit, in an ivory shade that only a stunning redhead could wear well. Irving: paunchy, balding and wearing the "leisure suit" so popular in the late 1970s, is instantly smitten.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rosenfeld tells Prosser that he has a dry cleaning business where all manner of terrific dresses are forgotten and left behind. She can have her pick of the crop.

 

 

Sydney models a Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress

 

 

Amy Adams' try-on in the back room of the dry cleaners

  

 

 Sydney and Irving decide to form a partnership. She is smart as well as beautiful, and possesses just what his con operation needs: a touch of class. 

  

 

Irving and Sydney's "dancing in the streets" gear

 

   

Sydney takes on an alter ego: Englishwoman Lady Edith Greensly, who purports to have British banking connections.  Together, they form "London Associates" and thrive both personally and professionally, working as a team.

  

 

 

Amy Adams wears another version of the DVF wrap...

 

 

 

...and another. This  classic style was introduced in 1974

 

 

 

 Irving is in love with Sydney and she with him.  Meanwhile, back in Long Island, resides wife, Rosalyn Rosenfeld, (Jennifer Lawrence) with  Irving's adoptive young son. An awkward situation just waiting to ignite...

 

 

Jennifer Lawrence as Rosalyn--cleaning in a leopard print top

 

Enter Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper), an ambitious FBI agent looking to further his career by busting some dishonest politicians.  Richie arrests Sydney, whom he locks up in solitary for three days.  He is, however, also smitten by this lovely--if dishonest--English rose.

 

 Bradley Cooper as Richie DiMaso-- in bright blue polyester

 

 

 

 

 

Amy Adams in brown wrap dress worn with Bradley Cooper above



 

 

The three soon form an unholy alliance, involving a fake Arab Sheik, the mayor of Camden, New Jersey, Miami-based mobsters and Washington politicos on the take.  FBI money is used to scam and bribe with the phony intention of rebuilding Atlantic City as a gambling mecca. Mayor Carmine Polito, (Jeremy Renner) an honest man, is the only one unaware of the operation.

 

 

 

 

Rosenfeld, Lady Edith and DiMaso walk down Lexington Avenue



Leather dress from the Halston archives

Mayor Polito, a devoted family man, sets up a meeting in an elegant Manhattan restaurant insisting that Rosenfeld bring his wife. Rosalyn is a character and then some, giving Jennifer Lawrence a tour de force acting gig, while looking both sexy and stylish.

 

 

 

At the restaurant: Rosalyn; Dolly Polito; Irving and Mayor Polito



 

Rosalyn's vintage animal print jumpsuit from I. Magnin



 

 An FBI private jet delivers Mayor Polito to meet the Sheik on the tarmac, as Lady Edith/Sydney looks on--chic in vintage hat and fur-trimmed coat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sydney, feeling frustrated by Irving's renewed attention to Rosalyn and Carmine's insistence that she accompany him everywhere, calls Richie out for a night at a dance club--bearing a striking similarity to Studio 54.

 

  

 

Made for the movie disco diva dress

 



  

Barely-there disco dress with vintage fur and strappy sandals

The climactic scene takes place at a ritzy Casino party with everyone in attendance and dressed appropriately for the Hustle of a lifetime.

All decked out in a dangerously clingy and revealing white glittery gown,  Rosalyn flirts with a junior mobster, while his boss holds court in a back room with Irving, Richie and the Sheik.
 

 

 

 

 

 

Aware of her husband's dalliance and furious that Sydney has shown up with Richie, she plans a little payback of her own.

 

 

 

Sydney and Roslyn have a confrontation in the ladies room. Amy Adams sparkles in a dazzling gunmetal sequin backless halter dress.

 

At the Casino: Amy Adams as Sydney/Edith; Bradley Cooper as Richie DiMaso; Jeremy Renner as Carmine Polito; Christian Bale as Irving Rosenfeld and Jennifer Lawrence as Rosalyn Rosenfeld. 

There's more--but--Crème de la Crème reveals no endings.  Ergo, if you haven't already--boogie on down to see American Hustle!

 

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"OH, YOU BEAUTIFUL DOLL" Joan Crawford

Joan Crawford was one of the best-dressed film actresses of all time. She was muse to great photographers like George Hurrell as well as to brilliant MGM designer, Adrian.

Joan wrapped in a garland of her beloved gardenias, 1935

Joan, like many other glamorous stars of the 1930s and 1940s inspired Paper Dolls, one of film, fashion & frivolity's favourite things:

Bra, step-ins and corselette--lingerie of the era

 The movie that each outfit is taken from is written at the side of the garment.

Famous Roles

From beach to boudoir

Best-Dressed Joan!

After Dark!

This is one of the loveliest and most accurate collections of Paper Doll film costumes I have ever encountered.

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