Musings on...Any Given (Oscar) Sunday
The Best Books about Oscar's Best Looks
I’ve always been bookish, and I had a habit of writing reports on books and topics I loved. I actually assigned myself the task of writing book reports for no grade or recognition. In my free time, for fun! As an adult, I turned my teenage habit into its modern iteration- a book blog. Let’s be honest: a book blog is just a book report with SEO. After some technical issues beyond my coding ability, my website imploded. I was dragging my feet deciding if I should have it redesigned, when I thought of this Substack. Since I’m always musing about books, I’ll just house it here alongside my other miscellany and revisit the archives from time to time. Substack is also free, so my decision may have been heavily influenced, but thanks for nothing GoDaddy Tech Support.
You don’t have to wonder where I will be this evening. I have a dedicated seat for the Oscar telecast. I was reading a post from Lindsay Sword and she referenced one of my favorite Oscar looks-Michelle Williams in that marigold Vera Wang. I haven’t done the math lately, (possible new post idea), but I think it ranks within my very tight top ten. In the spirit of fashionable recall, I went into my archives and unearthed not one, but two, posts regarding my love for the Oscars. Today’s archival post “Books about Oscar’s Best Looks”, was originally published Feb 21, 2017. Please enjoy and add to cart as needed. I’m off to hair and makeup for my bed carpet debut. (see what I did there?)
February 21, 2017 It is award seasons and the grand dame of them all, the Oscars, will air this Sunday. I love movies and I love fashion. Stellar style in an amazing movie is the perfect combination. What would Gone with the Wind be without the artistry of Scarlett's dress fashioned from Tara’s velvet curtains? Isn’t anyone in a white halter dress subliminally (or consciously) channeling Marilyn Monroe in The Seven Year Itch? Did anyone really understand the power of a LBD before Audrey had Breakfast at Tiffany's? Don't get me started on the library shenanigans that resulted from that flimsy green dress in Atonement. Great films make great fashion and great fashion makes movies memorable. Nerd that I am, I’m watching the red carpet AND looking forward to the Oscar for Costume Design. If you share my cinemaphile and fashionista obsession, you NEED the following books in your library. File them under fashion, history or movies, just make sure you own them.
Looks of Love: 50 Moments in Fashion That Inspired Romance
I originally bought this book for the fashion, but the more I read, the more I noticed the references to my favorite movies or TV shows. It shouldn't have come as a surprise as Hal Rubenstein is the founding member and editor of Instyle Magazine, the best magazine dedicated to star style. From the importance of the trench coat in Casablanca, the wardrobe of Renee Russo in The Thomas Crown Affair remake (one of my ABSOLUTE favorites, Michael Kors in his Celine era) and the importance of Gene Kelly's Singing in the Rain sartorial style merging with his signature athletic dance style, this is a book about fashion for movie lovers. So many times, I screamed 'yes, amen' out loud to one of Hal's statements. Hal is my brother from a very fashionable other mother.
New and exciting side note: Celebrities are just like us! Mr. Rubenstein is also a Substacker: Check him out here
Film Craft: Costume Design
Probably meant for people who want to pursue a career in Costume Design, this is a master class with 16 of the leading, often multiple award-winning, Costume Designers. They share the art of the craft with nuts-and-bolts information. How to work with a budget, how to develop a character based on the wardrobe. I have no desire to be a Costume Designer, but I am a fashion geek and a movie lover, so I was interested to see how notes on a page and bolts of fabric become the living, fleshed out characters I enjoy. Only for the intensely geeky.
Edith Head: The Fifty-Year Career of Hollywood’s Greatest Costume Designer
Earning 35 Oscar nominations and 400 film credits, Edith Head is the mind responsible for the looks of our most iconic films. Access to the Edith Head Archives of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences opens the door on never before seen sketches, test shots and collaborations created for the likes of Bette, Audrey and Liz. The names and the looks are legendary, forever frozen in cellulose fashion and movie history.
Creating the Illusion: A Fashionable History of Hollywood Costume Designers
Turner Classic Movies is branded as the definitive resource for the greatest movies of all time. It engages, entertains, and enlightens to show how the entire spectrum of classic movies, movie history, and movie-making touches us all and influences how we think and live today. You must know a book documenting the history of fashion in film from this cinema powerhouse would be the definitive history of fashion in film. Spanning more than 100 years, learn the stories of the most iconic sartorial moments on the screen from the most famous and infamous heads of costumes. From black and white films, the first 'talkies' into the HD future, this compilation is a Hollywood yearbook of fashion information.
Fashion in Film
Released just last fall, fashion writer Christopher Laverty (fashion writer of the superb blog Clothes on Film), explores the history of fashion elevating the narrative and influencing pop culture. Putting the importance of the fashion designer equal to the actor and director, Laverty teaches us how what we see on film can become the touchstone for a new way of dressing. Ralph Lauren made every woman appreciate the effortless chic of a masculine uniform by dressing Diane Keaton in Annie Hall and Givenchy's black dress on Audrey Hepburn introduced us to the workhorse of any chic wardrobe.
A sad side note: when verifying my links from the original post, I learned that Christopher Laverty died in 2021. His original blog address was highjacked, which I discovered the hard way. Don’t make my mistake. His full library blog posts have been archived by his wife at www.clothesonfilm.net (.net, not the original .com). Any fashion and film lover should bookmark it. It is a delightful treasure trove of fashion history and commentary.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on this site, as an affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases with no additional charge to you.
This post combines so many of my loves: books, fashion, fashion books, costume design, costume designers, and awards season! Thank you for sharing, and I definitely want to read your book posts here! Also please do a top 10, maybe someone tonight will crack it!