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"The magic of the Hollywood style at its best arose, not exclusively, but in one important aspect, from its skilled and satisfying manipulation of visual pleasure." —Laura Mulvey, Star Gazing: Hollywood Cinema and Female Spectatorship, 1975
More than 39 years ago, Mulvey nailed it—we love looking at beautiful objects in beautiful living rooms which belong to beautiful people, who also happen to wear beautiful clothes.
While some films pride themselves on hyper realism and forgoing the fantasy, it's often the aesthetically arresting films that truly capture our imaginations, turn our gears and inform our own look. They represent life . . . on stylish steroids.
As for me, I'm someone staunchly in the second camp. When watching a movie, I linger on every visual treasure, often trying to remember that dress or that ottoman, so I can unabashedly copy and adopt them later. As a highly visual medium, movies have the undeniable power to bring an entire stylistic universe surging into our lives and that alone—aside from the emotional and intellectual pleasures—deserves a column.
So welcome to Cinephile Style.
Together, me (an obsessed cinema buff and fashion lover) and you (the sophisticated thrill-seeker) will break down the style of secret cinematic gems every week, from faux fur furniture to drool-worthy dresses. We'll take copious notes, learn style lessons and soak up every bit of visual inspiration the cinema has to offer one good movie at a time. (Sans a single word about Sex and the City—too obvious! And overdone.)
First Up?
Ceremony (2010)
Uma Thurman and Michael Angarano star in this dare-I-say adorable indie directed by young Max Winkler (who then turned to TV and subsequently directed some New Girl episodes). Sam, a budding children's books writer, convinces his antisocial friend Marshall to go on a "road trip"—only the scenic Long Island drive is aimed (of course) at semi-crashing Sam's old flame's wedding weekend. Said flame is gamine Zoe (Thurman), who's about to marry a too-cliché-for-words British nature film director (brilliantly portrayed by the handsome Lee Pace).
The ambiance: Wes Anderson meets The Great Gatsby on the beach. Every frame of Ceremony is beautifully hued, borrowing from Anderson's vintage postcard aesthetic and mixing in a dash of Baz Luhrmann-level decadence. (i.e. Moulin Rouge and Romeo and Juliet.) Winkler might be a New Yorker, but he sure knows how to direct a lavish weekend by the sea: the outdoor dinners, clad with glinting lanterns and cozy afghan blankets, are more than enviable; the boozy pre-wedding party is perfectly retro-meets-hip. And the location? An elaborate, old-world-charm mansion with antique rugs and wooden furniture aplenty, is far too cute to be true, but that's the point. Oddities, curiosities and collectibles are everywhere—the frames are cluttered, but stylish so, asking your eye to wander from treasure to treasure, nook to nook.
The style: romantic luxury for Zoe, shabby-chic for Sam. Thurman spends half of the movie in night gown-like silky dresses, and the other in expensive sweaters and Wellies. She epitomizes bohemian, laid-back chic, and she does it oh-so-effortlessly. But pay attention— luxe fabrics such as silk and tweed are key in nailing this Long Island escape look.
As for Sam the wedding crasher and Marshall the sidekick, these two gentlemen portray two sides of the hipster scale—a shockingly red suit for Sam (how Ryan Gosling of him!) while the anxious pal dons preppy sweaters and skinny jeans. Rugby shirts and vintage sweaters that are worn in just-so add just the right amount of wink to their not-so-casual road trip outfits; their looks boast a trendy, of-the-moment touch to the otherwise dreamy film.
Watch and learn: Bask in this frothing, bitter-sweet film right before an autumnal trip to the sea. Zoe's wardrobe carries a bevy of beautiful ideas. Notice how she mixes masculine and feminine styles, and how her hair is never too done—this is tom boy chic 101. Alternatively, Ceremony is also a prime resource in case you ever need to put together a bohemian party—from the kitschy suits and cut-glass decanters to the perfectly mismatched decor, this movie has it going on.
