Media has a huge impact on fashion and film, in the past and in most recent years. Many films have made block buster records which have assisted fashion designs and designers themselves rise in great demand.
Media influence from films helped Clark Gable, James Dean, Marlon Brando, Elizabeth Taylor and Rosalind Russell to heavily impact clothing trends during Hollywood's golden age. In the film It Happened One Night (1934) starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert, Gable removed his dress shirt revealing a lack of undershirt, this resulted in sales for undergarments plummeting to record lows. This shows that what we see in films has an effect on what we buy and what is designed for the coming season.
Diane Keaton’s tomboy dress in “Annie Hall” (1977) prompted many of fans to adopt Ms. Keaton’s signature look of slouchy fedoras, tweeds, and khaki trousers. Also since the release of “Out of Africa” in 1985, the ivory-tone jacket and khaki safari looks that Meryl Streep wore on the savannah have also been a recurrent distinctive theme on Ralph Lauren’s runway collections and just recently also adding to the runway, blockbuster film “Avatar” has influenced the great designs of John Paul Guiltier and Valentino collections.
In 1955, “Rebel Without a Cause “sported James Dean in T-shirts under his signature red windbreaker, making fashions most basic and easiest possession the T-shirt resulting the "Land of Cool".
Fred Astaire, very closely adopted the polished evening look, wearing a top hat and tails in his very first film, Dancing Lady (1933) opposite a very young Joan Crawford. As Astaire grew older, he adopted a more casual style that was also widely copied by fans and designers alike wearing casual suits with cravats and vests that looked classy, most importantly comfortable and very 'put together.
Makeup and style trends are also launched by Hollywood fashion icons. Celebrities such as Nicole Richie, Angelina Jolie, Sienna Miller, Chloe Sevigny, Kate Moss and Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen are seen as popular style icons for the fashion savvy community.
Also Elizabeth Taylor has been a force in fashion style and influence. Her 60s pearl lipstick and heavily-lined eyes were widely adopted. Cybill Shepherd, Ali MacGraw and Mia Farrow all sported the fresh, girl-next-door image and found a great following for their look among younger women.
Audrey Hepburn was one of my favourite actors and fashion icon. Her style was so elegant and very polished yet quirky. She almost always wore crisp clean silhouettes and always looked timeless. LRR.
