Style Inspiration: Miss Yvonne

OMG guys! Jeff got me the best Christmas present ever! Guess who's going to see The Pee-Wee Herman Show on Broadway TONIGHT??!!

Pee-Wee's Playhouse was one of my absolute favorite shows as a kid; my brother and I used to watch it religiously on Saturday mornings. Apparently the show that I thought of as just plain awesome silliness was also a critical success, winning 17 Emmys in a 5 season run. Take a look at the Wikipedia page; it's quite riveting, with quotes like this:

As soon as it first aired, Pee-wee's Playhouse fascinated media theorists and commentators, many of whom championed the show as a postmodernist hodgepodge of characters and situations which appeared to soar in the face of domineering racist and sexist presumptions.

Who knew I was ingesting such high-minded ideals along with my Saturday morning cereal? But looking back, it was really the aesthetics of the show that appealed to me. Interestingly, Paul Reubens (actor and creator of the Pee-Wee character) was hugely inspired by the 1950s TV of his childhood.

And no character was more alluring and captivating to me than Miss Yvonne, played by Lynne Stewart (who is also in the Broadway cast! Squeal!). I thought she was easily the most beautiful woman in the world, and her dresses were pure eye candy.

 Those full skirts! The cleavage! The candy-colored satins!

And, of course, the frills and ruffles.

Anyway, the big question: what to wear tonight? I was originally thinking my red lace, but I'm leaning toward the yellow dress (with appropriate wintertime layering, of course). I just think Miss Yvonne would approve, don't you?

Any other Pee-Wee and Miss Yvonne fans in the house? After tonight, I might need to order the entire series on DVD so I can admire all of her dresses in succession!

Disney Sewing Scene Smackdown!

Wasn't it so fun looking back at the sewing scene from Cinderella last week? However, I think I may have been a bit hasty to call that dressmaking scene the best ever. You see, a couple commenters reminded me of the sewing scene in Sleeping Beauty. I watched it again, and it left me wondering: how could I have forgotten this gem? I've always loved the dress the fairies finally produce (with magic, rather than their own hands and wits) and I wrote about it as one of my favorite movie dresses of all time. But I had a complete lapse of memory when it came to the scene where they attempt to make said dress (and bake a rather dubious-looking cake). I'm so glad you helped me rediscover it, readers, because it is brilliant and hilarious.

How delightfully bitchy these fairies are! (Merryweather: "It looks terrible!" Flora: "That's because it's on you, dear.") Oh, and the priceless sewing moments! Flora's interpretation of a how a hem is formed is pure genius: why, you just cut a hole in the fabric and drop it over the wearer's head til it falls to the floor. (Flora: "Well, it's got to have a hole in the bottom." Fauna: "That's for the feet to go through!")

Have a watch of the clip below (turn your volume all the way up; the sound isn't so great). And then do tell: in a Disney sewing scene smackdown, who's your choice for the win? The highly-proficient mice of Cinderella or the fabulously catty fairies of Sleeping Beauty?

Cinderella: Best Dressmaking Scene Ever?

I'm just going to go right out and say it: I don't think there's a more memorable sewing scene in pop culture than the one in Cinderella. Last month, I posted about the most cherished movie dresses of my childhood, and I was delighted by how many of you mentioned "Cinderelly's" dress, sewn by her little mice and bird friends.

I re-watched this scene last night (see the full clip below), and I was amazed by how vividly it brought back emotions and memories; I hadn't realized how strongly these images were imprinted in my mind. As a kid, I loved the mice ladies measuring out the trim, the cutting of the ribbon at the perfect length, and especially the illustrated dressmaking book they consult (hmm, there's a little foreshadowing into my adulthood!)

For the fellow femi-nazis in the house, there is a depressing little line from one of the female mice when one of the guys tries to help out: "Leave the sewing to the women, now you go get some trimmin'." (Though it must be noted that one of the men is shown sewing later on in the scene.) I did have to wonder: would the line have been the same today? Can you imagine a modern animated movie where the dude mice help out with the sewing? I'm honestly not sure either way, but it's an interesting thing to ponder.

Big questions aside, I think the best thing is that memories of this film span several generations. Though the Disney film debuted in 1950, I loved it as a child in the 80s, and it remains required viewing for kids today. And no matter how much time goes by, the sewing scene is firmly established as a part of our cultural memory. I loved Austin Scarlet's remark on an episode of On the Road with Austin and Santino (which you know is one of my favorite shows ever) that he wanted to sew a dress together with "little mice hand stitches." I think we all know what pop culture phenomenon he was referring to!

And now, for your enjoyment, the beloved scene. Can you feel the nostalgia up in here?

Favorite Film Dresses of My Impressionable Youth

One of my favorite inspiration books is Dressed: A Century of Hollywood Costume Design. (A fabulous book, by the way.) I was flipping though it recently and it got me thinking back to movies that I loved as a kid.  I adored musicals and any other especially theatrical films, and when I look back on these beloved films, I always remember the dresses. (Starts early, eh?) So here's a little trip down my pop culture memory lane: my favorite film dresses of my childhood. Won't you join me?

Sleeping Beauty

My early tastes were simple: sparkly ballgowns! The final dress in Disney's Sleeping Beauty (which changes from pink to blue and back again, you may recall) was a definite favorite. I could never decide if I liked it best in pink or blue! Ah, the dilemmas of childhood.

Mary Poppins

I revered Julie Andrews (still do, actually). I'm hard-pressed to pick a favorite film of hers, but the costumes in Mary Poppins definitely win out. And the red and white dress above is the most beautiful of all! (According to my inner five-year-old, that is.)

My Fair Lady

My Fair Lady is filled with beautiful costumes, but this black and white ensemble is arguably the most fantastic. My younger self did not catch the satire in its over-the-topness; I thought it was just right. And I still think those black and white stripes are a touch of genius.

Pollyanna

I'm sorry, was there a moral to this film? I totally missed it because I was too busy looking at the clothes. This one has it all: a fabulous shopping spree, adorable boots, and great sailor dresses.

Pretty Woman

Whew, that was quite a shift in subject matter, wasn't it? I had to put this one right after Pollyanna, because they actually remind me of each other: two poor girls get, ahem, "adopted" by rich folk, taken on the best shopping montages ever, and then live happily ever after. I wasn't allowed to see this movie until my later teens. Yeah, yeah, prostitution is adult subject matter. Again, I'm just here for the clothes! I loved her dress at the races best of all. Matching hat alert!

Clueless

A great fashion movie! I'm sad to say that this film inspired more fashion disasters for me than fashion successes. (Anyone else try to emulate the thigh-high and mini trend? That ensemble screams "working girl" way more than anything Julia Roberts wore in the aforementioned movie!) But it was a fashion moment. So much so that Calvin Klein recently brought back the white mini dress that was the centerpiece of an entire scene ("Cher, what are you wearing?" "A dress!" "Says who?" "Calvin Klein!"). It can be yours for $915.


I suppose that's enough from me (though the fact that I keep thinking of other examples hints at a second post on this topic in the future). How about you? I'd love to hear your favorite film dresses from your childhood! Don't be shy.

My Impressionable Mind: Dirty Dancing

Welcome back to "My Impressionable Mind," where I look at films and books of my youth that influenced my fashion sense, for better or for worse. (Usually worse.)

In my household, the word "Swayze" is a proper noun, an adjective, and a verb. The correct usage goes something like this: "In which movie do you think Patrick Swayze was at his Swayziest?" Or, after watching Road House, you could say, "I totally just got Swayzied." So, let me ask you, my friends: "Are you ready to get Swayzied?"

I very clearly remember the first time I got Swayzied. It was with the movie Dirty Dancing. (Duh.) I must have been around 12 years old and a friend's mother said I could watch Dirty Dancing with her daughter as long as I got my mom's permission. My mom acquiesced, with the caveat: "As long as you understand that what the people in the movie are doing is wrong." I have to say that the abortion subplot, as well as the idea of premarital sex was way over my head at that point, so I assumed she just meant the naughty dancing. But many subsequent viewings of this movie have made it clear to me just how much this movie has influenced me. (Sorry, Mom.)

Due to all the old emotions I have surrounding this movie as well as fresh sadness at the recent passing of Mr. Swayze, this is a film that I'm incapable of seeing through fresh eyes. It is just as awesome now as the first time I saw it. However, I am capable of talking about the clothes, which is what we're here to do anyway.

The plot to this movie needs no introduction, so let's get right into the fashion. (If you're not familiar with the plot of Dirty Dancing, stop reading this and rent it right now. Be sure to ask your mom first, though.)

Dirty Dancing was made in 1987, and it's set in 1963. One common theme I'm seeing in favorite movies of my childhood is that they're all set in times gone by. But in totally inaccurate ways. The producers of Dirty Dancing didn't even try to make it authentic to its period. Seriously, this is supposed to be 1963?

I love a makeover montage, and Dirty Dancing has one of the best. Jennifer Grey, as Baby Houseman, goes from drab to fab. Actually she goes from clothed to practically nude. (Fully nude comes just a bit later.) Watch the amazing shrinking clothes!

Whoa!

Baby's sister Lisa is pretty much solely responsible for making the movie look like it's set in the early 60's.

Patrick Swayze, as Johnny Castle (best character name ever!), wears a variation of the same costume throughout the whole movie (at least when he's not in his fancy dancing togs), most likely due to how awesome he looks in it.

The best costume, though, is the one that Baby wears in the final dance, which is also the most amazing dance scene EVER. I loved that even though Baby thought Johnny was gone for good, she still dressed to dance. See how much Johnny Castle changed her?

In a rare moment of historical accuracy, Baby wore a crinoline and seamed stockings.

But then the hair! It's magnificent, even if anachronistic.

There's really so much to say about Dirty Dancing. But, in the end, all I can really say is this: Thank you, Patrick Swayze. For making this world a hell of a lot Swayzier.

My Impressionable Mind: Annie

I've been thinking a lot lately about the movies and books that had the greatest style impressions on me when I was a wee lass. You see, I loved reading about fancy clothes and I loved seeing fancy clothes in movies, and I have a feeling this planted the seeds for a later obsession with vintage clothing. I've come to the realization, however, that my taste was perhaps a bit questionable now that I look back on it all. So I'm now on a bit of a mission to see whether my girlhood fashion influences hold up to the test of time.

So let's start by looking at Annie (1982), which is basically the greatest movie OF ALL TIME. It's set in the 1930's, but it's the 1980's version of the 1930's. It's about a spunky little redhead who gets saved from an evil orphanage by a handsome millionaire who adopts her! What's not to like, really?

I was obsessed with this movie as a youngster. I remember watching it one day and then just immediately rewinding the tape to start it all over again. That's how good it is, people. First of all, the cast is comprised of the three women that I was sure were the most glamorous in the world: Carol Burnett, Ann Reinking, and Bernadette Peters. And their wardrobes are FABULOUS. (At least that's how I remember it.)

Ann Reinking is the classy one, obvs.

OMG, how fab is she? Just look at the hat and tie. (No wonder Daddy Warbucks falls in love with her. Sigh!) I still think this is a great look, though I'm willing to accept that I am biased here.

Carol Burnett is the evil Miss Hannigan who I realize now was portrayed as a slutty, money-grubbing drunk. This did not matter to my young self, and even though I knew she was mean, I coveted her wardrobe, especially the purple dress above. I also thought that she was a fabulous accessorizer.

This high opinion of Miss Hannigan's sartorial choices explains my later obsession with glitzy costume jewelry and my conviction, to this day, that drinking gin out of a bathtub is the epitome of bohemian chic. (Yeah, that actually explains a lot.)

So, okay, perhaps my taste was in question with Miss Hannigan.

But then in comes Bernadette Peters! She's like a way classier version of Miss Hannigan, like a gun moll or something. I'll admit it, I still love the look she's rocking here.

The hat? The lipstick? Gorge!

As for the menfolk, there's no doubt that Daddy Warbucks is the dreamiest.


But Punjab gets the fanciest costume, with an elegant bejeweled turban. Punjab is obviously very, very wise.

I was soooo jealous of Annie. She got a whole new wardrobe, which included a fabulous bathing cap.

(Okay, trust me, it was WAY more fabulous in my clouded memory.)

One of the best scenes is when Annie and Ann Reinking are getting ready to go out to the movies with Daddy Warbucks. Ann Reinking dances around in her slip, and is basically the embodiment of all that is feminine and glamorous.

And the best part is that Daddy Warbucks grows to love Annie and then he falls in love with Ann Reinking and Ann Reinking is totally gonna be Annie's new mommy! The movie ends with a fabulous dance number that I'm pretty sure included elephants and all the little girls from the orphanage got pretty new dresses.

Yep, I can't deny it, this movie pretty much lives up to all the awesomeness I had imbued it with in my childhood memory.

Any other Annie lovers in the house?