Comments on: Art Film As Fashion Trend

by: Matt Patton

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:39:41 +0000

Not surprised this film had some impact on fashion–all of Seyrig’s costumes were designed by Chanel. And she looked lovely. My problem with the film is that it didn’t seem to make a lot of sense. I’ve read interviews with Alain Renaisis about the film, and he was attempting to recreate the way your mind skips between past and present and fantasy on film. Interesting idea, but it made for something of a slog when watching it. Still, I like a lot of his films–he’s one of the few directors from his era that is not only still alive, but still fresh and imaginative.

by: Marc

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:24:31 +0000

I love Seyrig and she was very versatile with many different looks. From Jeanne Dielman to Daughters of Darkness. For fun sometimes I like to imagine India Song is a direct sequel to Marienbad.

by: Kimberly Lindbergs

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:09:10 +0000

Tanner - Glad you liked it Tanner! I’ve never seen that NYT Mag issue but I’d love to. If you ever find your copy or buy a new one I hope you’ll share images from it at your own site.

Suszy - Cool it is!

Sergio - Boom! did inspire a lot of fashion designers but the movie did not impress many film critics. But I’m really glad you enjoyed the soundtrack. Thanks so much for the kind words about my liner notes for it!

by: sergio olivari

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:59:24 +0000

Speaking of Losey, that Boom! of his should have left another indelible fashion mark, that of having original soundtracks installed in your very own house; btw Kimberly, congratulations on your fantastic liner notes on the Harkit edition

by: Suzy Stewart

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:39:27 +0000

cool

by: Tanner

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:24:12 +0000

I love film-affected fashions. Kimberly, do you by any chance have the issue of the New York Times Magazine that had a spread on fashions inspired by Joseph Losey’s Modesty Blaise film? It wasn’t from the Sixties; I believe it was late Nineties. I wish I’d saved that article…

by: Kimberly Lindbergs

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:29:31 +0000

Susannah - I hope you like the film when you get the chance to see it! I love Resnais’ films but he seems to be a required taste.

Peter - I wrote a piece about Theadora Van Runkle who designed the costumes/fashion for Bonnie and Clyde that you might find interesting. You can find it here. I grew up in the ’70s and ’80s so my first memory of fashion trends started by films was the “disco” look and the “50s teen” look thanks to the popularity of Saturday Night Fever and Grease. I guess we can blame John Travolta for that.

Michael - It’s from an old issue of Life I have (June 1962) with Marilyn Monroe on the cover. You can find it for sale on ebay. Just do a search for “Life Magazine June 1962 Monroe” and it should pop up.

I have a batch of old magazines (Life, Better Homes & Gardens, etc.) that I’ve been looking through and scanning for home decorating ideas and I was surprised when I came across this. Glad you enjoyed it! Just an FYI - the last image of Delphine Seyrig was added by me and not part of the article. I also did some creative editing to get the piece to fit in my blog.

by: Michael

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:36:21 +0000

Hey Kimberly,

This is terrific, thanks! But do you know where it originally ran? You don’t say the name of the publication.

by: Peter Nellhaus

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:46:22 +0000

I love the description of Marienbad in that article as “somewhat confusing”.

My first memory of film and fashion was with a little film Jack Warner dumped called Bonnie and Clyde, back when I was a teenage cinephile.

by: Susannah

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:29:21 +0000

How did you know I just received this movie from Netflix? Now I can’t wait to watch it.

by: Kimberly Lindbergs

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:58:01 +0000

I had no idea that “Marienbad style” was a term used so openly early on. I knew the movie had made a big impact on the fashion world but it’s really amazing how an art film shown in limited US theaters in the ’60s was so quickly absorbed into popular culture. I haven’t seen How to Steal a Million in years and my only memories of the movie are of Peter O’Toole but I should obviously give it a look again soon.

On a side note, I love the “BEFORE” and “AFTER” pics of model Nana Elwood! She looks like she belongs in an Italian horror film.

by: Greg F.

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:20:39 +0000

I had no idea that hairstyle was called the “Marienbad” and even if I did I still wouldn’t have known it came from the movie. I was just watching some of How to Steal a Million the other day. I thought Audrey Hepburn was the one that started that style. Go figure.