Gee, I haven’t done one of these posts in awhile, have I? If you follow my Tumblr blog, you may have noted that I’ve been posting quite a few pictures of Myrna Loy lately, which means I’m probably on a Thin Man kick too! Sailor Husband and I watched The Thin Man (the best of the bunch, imho) last Friday evening, and I remembered just how glamorous all of Myrna Loy’s costumes for the film were. In fact, this was one of the movies that got me started with tracking down vintage patterns with an eye to sew with them. It’s fun to watch the movie again and remember just how taken I was with the designs and possibilities of recreating vintage styles! I’ve pulled some of my favorite of Myrna Loy’s outfits, along with a few comments for this post–I hope you’ll enjoy! (All images can be clicked and enlarged!)
Myrna’s high, theatrical collar on her coat (and equally dramatic fur cuffs) was popular in the 30s, though usually not quite to this extreme I love her little hat! The 1930s, in my opinion, was really the height of interesting millinery.
My favorite gown in the entire film! I have always called this the “Candy Cane” dress; the swirling layers of bias cut stripes and ruffles are amazing. Take a close look at the cascading ruffles; the under layer’s stripes are going in the opposite direction, creating a subtle checked look Note the slightly empire waistline too.
So maybe this is my favorite piece in the film instead! I love the extremely dramatic and luxurious 30s take on a highly fantasized Medieval silhouette. Can you imagine lounging around in such glamor?
This is such an adorable, fun lounging ensemble. Pants for informal settings like in the home or at a resort were gaining popularity in the 30s as an option for women. These are obviously quite fantastic and Hollywood’s take on the look!
Mad for plaid! Don’t you just love how matchy Myrna’s outfit is? It’s a less severe option to the head-to-toe suit look, while still being trim.
A lovely, filmy lounging/lingerie ensemble. The robe has similar construction to a kimono; the sleeves are set in straight along the side seams.
Another favorite! Who doesn’t love how playful her outfit is here? The 30s really had a knack for creating a bit of whimsy in fashion, and Myrna’s outfit is a wink to that with the exaggerated elements like the ruffled jabot and cuffs. This is also another pants lounging outfit.
The 1930s specialized in evening gowns that looked like they were poured onto the wearer, thanks to the cling of bias and the amazing fabrics available to designers. This satin-finish dress always reminds me of an oil slick–albeit, a very glamorous one!
This is Myrna’s most restrained and what I would consider “normal” (not overly fantasized, as was the custom of most Hollywood designer’s at the time). It’s a cute plaid (again!) pajama and robe set; I love the little blouse because it looks like it could almost be worn as daywear!
Myrna’s wardrobe for this film was designed by the prolific Dolly Tree, who I was interested to find out also handled the costumes for several of my other favorite films like Wife vs. Secretary, Libeled Lady and After the Thin Man. Do you have a favorite designer from the Golden Age of Hollywood? I would have to say, mine is hands down Gilbert Adrian, if nothing else but for the witty costumes in The Women and The Philadelphia Story!
yes, yes YES! Myrna’s my favourite, as is The Thin Man! I almost fainted when I found a velvet 30s jacket and hat on Etsy that I am certain was inspired by Ms. Loy’s plaid trimmed jacket ensemble captured above. Can’t wait to wear it this winter. In the mean-time, thanks for capturing these stills. Now I can stare at my favourite iconic outfits for Hours!!
I’ve never seen this film and feel compelled now to track it down!!
Also, thank you for your hair tutorials on youtube – I’ve been meaning to do a post about them for a while and as luck would have it, now that I’ve had the time to play around with hair, my camera’s broken so I can’t take any photos of the results!!
Miss P xx
Thanks for sharing these – I must watch this picture, I’ve never seen it. To be honest the only designer I can name from the golden age of Hollywood is Edith Head – when her name pops up on the film titles, I know I’m going to be in for a treat. From now on I’ll make more of an effort to note a film’s costume designer, promise!
The Thin Man is the BEST! My parents introduced the Charles couple to me when I was 12 years old, and I’ve been obsessed ever since!!
Fabulous!!
I really enjoyed this sartorial walk through one of my favorite movies! I think my favorite outfits here are that wonderful striped dress, and the little plaid skirt suit with the plaid accessories. Such a chic, fun to watch movie!
I really like the Thin Man movies too! She is always so elegant, yet approachable. I keep telling my husband, I wish I could wear things like that. But, not very practical when you’re cleaning and taking care of children.
Right now my favorite is Orry Kelly, obviously.
I love the Thin Man movies! My mom and grandma loved them, and then my mom introduced me to them when I was a kid and I fell in love too! In fact, my grandma had a terrier named Asta after their dog in the movies!
I love the 30′s hair and fashion, and I have always loved that “candy cane” dress too! I had the chance to model for a photographer this weekend and had fingerwaves done in my hair for the first time, it was so amazing, I felt transformed!
Fantastic post, as always! Oh, and I’ll have you know, you’ve inspired me to drag my Singer out of hiding and start some sewing again! I won’t ever be as good a seamstress as my mother is, but I am looking forward to creating some retro-inspired fashions! xoxo
I love the Tin Man films. They really are some of the funniest I’ve ever seen! And Myrna Loy is fabulous!
I love your blog
One of many of my favorite movies! Every time I watch it, I just literally drool over the 1930′s fashions!
XOXO~Syd
LOVE the Thin Man movies! As far as a fave designer (and this is a different era I must admit), but Edith Head will always be my girl!
hee hee, i LOVE the thin man! reminds me of watching old movies with my mom as a kid. even then i adorned the clothes.
One of my favorite movies EVER. That’s why my cat’s name is Mister Charles
Thank you so much for posting this and doing an outfit break down!
This is on my top list of fashion inspiration movies. Once upon a time I did screen caps just like you, but lost them when my computer died
And the candy cane dress? *swoon* Someday, when I find the fabric…
What synchronicity that you posted that shot of the “candy cane dress!” The dress that I’m sewing for the Gatsby Summer Afternoon is very similar in cascades and bodice styling (it has a little capelet bodice piece that goes over the main dress) and I’m trying to find a way that it would work with stripes. I think the bias approach would work and the Loy dress is an awesome inspiration! I wrote about the dress over here if you’re interested in snagging the pattern.
I love the Thin Man movies. (Lots of others, too).
I love it when TCM has the “marathons” of an actor or actress or film series.
The clothes are amazing in the films.
One of my favorites has always been Frank Sinatra and Doris Day in For the Young at Heart. Loved the clothes she wore.
I love that you’re going through a Myrna Loy phase, as I seem to be going through a Barbara Stanwyck phase myself (and hope to post screen caps on my blog one day soon). Of course, I am a huge fan of Myrna as well (she's one of the best!) and the dresses in The Thin Man are quite phenomenal. I love your "elegant musings", as always!
I like After the Thin Man because of the young efforts to be ‘evil’ by Jimmy Stewart. haha. But the costumes are always wonderful! Love this post! My husband and I almost settled for ‘Nora’ as our baby name. heh heh
LOVE LOVE LOVE The Thin Man. After seeing these movies as a teen, I knew it’s how I wanted my relationship with my husband to be – comfortable, adorable, and playful.
Every time I see it, I wonder what color some of these outfits were.
I love the Thin Man too! The family dog when I was younger was named Asta. When I tried on my wedding dress, it totally reminded me of her evening gown and was then on referred to as my Myrna Loy dress and the whole wedding took on a 30s-40s theme.
Myrna Loy is so gorgeous! The Thin Man movies are some of my all time faves for the costumes.
You inspired me!
I made this pyjama and robe set for me
If you want to look:
http://sasphyria.livejournal.com/24754.html
Sasphyria
I adore The Thin Man and Nora’s candy cane dress – my boyfriend and I have a beautiful Thin Man poster in our living room in which you can see the merest peep of that dress, but it’s stunning. As I was reading down I was thinking I’d have to recommend Wife Vs Secretary to you, so I was really happy that you mentioned it – I particularly love the black evening gown she is wearing at the cocktail party in their home. Gorgeous! For 40s Myrna Loy it’s definitely worth watching The Best Years of Our Lives – a bit less sparkle but beautifully elegant clothes.
I grew up on the Thin Man movies on Channel 11 out of Dallas. We’d sneak down to the living room (where the TV was) in summer to watch them after bedtime. And yes, I have had a wire fox terrier named Asta!
The Thin Man and Another Thin Man tie for favorites, but you are correct in thet the first movie has the better fashions. Although pretty much everything Myrna Loy wore was smashing. If you haven’t, you might want to look for the Powwel/Loy collection on DVD. It has several of their non-TM movies like Manhattan Melodrama and Love Crazy.