I have a definite weakness for the film noir genre; especially what would be considered “B” 1940s films within this category. Black Angel (1946) falls within these parameters: a film noir, somewhat low-grade production, but is a bit of a gem fashion-wise. The film was made right at the crossroads of the decade’s styles, and is an interesting mix of the early 40s tailored look and the slight softening that would come with the late 40s. I hope you’re as inspired by some of the elements and looks as I was! (As usual, click on any images to see a larger version.)

The evening dress she wears in this scene is rather awful in my opinion (it’s covered in long fringe…), but the hair styling is beautiful! The softly-waved front and sides sweep back to be tucked into a low chignon. Which appears to be made up of a trio of bun-like arrangements. I’m itching to try this out for myself!

A checked peplum-jacket suit. You can see all the design details that make this a great little mid 40s suit: multiple darts in the jacket for a close fit, and a deep pleat at the back of the skirt to enable walking.

Some random bits and pieces of other outfits she wears. The open-brim hat (far left) is quite an interesting style (open brims seemed to have been popular around 1944-46, if my magazines are any indication), as is the large ginko-style leaf pin. A close up of another suit–I love how it’s been paired with a higher-neckline blouse and a choker of pearls (center). A “puritan” influenced blouse (far right)–another style very popular during the mid 40s.

I really have a weakness for checked coats and swing jacket styles! I love the beautifully detailed yoke along the shoulder (and the saddle shoulder is so unusual), and deep flair at the center back to give the coat even more swing and volume! It’s hard to see in these pictures, but the sleeves are gathered to a narrow cuff.

A very pretty and interestingly constructed floral dress. The piecing at the waist is so different–I’ve never seen a midriff treatment quite like it. Also: check out the lovely cascade of the peplum at the back–so elegant! Note that although it looks like the dress buttons down the entire front, they are most likely just for show and the dress is accessible through a side seam zipper.

Finally a fun little accessory you don’t see in a lot of films, but was another trendy item in the 40s: the evening snood. Made up of fine netting and gathered to a jeweled band, this is quite a bit of a departure from the chunkier snoods that were popular for casual wear. Very fun!

Did any specific details jump out at you? Seen any movies lately that catch your eye from a fashion standpoint?

I’ve talked about my love of Gene Tierney before, and since I haven’t highlighted any 1940s fashion films, I thought this would be a good time to gush more over Gene and one of my favorite films: Laura. Bonnie Cashin designed the costumes for this 1944 film, and her sense of easy-going style is reflected in Gene’s outfits. Rather than overly glamorize the star (who was quite stunning and didn’t really need glitzy costumes!) as many films of the era had a tendency towards, the designer stayed within the limits of what could have plausibly been worn by any well-heeled, fashionable young woman of the era. Looking at these outfits, you can see the sportswear influence that Cashin became increasingly known for, while still keeping within the silhouette acceptable at the time. This is one of those films that I’ve idolized for years and continue to scheme from time to time about recreating various dresses or outfits! I hope you’ll enjoy looking through these… (As always, click images for a larger view!)

[ Check out the impeccable bias trim on this suit--it's subtle, but adds a higher end feel to the garment because it's such a fiddly detail to execute perfectly! ]

[ The skirt and knit top that is worn with the suit jacket above. I love the fitted jersey with buttons up the back--and the bias trim is echoed here on the shoulders and neckline. Wouldn't this be a neat variation on the plain ol' tee? ]

[ An array of beautiful knits that Gene wears at the beginning montage. The first outfit is a matched cardigan and skirt set, while the second is a chunkier cardigan and pony skin (!) skirt. Talk about wild fashion on the latter one... I love the chunky bracelet and belt though. ]

[ A glamorous, Grecian inspired evening gown. It's deceptively simple, in that it lacks a lot of surface decoration, but the genius is in the intricate draping. Note the large sparkly brooch on the left shoulder; that's a great way to add some sparkle to an otherwise simple neckline! ]

[ I love this floppy hat that Gene sports! Somewhat unusual to the period (structured hats tended to be more popular), but it frames Gene's face well and would be an easy style to reproduce today. ]

[ I love this striped jacket to bits--look at all the different directions the stripes are cut to create a rather dynamic jacket. Gene's pageboy inspired hairstyle is very nice too! ]

[ Another floppy brimmed hat, this time with a classic trench coat. Note the stitching on the brim of the hat. ]

[ A sporty pants ensemble: this is probably the outfit that is tempting me most right now to try and make! Again, the patterned fabric is cut in various directions to show off bias piecing on the blouse. I love the waist tie detail too! ]

[ Another striped jacket that goes with lounging pants. The hairstyle is so lovely! ]

[ An unstructured skirt and blouse set; another unusual look for the period (although other designers certainly were playing with the idea of less structure, it just wasn't as mainstream). The long scarf-wrap drapes around the neckline to make it suitable for streetwear. ]

[ One of my favorite dresses; a back buttoned street length garment with pleats at the shoulder, extended shoulders forming sleeves, and a shaped belt. The belt has some sort of embellishment too; simple but fitting with the elegance of the piece. Note the bracelet Gene is wearing--it's a floral cuff design that is very similar to a lot of bracelets I've seen in shops recently. ]

[ A gorgeous, draped front dressing gown worn in the final scene. I love the floral applique on the left front--very pretty! ]

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!

[ check out the unique, "winged" sleeves on the jacket, and the lacing up the front of the playsuit. ]

In my last round up of late 1930s film fashion, I can’t believe I forgot to mention one of my favorites (and seemingly many of your’s too!): the 1939 classic The Women! If you haven’t seen it, you really must. I won’t clutter this entry with a description of the plot, but suffice to say it’s a wonderful mash-up of fashion, amazing actresses (Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russel… just to name a few!), and witty dialog. It’s basically what we’d call in modern terms a “chick flick”, but it’s certainly one of the chicest chick flicks I’ve ever seen!

The film is so chock full of wonderful, over-the-top clothes (designed by the talented Gilbert Adrian), that I’m not even going to try and cover it all in one post! For this (first!) post I decided to cover my favorite part of the movie: the fashion show! Although the rest of the movie is in black and white, midway through the main characters attend a fashion show and the film switches into color (a true late 30s touch!). The fashions are fantastically theatrical as only Adrian could design them, with many sly winks at the mania for surrealism at the time. (Check out the beach jacket with the modeled-hand closure!) I hope you’ll be as inspired by all these fun looks as I am! (If you haven’t seen the movie, check out the scene in action here.)

Seeing all these makes me wildly excited about playsuits with sweet little details and jaunty hats! What details catch your eye?

[ more sweet playsuits. ]

[ one of the most interesting, surrealist pieces in the whole fashion show--check out the modeled hand clasp on the jacket! ]

[ I've pretty much decided if I can have a beach jacket with snappy red stripes around the shoulders, I'd be a happy girl! ]

[ more seaside fashions; two longer lounging outfits. the series of pockets on the left outfit are so interesting! ]

[ eye-catching cool-weather outfits. the center one is my favorite--especially the jaunty hat! ]

[ more gorgeous daywear. the fur details on the black outfit are pure Hollywood--so glamorous! ]

[ fanciful gowns. the one on the right with the simulated black skirt and midriff waistband and scalloped hem is so pretty! ]

[ more floaty gowns! ]

[ striking evening gowns. take a close look at the hat the model in the green gown is wearing: the crown is a clear plastic! ]

[ the caped evening ensemble is so interesting... ]

[ more glamorous looks! ]

[ I love this bustled gown so much--the shaping is divine, while the color keeps it elegant. ]

[ gloves all in one with the sleeves! ]

[ another nod to surrealism: gigantic gold "studs" on the gloves! ]

[ click for a larger view. ]

I have lately been on a 1930s movie kick: rewatching all my favorites (like You Can’t Take It With You, the Thin Man series, and The Philadelphia Story, just to name a small few) and haunting TCM for some new ones. The other evening I popped Stage Door in, a movie I hadn’t seen in ages and had forgotten how many cute outfits there are in this picture! I decided I wanted to share a few of my favorites with you (along with my obsessive notes… click on the images to see full-size. Feel free to skip if you’d like!)–I hope you enjoy!

So tell me: what is your favorite movie from the 1930s?