Liz makes a slip the STAR...

Hollywood has lost one of it’s most shinning stars. I watched the life in review as the world said goodbye to Elizabeth Taylor.

I have always been a Liz Taylor fan and always will be. 

Cat On A Hot Tin Roof is one of my all time favorite films. I am a fan of Tennessee Williams plays so when you add Liz Taylor and a stellar cast of actors you have a master piece.

I love how Liz turned an old fashioned full slip into a star!


Liz plays a strong woman, named Maggie the cat, who tries to win back the affections of her aloof  husband.
Set in the steamy climate of the deep south Maggie spends the majority of the movie wearing only a full slip.

 

But this is no ordinary slip.

Liz Taylor looked glamorous while exquisitely undressed in that famous full slip.
This slip not only became the star of the show but also the image or icon of the show itself. It is incredible when a costume portrays the character so completely. It has become just as famous as the actress.

 The costume designer, Helen Rose, created the ultimate slip for Elizabeth during production in 1958. This was a full slip made of pure silk, completely lined in silk to guarantee nothing would show through. The slip was perfectly fitted and skin tight. If you watch the film carefully you can see the invisible hidden zipper on the side seam.  You may also notice she does not wear a bra.

Silk moulds and moves with a body like no other fabric can. This slip  looks like a regular slip but it was created with the magic of movie costuming skill. Yes it is a slip but it has that extra star power.

No one else wears a slip that looks quite as commanding.
   
In 1960 Liz does it again! Another outstanding slip for the star of Butterfield 8. Once again Helen Rose created the slip but this time with a splash of contrasting lace in a warm coffee color showing 2 layers at the hem.

The sensual silk, the body hugging fit and fully lined to show Liz at her best.
       
Check out this clip to really see the dramatic slip in action (3 1/2 mins). This slip is powerful and sexy yet so little skin is shown by todays standards.

The slip has moved away from popularity. This is a shame because there is something magical about wearing a slip. Your clothing slides and moves easily on top of it. If your clothing shifts and the slip shows, what a wonderful surprise for the onlooker who happens to notice!

If you want to feel like a 1950’s movie start….pull on a slip one morning and walk tall. See  how glamorous you will feel.

There will never be another Liz Taylor. In her honor I vote to bring the slip back into vogue! How about you?

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Psycho turns 50 - Lingerie in film

This month the famous horror film, Psycho by Alfred Hitchcock turned 50. It is hard to believe that Psycho hit the silver screen so long ago. Whether you saw it in a cinema or on TV most people remember how frightening it was. I stumbled upon a clip the other day and found it just as frightening today.

It is a film that was a ground breaker in so many ways including it’s use of lingerie as costumes. The second memory I have of this film, after the shower scene, of course, is the bold use of a bra and slip for the leading lady. Hitchcock deliberately chose to dress his leading lady, Janet Leigh, in a white bra and white half slip during the opening scenes of the film. He is reported to have said he wanted her to appear “angelic”. She is being portrayed as a good women stepping into a bad situation. The fact that she is having a daytime affair, on her lunch break, is shocking in itself for 1960.

Once she has taken the steps to stealing the money so easily placed before her, Hitchcock changes her lingerie costume to a black bra and black half slip symbolizing evil. She has made the shift from good girl to bad girl. Only wild women wore black bras. If you watch carefully you will also notice that she uses a white purse in the beginning and switches to a black one as she runs away with the stolen money.

It is difficult to look back at the old fashioned bras and imagine them as sexy. Today they look like your everyday, working bra whether in black or white with slightly different style lines.

Some of the other unconventional methods used by Hitchcock include:

• the use of black and white film stock although color technology was already fully in use.
• the first American film to show a toilet flush. It was against the ratings rules so Hitchcock had the leading lady put a note in the toilet and flush it. As it was an important part of the plot it was allowed.
• the first film to kill off the leading lady in the first act.
• the first film to use a human as the “monster” (Norman Bates)
• Hitchcock insisted that Janet’s wardrobe be purchased, not custom made for her as was and is the norm in film. He wanted clothing that a real secretary could have afforded. He wanted it to look real.
• the famous shower scene took 7 days to shoot and 70 camera set ups then extensive editing.
• the screeching violin music to frighten the audience

Even after 50 years this is still an American film masterpiece. Well worth another watch.

Do you think there are still such stereotype restrictions on today’s woman?

 

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Corsets in Film- the hidden image maker

Corsets are a common item in film and for good reason. There is no other way to create the ultimate support and shaping that a corset provides.

Daphne Zuniga looks stunning on set of the Hallmark production, “Mail Order Bride“. You may remember her from Melrose Place.

Although you cannot actually see the corset, the results are obvious. She sits regally, with perfect posture and a fantastically smooth shape. There is no other way to achieve the period style silhouette other than the use of the corset.

Working on this movie I created this dress for the Costume Designer, with the help of a talented seamstress Wendy. We spent many hours producing this old fashioned garment. It is a pleasure to recreate the elegance of the past and fulfill the designers vision.

Underneath it all she wore a champagne colored satin corset that was a fashion statement in itself. A beautiful costume creation hidden away.

Modern gowns often have a corset built into the structure. You will often see this on red carpet gowns. There is a wonderful look as the bones of the corset slightly shadow through elegant fabrics. Can you picture this orange corset under a fabulous gown?

Most women only consider a corset for their wedding day but in reality they can be worn with so many formal outfits. The outcome….amazing!



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