... I give to you...
... six movie dresses...
... five gold rings!..
... four sassy cats...
... three ballpoint pens...
... two in/appropriate characters...
... a little souvenir.
For the past few years I've had this idea going around my head and it all starts from one place... watching White Christmas (1954) approximately seven hundred times over the years.
Every year White Christmas appears repeatedly on the television during the run up, and even though I've watching this movie more times that I can count (seven hundred may be exaggerating but it's probably not far off!), every time it's on, I end up watching it again.
And every time I see Rosemary Clooney in that black fishtail dress I want to use it, and the other movies I associate with Christmas/New Years, as inspiration for the dresses I feature in this post. So this year, I'm doing it...
Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
Judy Garland as Esther Smith
(Costume Design by Irene Sharaff)
I've decided to tackle this chronologically by the year each film was released, which means wer're starting with a film which is divided into a series of seasonal vignettes. This means that only about twenty five minutes of the film actually takes place at Christmas, but Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) probably has one of the most iconic Christmas scenes, that being when Judy Garland as Esther sings "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" to Tootie (Margaret O'Brien)...
Written for the movie and sung to Tootie to cheer her up, even if you don't know where the song comes from or who's singing it, you've almost certainly heard it. It's an iconic scene in which Esther has just returned home from a Christmas Eve ball, and sings to her sister while still wearing her red velvet ball gown and sparkling silver shawl...
Top Left: Lot95 Judy Garland Meet Me in St. Louis Ball Gown via Julien's Auctions
Top Right: Judy Garland in Meet Me in St. Louis via Pinterest
Bottom: Judy Garland and Margaret O'Brien via Legends Revealed
Designed by costume designer Irene Sharaff, the turn of the century red velvet gown had a boned bodice, sweetheart neckline and puffed sleeves, and when it was sold at auction in 2017, it went for $11,520 (£8.425.36).
Puffed sleeves aren't necessarily on my list of requirements, but this is the first dress I tried to find modern iterations of. I'm not trying to find a duplicate, the dresses - of which I'm allowing myself three for each movie - just need to give an impression of the original.
L to R ASOS DESIGN Fallen Shoulder Midi Prom Dress with Tie Detail in Red
The Pretty Dress Company Tilly Velvet Off the Shoulder Bow Prom Dress in Wine
Wal G. Milena Flare Sleeve Maxi Dress in Red
Despite it's old fashioned style, this was actually one of the easier dresses to find options for, and that is for one because red dresses become more available around the holidays. However it's also because sweetheart necklines are always fashionable on party dresses, and the puff sleeves on Esther's dress borders on off the shoulder, so these three each in their way mimic that beautifully precise and flattering neckline.
All you'd need to complete the look is a fine string of pearls, a bright red lip and a silver glittery scarf.
Link || ASOS DESIGN Fallen Shoulder Midi Prom Dress with Tie Detail in Red via ASOS
Link || Wal G. Milena Flare Sleeve Maxi Dress in Red via Zalando
White Christmas (1954)
Rosemary Clooney as Betty Haynes
(Costume Design by Edith Head)
The inspiration for this post, White Christmas (1954), is one of my favourite Christmas movies. I could probably recite it word for word and sing all the songs by heart, and it's the one Christmas movie that always seems to be on the telly, and even in years like 2020 where I'm not feeling the most festive, it will reliably give a little festive boost.
Ironically, "Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me" one of the more sombre songs from the film and the point where the beautiful and dramatic gown worn by Betty (Rosemary Clooney) appears, is the part of the movie I've always fixated on basing this day around...
Heartbreak and a fuck you to the man who did you wrong as never been so elegant.
All Images: Cinema Style Files--Signature Edith Head Style in 1954's WHITE CHRISTMAS via GlamAmor
Designed by Edith Head this fishtailed sweetheart gown is incredible in it's structure and drama. It's black velvet with an intricate cut out neckline, low back and hugs every curve of her body so perfectly that again, as a fuck you to Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby) for supposedly using her and others for his own benefits, it's pretty good. And again, this was the dress that inspired me to look at movies, but it was one of the harder dresses to find modern equivalents too.
L to R: Temptress Velvet Grown in Black via The Pretty Dress Company
Goddiva - Halter Open Back Frill Detail Maxi Dress in Black via Little Mistress
Goddiva - Off the Shoulder Pleated Waist Maxi Dress in Black via Little Mistress
Ideally I wanted to find three dresses which would be wearable if you were able to go to a Christmas or New Years Eve party, but it's the neckline, finding something reminiscent of that beautiful cut out neckline which is neither too risqué nor too modest, was impossible. So in the cases of the dresses I found, I want to go for ones with slightly more structure, a little interest in the neckline or a definite fishtail and/or a low back. But mostly I wanted to find a black "fuck you" dress. You know, the one that you where to the party that you know the person who did you wrong was going to be attending, and that in that dress (which was neither too trashy or too demure) they'd kick themselves.
I don't know if all of these are that, but they're definitely dresses that would make you stand tall, hand on hip and feel like you didn't need them, and to me gave an impression of Clooney's stunning dress.
Link || Temptress Velvet Grown in Black via The Pretty Dress Company
Link || Goddiva - Halter Open Back Frill Detail Maxi Dress in Black via Little Mistress
Link || Goddiva - Off the Shoulder Pleated Waist Maxi Dress in Black via Little Mistress
The Christmas Toy (1986)
Meterora voiced by Camille Bonora
(Designed by The Jim Henson Company)
This is a wildcard, but a classic for me. When I was a kid, before The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) was released and became the Muppet movie of choice at Christmas, one of my sisters and my favourite Christmas movies was The Christmas Toy (1986). And if I had to quickly explain it's plot, I would say that it is the precursor to Toy Story (1995).
When no one is around, when all the humans have left the room, the toys in the playroom come to life, and they have to be careful, because if they're caught out of position by the humans, they're frozen forever.
A dark story for Christmas, especially for children and Muppets, but for Rugby the tiger, Apple the doll and Mew the catnip toy, it's daily life. But this year, as Christmas approaches Rugby want to stay as Jamie, his human's favourite toy, because remembering the moment they opened the box is the happiest moment in a toys life. This particular year the new toy, Meteora: Queen of the Asteroids, is set loose because Rugby is determined that he's going to be Jamie's present for the second year in a row and he's getting into the present box. Unfortunately, Meteora doesn't know the rules and hijinks ensue.
Top Left: Dec.4 - The Christmas Toy >> toy-meteora via Cartoon Christmas
Top Right: The Christmas Toy (1986) via Basement Rejects
Bottom: Christmas Weekly Muppet Wednesdays: Meteora via The Muppet Mindset
Looking back on Meteora, in her Asteroid Queen outfit all these years later, she isn't exactly what you'd call a style icon, but I had two Henson/Muppet movies to choose from, and Miss Piggy is actually a fashion icon and if she can wear a Vivian Westwood wedding dress, why can't Meteora get a glowup? She is after all wearing a purple glitter bodysuit, so I thought that would be a fun aesthetic to wear around the holidays...
L to R: Sequin Surplice Jumpsuit via Express
Sandra Mansour - Vu De La Lune Sequined Gown in Grey via Moda Operandi
Akira Label - Wildfire Sequin Jumpsuit via Akira
Honestly, this one was too simple. Now just to find a crown, some armour and a sword...
Link || Sequin Surplice Jumpsuit via Express
Link || Sandra Mansour - Vu De La Lune Sequined Gown in Grey via Moda Operandi
Link || Akira Label - Wildfire Sequin Jumpsuit via Akira
Overboard (1987)
Goldie Hawn as Joanna/Annie
(Costume Design by Wayne A. Finkleman)
Okay, Overboard (1987) is not really a Christmas movie. Christmas never happens within the movie, there is not a Christmas light nor tree and there is only a seconds mention right before the end of the film. But that's one of the scenes I always remember, and it's of a comment about the children writing their Christmas lists. This is also amongst the scenes where Annie (Goldie Hawn) is wearing a gorgeous gold sequin dress... so I'm indulging.
Left: Goldie Hawn, Overboard, 1987 Designed by Wayne Finkleman via The Collection of Motion Picture Costume Design: Larry McQueen on Pinterest
In a film where Hawn spends most of her screen time in second hand, ill-fitting clothes designed to punish her character, the final scenes where she returns to her old life on her yacht, the gold sequin gown and matching bolero designed by Wayne A. Finkleman is representative of her return to a person of status. And it's beautiful, it's elegant in it's eighties style and give Hawn's character back her fully poised appearance. Though cracking beer bottle caps off on your expensive furniture isn't quite so fitting.
However, my favourite moment in relation to this dress is when she's standing on deck, calling to Dean (Hawn's real life partner of 37 years, Kurt Russell), by this point she's fully decided on her future, her hair is dishevelled and relaxed, she's lost the bolero and has placed around her neck a necklace made of pasta given to her by one of "her" children.
L to R: Pamella Roland - Caped Sequined Gown in Gold via Moda Operandi
Marchesa Notte - Metallic Pleated Gown in Gold via We Select Dresses
Visions of Elegance Sequin Pleated Midi Dress in Rose Gold via Lulus
In my choices of dresses I wanted three that kind of represented the stages Hawn's character goes through within the finale of the film. The caped dress on the left showing what she's trying to be for her privileged mother and husband, the centre dress her starting to break with expectations and then the shorter more casual dress on the right being what she wants to be with Dean.
Pasta: 10 Minutes of Preparation Necklace by ATYPYK Paris || Gold Plated
I even found a gold macaroni necklace you can string yourself to complete the illusion! Or you know, just ransack your cupboards, I'm sure everyone stocked up on a little extra dry pasta in 2020.
Link || Pamella Roland - Caped Sequined Gown in Gold via Moda Operandi
Link || Marchesa Notte - Metallic Pleated Gown in Gold via We Select Dresses
Link || Visions of Elegance Sequin Pleated Midi Dress in Rose Gold via Lulus
Link || Pasta: 10 Minutes of Preparation Necklace via ATYPYK Paris
Scrooged (1988)
Carol Kane as The Ghost of Christmas Present
(Designed by Wayne A. Finkelman)
Carol Kane as The Ghost of Christmas Present in Scrooged (1988) has to be one of the most maniacal, ridiculous and fantastic characters in a Christmas movie. She's insane, she's violent, she's surrounded by an almost constant stream of bubbles and she never lets Frank (Bill Murray) away with anything! And she does it in a pale pink gown designed, again, by Wayne A. Finkelman.
Top Left: Scrooged - Carol Kane via Listal
Top Right: Carol Kane in Scrooged (1988) via Movie Actors
Bottom: Bill Murray twisted Christmas in 'Scrooged' by Maura Johnston via The Boston Globe
There are certain movies that as a family we always watch during the festive season, and Scrooged is one of them. It's also one of the few Christmas movies I'd happily watch all year round, and there wasn't a chance in hell I'd pass up finding a dress inspired by Kane's character.
Beatrix Sheer Gown with Jumbo Iridescent Sequins via Narces
Pastel Hologram Rainbow Dress (SP13817) via Spree Picky
I had to resist the urge to pick three outfits that were just made of iridescent sequins, but only because I made myself choose between two outfits by the designer Lirika Matoshi, whose strawberry dress went viral in 2020 and I've loved since she was selling on Etsy back in the day. And while a top and trouser set made of large iridescent sequins was fabulous, I thought that the first pale pink dress covered in stars seemed like a better match for a Kane inspired outfit.
With these dresses I'd like to think I got the right mixture of girly and eccentric to represent a deranged spirit, and if you're desperate for a star covered headpiece, a cute inexpensive option is by Mimi and Lula, and also I'd definitely look to Etsy. Having had a quick search I particularly like the ones made by Honey and Ember, and for that true, "sure, I have the best part of £500 to spend on a hair accessory", style tiara, I like the 1920s style one from Erica Elizabeth Design.
Actually sod it, get a god damn starry tiara from somewhere and live your own tiara fantasy!
Link || Pink Sky Midi Dress via Lirika Matoshi
Link || Beatrix Sheer Gown with Jumbo Iridescent Sequins via Narces
Link || Pastel Hologram Rainbow Dress (SP13817) via Spree Picky
Batman Returns (1992)
Michelle Pfieffer as Selena Kyle/Catwoman
(Designed by Bob Ringwood & Mary E. Vogt)
Last movie on the last is Batman Returns (1992), which is in fact my favourite Batman movie, Michael Keaton being my favourite actor to play the titular character, and Michelle Pfieffer is my favourite Catwoman... and it is definitely a Christmas movie. Which I admit I'd forgotten.
So, while it was tempting to look for black leather cat suits, which would obviously everyone's first option for a night out, I plumped for the high necked, backless, long sleeved, maxi dress covered in chevrons of black sequins that Selena (Pfieffer) wears during the Maxquerade Ball scene, as she dances with Bruce Wayne (Keaton) and their secret identities are revealed...
The dress is both conservative yet incredibly sexy, and just goes to show that (while her back is showing) you don't have to show a massive amount of skin to ooze sexuality.
Top Left: Michelle Pfieffer as Selena Kyle GIF (Still) via Crooked Cat Tumblr
Top Right: Michelle Pfieffer as Selena Kyle in Batman Returns via Pinterest
Bottom: Maxquerade Ball via Batman Fandom
This was another of the more difficult dresses to find a match for, mostly because of all it's individual attributes makes a stunning, but relatively simple silhouette difficult to replicate.
Club L London Tall Sequin Open Back Fishtail Maxi Dress in Black via ASOS
Goddiva - Sequin Stripe Front Bow Maxi Dress in Black via Little Mistress
High neck, long sleeves, chevrons, sequins, backless, full length... honestly if I'd found one dress with all of these things I'd have been amazed. In the end I picked these three because of a degree of subtleness that others didn't have. I wanted to stick to black sequins, so the first dress I liked the idea of it having an almost casual nature too it without loosing that sexuality. The centre one had chevrons and stripes of sequins which I liked because he ones on Selena's dress are instantly noticeable but actually make a lot of sense stylistically in a film directed by Tim Burton. Then the last dress, shape wise, has the most resemblance to the original dress.
But frankly the black gowns I tried to find options for ono this list, kicked my butt.
Link || French Connection - Embellished Short Sleeve Maxi Dress in Black via ASOS
Link || Club L London Tall Sequin Open Back Fishtail Maxi Dress in Black via ASOS
Link || Goddiva - Sequin Stripe Front Bow Maxi Dress in Black via Little Mistress
BONUS!
Die Hard 2 (1990)
Bruce Willis as John McClane
(Costume Designed by Marilyn Vance & Willis's Key Costumer: Charles Mercuri)
I'm adding a bonus because, for one, I wanted too, and it's my blog so my rules, but also because I didn't include any male characters as inspiration.
And in terms of Christmas movies, you've got to admit that Die Hard (1988) and Die Hard 2: Die Harder (1990) are classics. Plus in a sea of festive romances and screwball comedies, an action film is always welcome.
Now, I could have gone for a dress based on the first movie, but it's winter and a wife beater style vest dress didn't feel like a sensible option, however in the second movie John McClane (Bruce Willis) spends a large portion of the film in a marled grey/beige collared jumper in a ribbed knit, which in true nineties style is in a comfy, cosy slightly oversized fit.
All Images: Die Hard 2 via BAMF Style
It's a look I was happy to invest some time in, as I love a good jumper dress. In fact I've basically spent all of the festive season in jumper dresses, leggings and thermal socks because it's Christmas, it's cold and I want to be comfy.
L to R: Reiss - Nicole Knitted Ribbed Jumper Dress in Grey via John Lewis
MKM Knitwear Design - Cold Shoulder Jumper Dress in Grey via Silk Fred
M Lounge - Relaxed Maxi Jumper Dress Co-ord in Rich Brown via ASOS
Basically I got to shop for things I'd actually realistically wear. I wanted them all to look really casual and as though you could have borrowed someone else and because it was too big it looked like a dress.
These are definitely my sort of level for holiday clothes. Who knew Bruce Willis was such a style icon!
Link || Reiss - Nicole Knitted Ribbed Jumper Dress in Grey via John Lewis
Link || MKM Knitwear Design - Cold Shoulder Jumper Dress in Grey via Silk Fred
Link || MKM Knitwear Design - Cold Shoulder Jumper Dress in Grey via Silk Fred
Link || M Lounge - Relaxed Maxi Jumper Dress Co-ord in Rich Brown via ASOS
You may be wondering why are none of the films newer than the early nineties? Answer, I'm not sure, but I did look to more contemporary movies such as Elf (2003), Love Actually (2003), The Family Stone (2005), Last Christmas (2019)... and they either didn't feel like a challenge, or didn't really have anything I was interested in duplicating. Plus how often do you get to look for dresses inspired by an insane ghost?
I hope that despite the lack of parties this year, that this was a bit of fun and fantasy.
If nothing else we can all dress as John McClane, scream "Yippee-ki-yay, Motherfucker", and bid 2020 a not so fond farewell.
Merry Christmas! Day seven tomorrow...
(I realise I'm running behind, what's new!)
..................................................................................
Listening: Die Hard - Guyz Nite
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