... I would like to present to you...
… six movie dresses…
… five gold wings…
… four paper pests…
… three growing bathers…
... two storytellers...
... and a lazy day in space.
Grease 2 (1983)
Michelle Pfieffer as Stephanie Zinone
(Costume Design by Robert De Mora)
The sequel to the iconic musical Grease (1978), starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, a film which is still well loved enough that it was shown on TV on Christmas Day in the UK last year. Grease 2 (1983) however, was a flop at the cinema and rarely graces our screens, returning to Rydell High and trying to recreate the same magic as the original had, not quite coming to fruition. Though it has always held a special place in my heart.
It was Michelle Pfeiffer’s first starring role, and while it was still considered a fail, in 2020 the actress did lovingly posting to her Instagram account a photo of herself in her Girl For All Seasons dress, and while she (as ever) looked stupidly beautiful, the dress is… interesting.
The character played by Pfieffer, Stephanie Zinone, is the leader of the Pink Ladies, the epitome of cool and beauty, and the girl everyone wants to be or be with. And to be fair, of the calendar girl costumes, Stephanie certainly doesn’t fare as badly as some of the other girls…
… and she makes it look cool, she looks like a Christmas tree, as intended, but she also looks like she fell into the box of decorations with a couple of bottles of school glue. So, from my choices, what I wanted was to find her a dress which, with a few baubles, some tinsel and a star crown, would just be a little bit cooler both on and off the stage.
R to L: Carolina Herrera (Spring 2018) Open-backed Sequinned Tulle Gown in Silver (worn by Sai De Silva) via Lulalogy
Grass Green Tulle Dress by Lirika Matoshi
Sydney Off Shoulder Tulle Maxi Dress in Emerald Green via Lace & Beads
Given finding a dress that looked like a cool version of a Christmas tree was unlikely, my criteria for my search was basically this: it should probably be sparkly, give the slightest nod to the original in shape or colour, and if I could imagine it festooned with baubles and tinsel, I would be happy. But honestly, I just wanted Stephanie to look like a Pink Lady, which in the end just means looked effortlessly cool.
Which I think I actually achieved with my first pick. This dress is a Carolina Herrera open backed sequinned tulle gown which, bar being made of silver sequins and thus mimicking that part of the original dress, stood out at me as a contender because of not only it’s sparkle, colour and nod to the eighties with it’s puff sleeve, but also that cool girl aesthetic that digital creator, Sai De Silva, exudes in her photograph. She just looks amazing and it was that same confidence she exhibits that I would expect in a Pink Lady, and despite it’s inevitable gussying up to look more seasonal for the show, there was a choice to make this original costume silver, so, with some additional (removable) coloured accessories and a star crown, it feels perfectly right to me.
Wearing a Christmas tree dress I’m sure isn’t anyone’s dream aesthetic or silhouette, but the second of my three choices is probably the closest that we’ll get. This grass green dress by Lirika Matoshi - the designer behind the iconic Strawberry Dress - is ludicrous, it’s a mullet hemmed, a-line, bright green tulle gown, covered in giant tulle pom-poms, but it was the first dress I marked as a must have. It was that Christmas tree dress that I didn’t think I would find, but it also kept that that cool, fashionable, confidence is key aesthetic the character had. Fight me on it, but if they ever remain the movie, this is the dress I’d want, or at least an adulterated equivalent.
Unsurprisingly, despite looking for silver dresses, a lot of the options I found were green. At some point I got the ‘she’s a tree’ idea into my head and I just kept saving pretty green dresses, and when I was choosing the final three, I kept coming back to this emerald green tulle dress from Lace & Bead. It’s not silver, not a-line, not covered in sequins or baubles, but in the accompanying photograph in my mind, it exuded Pfeiffer’s character to me. Stephanie is girly sometimes, but mostly she we’re trousers, shirts and her Pink Lady bomber jacket, she’s somewhat of a tomboy (for want of a better term) and maybe it’s the boots, maybe it’s the model’s hair, but to me this was the character and when I was discussing it with my sister, she agreed wholeheartedly. Stephanie could pin some baubles on her dress, then take them off and head out in a pair of biker boots, hike up the tulle and meet her dream guy on his motorbike.
The reason I chose this film is that I have sentimentality for it - though I do for most of the films I chose this year. Grease 2 (1983) is not a good movie, it’s not a patch on the original, but as a kid I was incredibly fond of it, as were my sisters. For years we’ve sung the “Reproduction” song under different guises, making each other laugh, and when we saw it on streaming this Christmas, we sat and wrapped presents while watching it. When you’re a kid random films stick with you, whether they’re good or not, and as adults you can make fun of them, but with a degree of love.
Link || Carolina Herrera Open-backed Sequinned Tulle Gown in Silver worn by Sai De Silva via Lulalogy
Link || Sai De Silva (Scout the City) || Website || Instagram || TikTok || Pinterest || YouTube || Dress Post || Post 2 || Post 3 || Post 4 || Post 5 || Post 6
Link || Carolina Herrera Open-backed Sequinned Tulle Gown in Silver via Ellure Couture
Link || Grass Green Tulle Dress by Lirika Matoshi
Link || Sydney Off Shoulder Tulle Maxi Dress in Emerald Green via Lace & Beads
Moonstruck (1987)
Cher as Loretta Castorini
(Costume Design by Theoni V. Aldredge)
Over the past couple of years that I’ve chosen to approach dress day by looking at movie costumes, I have tried to look at movies which feature Christmas or New Years in one way or another, and one way I find them is to look at lists made on the subject. The 50 Best Christmas Movies, The Best Movies to Watch at New Years, etc, etc, and one movie kept cropping up, though I could find no direct connection within the film to the holidays other than it being set in the winter, there’s snow (because you only get snow at Christmas in movies) and it was released in December of 1987. That movie was Moonstruck (1987) and it’s a great movie with an interesting dress and one of the most iconic Cher quotes ever…
So, my criteria for Loretta’s new dress is, it has to dark red or burgundy, made of velvet, have something going on at the shoulders, be demure but sexy, and absolutely no drop waist!
R to L: Poem Bangkok Autumn/Winter 2018 Ready to Wear:
“Thermos” Wine Velvet Cape (no.5079) || “Moonlight Sonata” Maroon Ombré Bodice (no.1027) || “Black Hole” Wine Velvet Tulip Skirt (no.4027)
Poem Bangkok Pre-Fall 2021 Ready to Wear || Look 7:
“Felicia” Violet Velvet Bustier Corset (no.1163) || “Odette” Black Tulle Skirt (no.4026)
Poem Bangkok Autumn/Winter 2018 Ready to Wear:
“Gypsy Rose Lee” Wine Velvet Bustier Corset (no.1077) || “Blood Moon” Maroon Ombré Tulle Skirt
Unintentionally I’ve actually picked three dresses from the same company, Poem Bangkok, though they’re not dresses, they’re actually all separates, but the styling to me evokes the same style we seen in the dress from Moonstruck (1987), but in a more modern but very elegant manner.
The first outfit consists of a corset bodice, a tulip skirt (which looks more like a pencil skirt to me) and a cape, and was part of their Autumn/Winter 2018 Collection “Tales of the Luminaries”. Silhouette wise it is to my mind the closest match to Loretta’s dress, because what is her drop waisted dress if not a pencil dress with a ruffle added to the bottom? Exchange the shawl for a cape and it also feels a little more Opera ready.
I’ll admit that my preference more often than not when looking for dresses for Day 6 is a fuller skirt, but the dress in the film has a ruffle/flounce, and it felt remiss to exclude it in some manner. The flounce turns a pencil dress, which could read and the more elegantly mature choice, into something a little more youthful, which for the character feels appropriate. She’s an little older (though I’m feeling a little attacked given she’s supposed to be around my age), she’s given up a little since becoming a widow, and her relationship with Ronny brings her back to life, thus exchanging a flounce for a fuller tulle skirt to me is exactly what I’d expect. Keeping it youthful but elegant. Which is what I get from both dress two and three, and I couldn’t pick between the two so you get both.
The dresses from Poem Bangkok, in particular from their Tales of the Luminaries collection, could have all been contenders for the transformation of Loretta from Moonstruck (1987), they have some really beautiful designs and I’d hope Ronny would still thank her for her beautiful dress.
Link || Poem Bangkok || Website || Instagram || Twitter || TikTok || Facebook || Pinterest || Tales of the Luminaries (A/W 2018) || The Rose of Halfeti (Pre-Fall 2021)
Mint Hearty Dress by Teuta Matoshi
Wintergreen Lace Gown by Teuta Matoshi
… that and since this is a ballet inspired movie, it only seemed appropriate that at least some of the dresses were ones in which a ballet dancer could potentially dance in. So, I turned to the designer who I think makes some of the most beautiful dresses on the planet and I am still absolutely in love with, Teuta Matoshi.
This designers dresses are timeless eye-candy for me, and their website was honestly the first place I looked for all the movies, but specifically for The Nutcracker Prince (1990) because Matoshi - in my mind - specialises in these beautiful, floating, ballet-esq gowns which are full of tulle, and lace, and sparkle. They’re magical. So when I started looking for mint green ballet style dresses, I very quickly found lots and didn’t look anywhere else because I got the sparkle, that ballet elegance and at least two dresses which would still look appropriate on such a young character as Clara. However, there was one extra dress that I kept taking in and out of my list…
The Jade Spell Gown was the dress I could imagine Clara wearing if she stayed in the Land of the Toys and became the Nutcrackers Princess. It’s that extra added bit of formality, that extra added bit of maturity that an older version of Clara would have, and it was too beautiful to ignore.
Link || Teuta Matoshi Gowns || Key Lime Cordial Gown || Mint Hearty Dress || Wintergreen Lace Gown || Jade Spell Gown
Mermaids (1990)
Cher as Mrs. Rachel Flax & Winona Ryder as Charlotte Flax
(Costume Design by Marit Allen)
It’s a Cher double feature with the classic and one of my favourite movies, Mermaids (1990)…
Choosing Cher’s iconic New Years Eve mermaid costume would be obvious choice, right? But when I think about this movie, one I’ve watch far too many times to count, it’s the 1960’s pale pink polka dot dress that both mother and daughter wear that always comes to mind.
R to L: Payton Bustier Pink Velvet Midi Dress by Alex Perry
1987 || Pink and Bronze Polka Dot Evening Dress by Oksana Mukha
Maneater Wiggle Dress in Rose Pink Polka Dot - Vixen by Micheline Pitt
So, the criteria was kind of easy, pink and/or polka dot and while potentially simple should be effortlessly glamourous.
The pink velvet Alex Perry dress, my first choice, is brighter in colour and doesn’t have polka dots, sleeves or lace detailing, but it exude that’s ‘look at me’ energy that Mrs. Flax has, and while, unlike the pink dress, it’s not necessarily work appropriate, we’re elevating these to a night out, and when I saw this particular dress I couldn’t get away from it.
Dress two from Oksana Mukha, I chose because the original dress should look simple and unintentionally sexy on Rachel and on Charlotte, like a teen trying to look older than she is, and I feel like this dress mixes that grown up sexuality with a little more youth with its fuller skirt. I can see Rachel turning head and Charlotte trying to mimic that ease and confidence her mother has in the hope that the boy she likes would notice her.
And finally I couldn’t not do a wiggle dress. If you go searching for dresses with a polka dot pattern you will encounter them in their multitude, and actually it would have been era appropriate, the film being set in 1963 and wiggle dresses being popular in the late fifties early sixties. So this Micheline Pitt “Maneater” dress is kind of perfect.
But this is a double feature, so I couldn’t fully ignore Mrs. Flax mermaid costume…
R to L: Tasha Paillette Embellished Gown in Blue by Rachel Gilbert
Burberry Resort 2015 Blouse and Sequin Skirt worn by Olivia Palermo at London Fashion Week 2014
ASOS DESIGN High Neck Disc Sequin Midi Dress in Sage via ASOS
For this interpretation of Mrs Flax costume, I really just wanted a dress using large sequins known as pailettes, which would look like fish scales, in a nice mermaid tail green/blue. Possibly the oddest choice here is that of Olivia Palermo wearing a shirt and sequin skirt, which was part of Burberry’s 2015 Resort Collection, but I just genuinely love this outfit, it’s ridiculously cool to me, and also you know full well that Cher would have made it work, and also probably warn it to work. That and maybe exchange the blouse for a shell-like bustier such as this one from Lace Made
… and add an epic headdress, some over the top makeup and Mrs. Flax could go from day to night with very little difficulty whilst also avoiding crushing her mermaid tail in her car door, as she does in the movie.
If you haven’t seen Mermaids (1990), it’s my choice out of all these for everyone to seek out. It’s a great movie and one that I could watch over an over, thus wholeheartedly recommend.
Link || Payton Bustier Pink Velvet Midi Dress by Alex Perry via Moda Operandi
Link || 1987 - Pink and Bronze Polka Dot Evening Dress by Oksana Mukha via Oksana Mukha
Link || Maneater Wiggle Dress in Rose Pink Polka Dot - Vixen by Micheline Pitt via Micheline Pitt
Link || Tasha Paillette Embellished Gown in Blue by Rachel Gilbert via Moda Operandi
Link || Burberry Resort 2015 Blouse and Sequin Skirt || Vogue Runway || Fashion Clue || Olivia Palermo Facebook
Link || ASOS DESIGN High Neck Disc Sequin Midi Dress in Sage via ASOS
Look Who’s Talking Now (1993)
Kirstie Alley as Mollie Ubriacco
(Costume Design by Molly Maginnis & Mary E. McLeod
During the run up to Christmas, more than once, I ended up watching Look Who’s Talking (1989), and it’s one of the few instances when I don’t dislike John Travolta (James), but one of the many times that I love Kirstie Alley (Mollie).
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Danny Elfma as Jack Skellington (voice)
(Created by Tim Burton)
Christmas morning when I was a kid, being a relatively early riser when I don’t go to sleep at four a.m. like last night, I would be up early enough to watch a little TV before anyone else was really up. This was also in the days before I had to make sure my makeup was on and hair was done before anyone saw me, but in those days I’d sit and watch two things, first was always Raymond Brigg’s Father Christmas (1991), a classic of British animation, and then it was The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). It was my little ritual.
R to L: Batwing Short Sequin Dress from Principles in Green via Debenhams
Morgan Le Fey Gown from Hassidriss “Burning Shadows” A/W 2019 Collection
Black Bones Dress from Draw in Light S/S 2012 Collection
Firstly I just wanted something, anything with a nod to a pinstripe. Anything! I searched for suit style dresses and jumpsuits, I loved the idea of this outfit having that kind of classic suit structure, however, they were boring, ugly or trying too hard to be sexy, and failing. Then I started looking for just black and white stripes, which on Lady Damfino’s dress work perfectly, but the options I could find were too thick, too heavy, too basic. Then I found this batwing sequin dress from Principles and I knew what I actually wanted from my choices, though admittedly it’s very dark green, not black, but who really cares?
In the end what I actually wanted was for these three dresses too look like something that Moira Rose from Schitt’s Creek (2015-20) would wear. Moira being played by Catherine O’Hara, who also voiced Sally in The Nightmare Before Christmas. So, now in my head these dress choices are as if Sally was Queen of Halloween Town instead of (or with) Jack, and I personally think that a sequin pinstripe dress like this, with an insane pair of heels and some accessorising, would be perfect.
On my dream Jack dress criteria I also wanted something structured, and the amazing beaded gown from Hassidriss’ Burning Shadow’s Collection, seemed ideal, with each gown being named after women who were accused of witchcraft or were fictional/mythological sorceresses. This particular dress named after Morgan le Fay (Morgan the Fairy) otherwise known as Morganna in the legend of King Arthur, and it is exactly what I was looking for. Structured, dark, mysterious and almost armour like, it’s a dress for someone you don’t mess with.
And lastly I mentioned looking at structural pieces to represent Jack’s skeleton, but I chose to go literal and include a screen printed dress from Draw in Light - a company which I think is now defunct - with this faded skeleton on it, which looks almost like an x-ray and also stops it looking too much like a costume. I also like the simplicity.
I tried to steer away from anything too strongly reminiscent of Tim Burton’s aesthetic, one which he carried over from one move to next, primarily because the idea of this post is to not necessarily pick the obvious, but to pick the dresses which give an air of the movie and character, without just looking for a costume dupe.
Link || Batwing Short Sequin Dress from Principles in Green via Debenhams
Link || Morgan Le Fay Gown from Hassidriss “Burning Shadows” A/W 2019 Collection via Hassidriss
Link || Black Bones Dress from Draw in Light S/S 2012 Collection || Instagram || Not Just A Label || Frankie Murray Styling || Street Anatomy
You would think with the thousands of seasonal movies out there in the world, that there would be a never ending supply to choose from, but every year it’s harder and harder to find good movies! Thus next year I’m thinking about detouring into some of my favourite movies or ones that have particularly heinous costumes. Just an idea. Just for a change.
Hope you’ve been having a good January! Part seven is the monster on the hill…
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Listening: Anti-Hero - Taylor Swift
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