starry-eyed
When an offbeat yet romantic dress is gussied up with metallics and jet-black touches, it makes for an out of this world ensemble.
• • •Shop The Look • • •
i want a doll
There is so much visually stimulating and emotionally fraught goodness in the original Valley of the Dolls movie that I hardly know where to begin. For those unfamiliar with the ’60s film, based on a best-selling book by Jacqueline Susann, it tracks the downfall of three young women whose lives revolve around cinema, the stage, relationships, and stardom. I’ve determined the three superlative aspects that truly define the film are style, scene, and sensation.
The atmosphere/mood, environments, and costume choices were all sources of inspiration for me. The clothes and interiors are timeless, simultaneously serving as a souvenir of the era, while the cinematography turned certain segments into pure art. It’s impossible to isolate scene from style or style from sensation, since they’re all interwoven to paint a portrayal of imperfection, self-destruction, and ostentatiousness. Because of this, I snapped every still I could to impart the perfection that this movie encapsulates.
a flurry of prominent pastels
Jill Stuart’s color-blocked confections brought sweetness and youthful nostalgia to the catwalk, overflowing with the distinct femininity for which the brand is renowned. The apparel featured sleek, free-flowing silhouettes that oozed stylish sensibility for warm weather. Sensual dresses, separates, and a smattering of lightweight coats floated in soft pink, peachy tan, lemon chiffon, and muted turquoise, with injections of creamy coral and vermillion orange for good measure.
Though Easter came early with sheer fabrics, tea party frocks, and watercolor prints, the fresh sensation of spring moved far past the April holiday and straight into a suburban summer. Not only were the palm trees—large, small, and graphic—a hint, but the cropped pants and above-the-knee scalloped skirts had staying power.
Accessories were kept to a minimum with skinny belts, oversized clutches, and glimmering platform heels. Adorning details manifested elsewhere, such as in collars, sashes, delicate stitching, and textile choices. A quilted, sateen-like fabric reminiscent of old slippery couches found its way onto an assortment of jackets and dresses, but the pieces’ simple shapes hoisted themselves out of the trailer park and back onto the stage.
And if tucks, pleats, and the occasional paper-bag waist strike you as unnecessary jejune frill, fear not. Stuart disseminated a ladylike quality throughout her cotton-candy collection, creating a dream-like vision of freshly cut lawns, torrid love affairs, and sophistication.
