As you may have noticed, my blog takes a look at fashion from different eras of time, and how they've been brought back into modern times. I'm a lover of fashion, history and cinema - particularly classic movies and period pieces. I just love the way that fashion can tell you the history of the time and bring a story to life. Along with tying in vintage styles with cinema and celebrity looks, I also plan on expanding on how styles of past decades have influenced the everyday fashions of today, and how some of the biggest names in fashion (both designers and celebrities) have changed throughout the decades. 

The Red Carpet Channels the 1950s

The 1950s was one of the greatest decades in the Golden Age of Hollywood. Some of the world's most famous icons like Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn made their way to stardom during that decade. This was also a decade that brought us some of the most influential films of all time such as Singing in the Rain, All About Eve, Some Like it Hot, and Vertigo. The fashion of that time was influenced by a renewed interest in glamour and sophistication following the styles of Hollywood's golden girls and the designers that styled them (such as Givenchy and Dior). It was also a reminder of a woman's femininity and beauty after the end of World War 2, in which women wore more boxy, masculine, uniform-type clothing - especially with the rationing of goods like textiles. Gowns were now made of silk, satin, chiffon, tulle, lace, etc, and ranged from form-fitting pin-up style gowns, to airy full-skirted ballgowns.

The fashions of this time have been translated into red carpet styles we see today. Hollywood has become more glamorous than ever, and stars are channeling the sophistication of some of the 1950's most iconic looks.

Form-fitting glamour gowns  

                                               

Amy Adams in a Proenza Schouler gown at the
2008 Academy Awards
      

Rita Hayworth in the 1950s

Black Lively in Zuhair Murad at the
premiere of Savages

Mermaid Gown from 1953

Marilyn Monroe in the 1950s

Kelly Osbourne in Zac Posen at the
 2012 Primetime Emmys

Soft, Airy Ballgowns

Ginnifer Goodwin in Monique Lhuillier
at the 2012 Primetime Emmys

Audrey Hepburn wearing Givenchy
in Sabrina

Zooey Deschanel in Reem Acra at the
2012 Primetime Emmys

Vintage Dior gown
from 1949/1950

Emma Watson in Oscar De La Renta
at the Harry Potter premiere in 2011

Sarah Jessica Parker in Dior Haute
Couture at the 2009 Academy Award

Reese Witherspoon in vintage 1955
Dior at the 2006 Academy Awards

Penelope Cruz in vintage 1950s
Balmain at the 2009 Academy Awards

Links on 1950s fashion:

Molly's Emporium

Enjoy Your Style

eHow Style

Cinema and the Victorian Era - A Time of Opulence and Drama

Nothing says Hollywood better than glistening jewels and big, dramatic flair. This was the style of the Victorian Era, which took place during Queen Victoria's reign of England, from 1837-1901. During this era under Queen Victoria's rule, the economy was flourishing and the world (particularly England - which was the world's superpower at that time) was progressing in politics, industry, women's empowerment, and science. These changing times ultimately led to a change in fashion. With an improving economy, fashions - especially in the wealthy upper class - became more lavish and extravagant, reminiscent of the Georgian Era, which took place during the 18th century. Fashions of this time have been shown beautifully in modern-day cinema focused around the era.

As mentioned before, everything was big, dramatic, and opulent. Women's skirts were enlarged with hoop skirts and bustles, while corsets were worn to cinch and emphasize a women's waist. Gowns were made of silks and satins, and adorned with extragavant embroidery and jewels. Amazing costume designers have used their skills and knowledge to create stunning representations of Victorian Era fashion in movies and television. Such costume designers, such as Sandy Powell (The Young Victoria), have even gone on to receive prestigious awards like the Oscars, for their work bringing history and fashion to life in these films.    

         

 An antique gown from the Victorian Era -
note the very full skirt and over-the-top bustle

Emily Blunt as Queen Victoria in
The Young Victoria

Emily Blunt, once again in The Young Victoria

Emmy Rossum as Christine Daae in The Phantom of the Opera

Examples of full skirted gowns in Anna Karenina

Hoop skirt and corset as worn by Keira Knightley in Anna Karenina

Here are some more films/series based around the Victorian Era you might be interested in checking out:
Alice in Wonderland
An Ideal Husband
Bleak House
Gone with the Wind
North and South
The Age of Innocence

More on the history of Victorian fashion:
eHow Style
Eras of Elegance
Fashion-Era