When it comes to films, for me, the costume and cinematography is just as important as the story. Give me escapism and aesthetics any day. I can’t resist the over the top glitz and glamour of a Baz Luhrmann musical or the beauty of a Joe Wright-directed period piece (seriously sometimes I watch Atonement or 2005’s Pride & Prejudice for the aesthetics alone). One period film that’s been on my mind lately is The Edge of Love. While the film itself is, in my opinion, forgettable, the costuming is pretty great. Perfectly coiffed curls and fitted vintage dresses feature prominently but my favourite outfits would be the more relaxed seaside fare – floral tea dresses and chunky knits topped off with wire-rimmed sunglasses, fedoras, and gumboots. Even though the film is set in the early forties, these outfits could easily be mistaken for nineties grunge or even noughties grunge revival. Either way, I’m really feeling these kinds of layered looks for the sunny winter days we’ve been experiencing here in Brisbane.
[Screen grabs from The Edge of Love (2008) by me]