#blue redux

[cressida-jayoungr]

One Dress a Day Challenge

July: Blue Redux (+ Green Redux)

Agent Carter (s2e10, "Hollywood Ending") / Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter

Another dress with cutout designs, much like the purple dress from earlier in the season. The bright blue-green edging of the belt, sleeves, and neck really makes the elements pop, and also, it suggests the line work of a comic book panel.

I also notice that this costume incorporates elements of Agent Carter's two most iconic looks (see below), but with a twist. Blue with touches of red is a signature color combination for her. This dress has the double stripe at the waist, but blue instead of red, and interrupted in front. It also has something red on top, but sunglasses instead of a hat. I doubt it is too much of a stretch to suspect this was deliberate.

[cressida-jayoungr]

One Dress a Day Challenge

July: Blue Redux

Miss Scarlet and the Duke (s4 e3, "Origins") / Laura Marcus as Young Eliza Scarlet

This prequel episode takes place in the 1870s. Eliza wears this attractive soft blue gown with matching paisley shoulder cape to a party given by some friends. Although the majority of the series takes place in the 1880s, when bustles were still in style, adult Eliza barely wears them at all, but here she has quite a bulky one that looks rather like upholstery.

The young Duke (played by Matt Olsen) looks very smart as well in a borrowed evening suit!

[cressida-jayoungr]

One Dress a Day Challenge

July: Blue Redux (+ Green Redux)

Little Shop of Horrors / Tichina Arnold as Crystal, Tisha Campbell as Chiffon, and Michelle Weeks as Ronette

These are the outfits worn by our "Greek Chorus" during the opening credits, showcasing the bubble skirt look that was fashionable during the early 1960s, when the movie is set. The dresses also feature stiff "wings" on the bodices, matching hair ribbons, and spotted blue net gloves.

In addition to different dresses for every appearance, they also get different hairstyles. With their lavender dresses, they wear shorter and more helmet-like styles; these hairdos with the blue dresses are a little longer and more playful, with a bit of the 1950s still about them. I like the way each one's hair ribbon is slightly different (bow versus headband versus headband with bow).

[cressida-jayoungr]

One Dress a Day Challenge

July: Blue Redux (+ Green Redux)

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day / Amy Adams as Delysia Lafosse

I haven't had a chance to watch this movie (yet), but I stumbled across this costume and loved it! It's elegant and yet quirky, especially the heart-shaped hat. I like the little touches of red as well, at the belt and on the hat ribbon.

[cressida-jayoungr]

One Dress a Day Challenge

July: Blue Redux (+ Green Redux)

Tulip Fever / Alicia Vikander as Sophia Sandvoort

Most of the costumes in this movie are in earth tones or black, making Sophia's brilliant blue dress really stand out. The painter, Jan, tells her it's the color the Italian masters use to paint the Virgin Mary--because it's the most expensive pigment, brought from overseas. "Ultra-marine."

"Tulip fever" lasted (in real life) from 1634 to 1637, putting a pretty firm date on when the film is supposed to take place. Costumes for this movie were designed by Michael O'Connor, who also worked on The Duchess and the 2011 Jane Eyre.

[cressida-jayoungr]

One Dress a Day Challenge

July: Blue Redux + Green Redux

I Have Found It (Kandukondain Kandukondain) / Aishwarya Rai as Meenakshi and Tabu as Sowmya

When I first designated the theme for July, I knew I had to include shots from this sequence, probably the most gorgeous riot of blue and green I've ever seen on film. I am including wide shots of most of the scenes to show the costumes of the chorus and extras as well. Note that when the two sisters are onscreen at the same time, the background characters divide themselves up so that those in blue are on Sowmya's side and those in green are on Meenakshi's.

(This is an adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, by the way. Sowmya is the equivalent to Eleanor and Meenakshi is Marianne.)

See the whole sequence here, because it's even more amazing with motion:

[cressida-jayoungr]

One Dress a Day Challenge

July: Blue Redux (+ Green Redux)

The Wiz / Lena Horne as Glinda the Good

Still photos really don't do justice to this costume. It's all about the play of light sparkling off the sequins, rhinestones, and other ornaments. The silver decorations suggest both stars and snowflakes; while the latter might seem odd, I think they are a symbolic link to Dorothy's story. Glinda appears to sing a song to Dorothy telling her to believe in herself so that she can have the power to go home--and when Dorothy clicks her heels, she finds herself back in New York, running through the snow to her front door as thick snowflakes fall from the sky.

Costumes for this film were designed by Tony Walton.

[cressida-jayoungr]

One Dress a Day Challenge

July: Blue Redux / Green Redux

The Good Place (s2e10-11) / Kristen Bell as Eleanor Shellstrop

Eleanor dons this 1940s-inspired look as a disguise when the group has to go undercover to visit the Bad Place. I don't think it's meant to look period-authentic, just a retro style. There's also a suggestion of the 1990s in the choice of fabric (and of course, the peplum style could work for either decade).

I like the contrasting red slingback shoes. She starts out wearing sharp-edge "cat's eye" glasses, but loses them along the way.

These screencaps are from season 2, episodes 10 ("Rhonda, Diana, Jake, and Trent") and 11 ("The Burrito").