Whip It

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/1u/ScreenShot2014-07-20at23412PM_zps30c16cfc.png" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/1u/ScreenShot2014-07-20at23529PM_zpscd652baf.png" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/1u/ScreenShot2014-07-20at23657PM_zps80acfefe.png" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/1u/ScreenShot2014-07-20at23836PM_zps15782dc2.png" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/1u/ScreenShot2014-07-20at23929PM_zpse9c958dd.png" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/1u/ScreenShot2014-07-20at24153PM_zps73b8f825.png" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/1u/ScreenShot2014-07-20at24253PM_zps3c428711.png" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/1u/ScreenShot2014-07-20at24457PM_zpsa9478bc7.png" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/1u/ScreenShot2014-07-20at24338PM_zps38bf14f7.png" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/1u/ScreenShot2014-07-20at24401PM_zps58eba5b9.png" /><br />One of my favorite summer movies is <i>Whip It</i>. The directorial debut of Drew Barrymore it's an inspiring coming-of-age story set to the beat of girl pop-punk bands and roller derbies. Bliss (Ellen Page) is a misfit in her small Texas town and dreams of leaving. After seeing her first roller derby she tells the women of the Hurl Scouts team (loads of hilarious team names in this film) that they are her "new heroes." Maggie Mayhem (Kristen Wiig) tells Bliss to "put on some skates and become [her] own hero." And this is the basic premise of the movie: becoming the person you want to be. Bliss gets knocked down and around a few times both figuratively by life and literally in the roller rink, but step-by-step she becomes her own person in her own terms. Unlike other teen films where the protagonist discovers who they are through a transformation dictated by someone else, Bliss shapes her life and her future herself. It's a fun film with a good message and suits the hot summer months perfectly.<br /><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 26px; line-height: 0; min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 2700px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 26px; line-height: 0; min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 2700px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a></div>

Whip It

One of my favorite summer movies is Whip It . The directorial debut of Drew Barrymore it's an inspiring coming-of-age story set to the b...

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Designing Woman

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/movies/ScreenShot2014-05-03at35927PM_zps9bf30567.png" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/movies/ScreenShot2014-05-03at40034PM_zpsc5bf91df.png" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/movies/ScreenShot2014-05-03at40938PM_zpsc7fb33f9.png" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/movies/ScreenShot2014-05-03at42338PM_zps64bff0b7.png" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/movies/ScreenShot2014-05-03at44622PM_zps68ae1366.png" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/movies/ScreenShot2014-05-03at50537PM_zps66ca9c19.png" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/movies/ScreenShot2014-05-03at50624PM_zpsb0128b1d.png" /><br /><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>What to watch:</b> Designing Woman<br /><b>Why:</b> Watch if you like comedies like <i>How To Marry A Millionaire</i> and 1950s fashion<br /><b>Synopsis:</b> <i>Designing Woman</i> starts as your typical romantic flick--boy meets girl, they fall in love, they even get married all while on vacation and then a funny thing happens on the plane back to New York "Marilla changes her clothes." Mike Hagen, played by Gregory Peck, has developed one idea of Marilla Brown (Lauren Bacall) on their shared vacation, brushing aside her mention of her job because it doesn't suit his image of her, but with a simple wardrobe change his world is rocked. He goes on to state that she changed her clothes "nine times in a day" and it's just the start of realizing that she isn't who he assumed she was and they don't have much in common. Marilla Brown is a fashion designer, which in movie terms means one jaw-droopingly 1950s gorgeous outfit after another from a full fur dress to sheer organza sleeves bigger than her head. The film turns quite comedic as they settle into domestic life in New York as her acting and dancing friends mingle with sports writer Mike's boxing and poker-playing gang of tough guys. Towards the end things get a bit slapstick, but overall it's a solid comedy with solid performances by both the leads and the sort of costumes vintage lovers will really enjoy.</div></div>

Designing Woman

What to watch: Designing Woman Why: Watch if you like comedies like How To Marry A Millionaire and 1950s fashion Synopsis: Designing Wom...

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Favorite Films Masterpost

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/1v/1v011/movies_zpsfb4d84a0.jpg" /><br /><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*<a href="http://life.time.com/culture/3-d-movies-revisiting-a-classic-life-photo-of-a-rapt-film-audience/#1" target="_blank">photo by J.R. Eyerman</a> at the opening-night screening of <i>Bwana Devil,</i> the first full-length, color 3-D movie</span><br /><br />It's always difficult for me to pick favorites; I'm always hard-pressed to name my favorite author or candy or book from childhood or even dress or outfit and yet we are constantly asked to pick favorites. The frequent request for a favorite movies master post has led to today's post listing a few of my favorite movies by genre (genres as defined by me anyway). I haven't been very good at <a href="http://theclothes.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/movie%20pick" target="_blank">posting movies</a> recently, but I'd love to get back into the swing of things because there's nothing better than a couple of hours escaping into a fantastic film and then discussing it for awhile afterward. Anyway, back to today's subject: favorites. The movie that is probably closest to being named my overall favorite is <a href="http://theclothes.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/i-can-think-of-dozen-men-who-are-just.html" target="_blank">Charade</a>--it has all my favorite elements: Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, plot twists, intrigue, comedy, and a gorgeous wardrobe. It's a bit of a Hitchcock copy, but with so much wit and humor that it stands on its own apart from more traditional thrillers.<br /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/1v/1v012/charade_zpsbe222e0a.jpg" width="530" /><br /><b>Classic films:</b><br />-<a href="http://theclothes.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/i-can-think-of-dozen-men-who-are-just.html" target="_blank">Charade</a><br />-<a href="http://theclothes.blogspot.co.uk/2010/10/red-shoes.html" target="_blank">The Red Shoes</a><br />-<a href="http://theclothes.blogspot.co.uk/2010/06/i-am-but-mad-north-north-west.html" target="_blank">North by Northwest</a><br />-<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032143/" target="_blank">The Women</a><br />-<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035140/" target="_blank">Now, Voyager</a><br /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/movies/what17.jpg" width="530" /><br /><b>Comedies:</b><br />-<a href="http://theclothes.blogspot.co.uk/2010/06/what-way-to-go.html" target="_blank">What A Way To Go</a><br />-<a href="http://theclothes.blogspot.co.uk/2009/02/its-national-crime-prevention-week-take.html" target="_blank">How To Steal A Million</a><br />-<a href="http://theclothes.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/bringing-up-baby.html" target="_blank">Bringing Up Baby</a><br />-<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057556/" target="_blank">Take Her, She's Mine</a> (I've really been hunting for a copy of this film!)<br />-<a href="http://theclothes.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/thin-man.html" target="_blank">The Thin Man</a><br /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/movies/Screenshot2010-07-09at120614AM.png" width="530" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/movies/Screenshot2010-07-09at121553AM.png" width="530" /><br /><b>Modern favorites:</b><br />-<a href="http://theclothes.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/bright-star-would-i-were-stedfast-as.html" target="_blank">Bright Star</a><br />-<a href="http://theclothes.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/an-education.html" target="_blank">An Education</a><br />-<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0159097/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">The Virgin Suicides</a><br />-<a href="http://theclothes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/before-sunrise.html" target="_blank">Before Sunrise</a><br />-<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074256/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">Bugsy Malone</a><br />-<a href="http://theclothes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/dead-poets-society.html" target="_blank">Dead Poets Society</a><br /><b>Fashion related films:</b><br />-<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1331025/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">The September Issue</a><br />-<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1621444/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Bill Cunningham New York</a><br />-<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2053352/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">The Eye Has To Travel</a> (about Diana Vreeland, I want to write a thorough post on this one day!)<br />-<a href="http://theclothes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/funny-face.html" target="_blank">Funny Face</a><br /><br />Are you better than me at picking favorites?</div></div>

Favorite Films Masterpost

* photo by J.R. Eyerman at the opening-night screening of Bwana Devil,  the first full-length, color 3-D movie It's always difficult fo...

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An Education

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/movies/ae15_zpsc279b418.jpg" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/movies/ae14_zps84347411.jpg" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/movies/ae13_zpsa3132a02.jpg" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/movies/ae12_zpse6b10dc1.jpg" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/movies/ea11_zps44b4198e.jpg" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/movies/ae10_zps97b11ed8.jpg" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/movies/ae9_zps03f02d6c.jpg" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/movies/ea8_zps0caf2e02.jpg" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/movies/ea7_zps26a36c58.jpg" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/movies/ae6_zpsbb9db158.jpg" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/movies/ea5_zpsf184363e.jpg" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/movies/ae4_zpsa0eb23b4.jpg" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/movies/ae3_zps6fd4a9a4.jpg" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/movies/ae1_zps17c4a8dd.jpg" /><br />A favorite modern movie of mine is <i>An Education</i>. Starring the charming Carey Mulligan it tells the story of a young girl who becomes involved with an older man and briefly has non-traditional education. One of the lovely things about this film is Mulligan's character, Jenny, comes through the other side relatively unscathed and seeks a real education, even managing to get into Oxford and continue her life as if the interruption had never happened.<br />What I love about <i>An Education</i> is while it follows the idea of other stories: older man, younger girl, it never attempts to show the girl as the seductress. Since <i>Lolita</i> emerged so many of these stories are re-cast to show how the man was led astray by the girl, but with <i>An Education</i> Jenny enters as a mousey, bookworm (this direction is no accident, as unlike other films with similar plots the narrator for once is the girl). This is no more obvious than on her first date when she stands in sharp contrast to blonde Helen (Rosamud Pike) who towers like a glamorous giant in furs and diamonds beside under-dressed Jenny in school girl plaid. This costume direction that highlights their differences is no accident, nor is the transformation Jenny starts to undergo through the loan of Helen's old clothes. Even as her hair gets bigger and more obviously styled and she starts wearing makeup Jenny is torn between two worlds--the pink toned lure of playful adulthood in Paris and mature dresses and the cold-grey reality of school uniforms, homework, and the actual business of growing up.<br />Aside from the messages sent through the clothing, as a vintage lover the wardrobe is a delight for the eyes. I covet Jenny's bow topped hairdo in the final scene and Helen's wardrobe every time she appears in the movie. This film is definitely worth a watch if it somehow slipped through your radar before now.</div>

An Education

A favorite modern movie of mine is An Education . Starring the charming Carey Mulligan it tells the story of a young girl who becomes involv...

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Populaire

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/movies/pop1_zps96a0f0d7.jpg" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/movies/ScreenShot2013-12-15at73046PM_zps5f93f80e.png" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/movies/pop6_zps264a89ec.jpg" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/movies/pop2_zpsd796b1e1.jpg" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/movies/pop8_zps7850beac.jpg" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/movies/pop7_zps4c54b809.jpg" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/movies/pop3_zpse75a0ba2.jpg" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/movies/pop4_zpscbb6a822.jpg" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/movies/pop5_zps642c37e6.jpg" /><br /><i>Populaire</i> tells the story of young woman dreaming of escaping her small town roots and living the life of a modern woman as a secretary…the problem is, she's a terrible secretary in regards to everything except her ability to type like a demon. Roses's speed typing skills soon win over her reluctant boss Louis and sets him on a scheme to train her into the fastest typist in the world which leads us to a series of typing competitions all on the road to infamy. Reminiscent of Rock Hudson-Doris Day romantic comedies down to the music, the romance in this film is similarly as questionable as that infamous pairing, but the charm and pure vintage eye candy carries the film through. Rose is a perfect ingenue, equal parts self-doubting and determined and Louise acts the perfect cynical counterbalance, who is wooed by Rose despite himself. In the end it was the art direction and costume design that kept me hooked through this film.</div>

Populaire

Populaire tells the story of young woman dreaming of escaping her small town roots and living the life of a modern woman as a secretary…the...

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Charlie Brown Christmas

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/1x/1x044/cb5_zps73950a7f.jpg" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/1x/1x044/cb1_zps84298037.jpg" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/1x/1x044/cb3_zps771bcfc4.jpg" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/1x/1x044/cb2_zps640ae617.jpg" /><br /><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">It isn't Christmas without Charlie Brown.</div></div>

Charlie Brown Christmas

It isn't Christmas without Charlie Brown.

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Frances Ha

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/1x/1x013/ScreenShot2013-11-29at105531PM_zps44f25627.png" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/1x/1x013/ScreenShot2013-11-29at110022PM_zpsfa5bfb2f.png" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/1x/1x013/ScreenShot2013-11-29at110558PM_zps1e0cd99e.png" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/1x/1x013/ScreenShot2013-11-29at110617PM_zpsc34e1dda.png" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/1x/1x013/ScreenShot2013-11-29at110813PM_zpsc390e841.png" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/1x/1x013/ScreenShot2013-11-29at111012PM_zps0a152496.png" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/1x/1x013/ScreenShot2013-11-29at111255PM_zps6578cdfa.png" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/1x/1x013/ScreenShot2013-11-29at111410PM_zps234e0419.png" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/1x/1x013/ScreenShot2013-11-29at111452PM_zpsdb5446f6.png" /><img border="0" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z301/theclotheshorse/1x/1x013/ScreenShot2013-11-29at111505PM_zps32a32944.png" /><br /><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">If not the movie of our generation, <i>Frances Ha</i> might be one of the most accurate movie deceptions of our generation (and it's on Netflix). While not all of us can relate to the privilege Greta Gerwig's character Frances experiences, winning lines stating that it's hard to explain what she does because "I don't really do it" (which is such a simple, perfect summation of a generation's inability to find jobs in their chosen careers or success in following their dreams) and her co-dependent relationship with her best friend are almost eerily relatable. Her awkward squeaks in response to flirting and her clumsy handling of life that leads to several literal and figurative falls is also strikingly forward--and like Frances we get up and limp-run (or walk) forward. At times Frances is nearly insufferable and her friends equally loathsome, but her optimism and that "just keep moving" mentality that keeps us rooting for her growth and survival.</div></div>

Frances Ha

If not the movie of our generation, Frances Ha might be one of the most accurate movie deceptions of our generation (and it's on Netfli...

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