Last night, Project Runway went Hollywood: the designers had to create a look based on classic Hollywood genres, one of which was film noir. Althea, Louise, and Irina all picked this über cool category, and I had high hopes that the ladies would crank out some fierce femme fatale frocks. Wrong! Louise failed miserably (a 1940s actress going to a party dressed as a flapper…huh?), while Irina merely squeaked by with a too-revealing gown paired with an out-of-place poufy cape. Only Althea (whose design is pictured, left) came close to capturing the sexy, dangerous allure of screen goddesses like Barbara Stanwyck (far left) and Rita Hayworth. She even got the hair right.
The challenge got me thinking about the rich history of film noir heroines and the drop-dead duds that made them so thrillingly naughty. It’s hard to top Stanwyck’s shoulder-padded blouses and pencil skirts — not to mention that ankle bracelet! — in Double Indemnity. But Hayworth’s strapless black gown and elbow-length gloves in Gilda are pretty killer too. Then there’s Mary Astor’s ruffly blouse lurking from beneath her tweed suits in The Maltese Falcon. Positively lethal, all three of ‘em! And I mean that as the highest of praise.
Now you, PopWatchers. Who are your favorite film noir dames? And which of their costumes made you feel like you were six feet under just lookin’ at ‘em? Kim Novak in Vertigo? Ava Gardner in The Killers? Of course, you don’t have to stick to the classics — though they are the juiciest. So…maybe a little Kathleen Turner in Body Heat? A flash (pun intended) of Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct?
Image Credits: Stanwyck: Everett Collection; Runway: Mike Yarish/Lifetime
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How about everything Kim Basinger wore in “L.A. Confidential”, one of my favorite movies.
Also agree big time with “Body Heat”, especially the dress Kathleen Turner wears in that bar where William Hurt talks to her before they go back to her place for the first time.
Lauren Bacall, in any of her movies with Bogey. Gene Tierney in Laura. I don’t know if it counts as noir, per se, but Myrna Loy in the Thin Man movies is a particular favorite of mine.
This is exactly who I was thinking of. She’s the only person who looks amazing in a shiny jacket.
Love Lauren Bacall too. Her voice is soo seductive
Faye Dunaway in Chinatown.
Jane Greer in Out of the Past – the white dress and hat when she walks into the bar.
Lana Turner in Postman Always Rings Twice. She wears white in almost every scene and looks amazing.
I wanted to see a trench coat dress with low slung hat … omage to the end of casablanca … think that would have been cool, different but workable.
Although Bette Davis (“The Letter”), Gene Tierney (“Laura”), Lauren Bacall (“To Have and Have Not,” et al), Lana Turner (“Postman Always Rings Twice”), Barbra Stanwyck (“Double Indemnity”), and Rita Hayworth (“Gilda”) all are perfect examples of film noir femme fatales, there’s only one (to me) ultimate ‘dame’:
Veronica Lake!!! With her trademark “peek-a-boo” wavy locks that started a sensation and her slinky, sexy wardrobe, Lake is the essential film noir star. (“The Blue Dahlia,” one of her many pairings with Alan Ladd, is a highlight.)
Sadly, however, most of the designers (with the exception of Louise–I had high hopes) probably don’t know a whole lot about film noir, one of the best genres of film out there. As an old movie/film noir fan, it’s sad but true. And the femme fatales from that era could be powerful, sexy and smart without *showing* too much. Give me Lake, Stanwyck, and Bacall anyday.
When I thought of noir as the competition began, I sketched an Asian high-collared dress, tight as can be, with a high slit up the side. Seems that Asian thing was there – San Francisco, LA – even Shanghai (with all that name implies). It symbolized a different set of morals than Protestant Christianity, that’s for sure. I guess that sensibility went to the Snow Queen, though, in the fantasy genre.
Grace Kelly in “Rear Window”.
I agree,mesmerizing,sexy by not showing too much; leave something to the imagination, very good fashion sense, classy
Like others, I immediately thought of Bacall, Lake, and Stanwyck, pencil skirts, trenchcoats, and hats. While I agree that Althea’s outfit was the only one of the three that came somewhat close to Film Noir, I didn’t like it because it was too ordinary, and Althea seems to have a problem with the bust area in all of her designs. Louise, really disappointed me. She should have nailed this challenge.
I’m not sure that it’s anything she wore, per se, but I always thought Eva Marie Saint was so beautiful in NxNW.