Watch FILM NOIR STYLE: BEFORE THE WAR on Vimeo!

Thanks to all who came to last night's event Film Noir Style: Before the War 1940-1941! A great time was had by all! It was wonderful to step into my beloved world of film noir and celebrate its influential style. 

In case you missed the event live, the video is now available on demand on Vimeo. You can view it through the link or in the embedded player below.

One of the style stories in the first event of my 4-part series was sheer. In tribute to Gene Tierney in The Shanghai Gesture (1941) and Betty Grable in I Wake Up Screaming (1941), I wore my own modern take on the illusion dress. I then paired it with black patent pumps and vintage onyx drop earrings.

The next event in the Film Noir Style series is November 15 with The War Years 1942-1945. Tickets are $10 - you can register on Zoom. See you then!

Watch the National Arts Club FILM NOIR STYLE Event on YouTube!

 

Thanks to all who joined me for my Film Noir Style book preview event with the National Arts Club! More than 1,200 people attended live on Tuesday, which was very exciting, and I continue to receive such lovely feedback. Thanks, too, to NAC's Angela Lui and Mitch Case who were the most supportive hosts. 

Though pre-orders are still being taken for the hardback (to be delivered December/January), the Film Noir Style e-book is available now through Amazon.

In case you missed it, the event is available on the YouTube channel for the National Arts Club! You can also watch it through the embedded player below.

As you will see, there was a lot of interest in my own style during the event, including what I was wearing. Here's a much better look at my ensemble than Zoom would allow. Many know I love wearing vintage, but I also often pick modern pieces that show the influence of film. That was the reason for choosing this red Donna Morgan keyhole dress that I then paired with leopard pumps from Sam Edelman.

If you enjoyed this sneak preview of the book, I hope you'll join me for the first in my 4-part Film Noir Style series on October 18!

Film Noir Style: Before the War 1940-1941

Sunday, October 18

4:00 - 5:30 pm PT (7:00 - 8:30 pm ET)

Tickets $10 - register on Zoom

You're Invited! 4-Part Online Series FILM NOIR STYLE Starts 10/18 with BEFORE THE WAR

I'm so excited to start my new online series Film Noir Style! This 4-part series accompanies and mirrors my non-fiction book Film Noir Style: The Killer 1940s. Like the book, the series will be divided into 4 parts:

Before the War 1940-1941

The War Years 1942-1945

The Year of Transition 1946

The Post-War Years 1947-1950

In the first webinar Before the War 1940-1941, I will present and discuss the historical context, the cinematic influences that contributed to the style of the film noir genre, and the style and impact of three movies from this period – The Maltese Falcon, I Wake Up Screaming, and The Shanghai Gesture (all 1941).

Sunday, October 18, 2020

Film Noir Style: Before the War 1940-1941

Online via Zoom webinar

4 pm - 5:30 pm PT (7 pm - 8:30 pm ET)

Tickets $10 - register on Zoom

 

About the book...

In 1941, Hollywood turned down a dark alley and began to explore stories of vice, corruption, and murder. Pictures featured tough leading men and mysterious women who were often very good at being bad. While navigating the impact of the Production Code and World War II, studio costume designers defined the style of the decade's crime thrillers and murder dramas, which would collectively become known as film noir. They transformed Hollywood's leading ladies into intrigantes and femme fatales - women who would do anything to get what they want.
 
The actors in film noir, led by Humphrey Bogart, set style standards for America in the way they wore suits, fedoras, and trench coats. And oh, the women - whether good or bad, they captured the imagination of the country and immediately began influencing fashion. Film noir made stars of young actresses like Lauren Bacall, Ava Gardner, Gene Tierney, and Marilyn Monroe and magnified the careers of Rita Hayworth, Barbara Stanwyck, Jane Greer, and Gloria Swanson. In all cases, costume design proved vital to their success. Historian Kimberly Truhler explores twenty definitive film noir titles and traces the intersection of film noir and popular fashion through the decade and beyond.

The launch of the hardback book has been delayed until January 2021, but the e-book is available now. For those who can't wait to read the book or want both versions, you can purchase the Kindle version on Amazon.

Some of the 20 films that are featured in Film Noir Style -

both in the book and accompanying online series

You're Invited! National Arts Club Hosts Book Preview Event for FILM NOIR STYLE 9/29

This past weekend I received the unfortunate news that the launch of my book Film Noir Style - originally scheduled for September 29 - will be delayed until January due to COVID's vast impact on the publishing industry. I am far from the only author who is experiencing a delay. There has been extensive coverage of the number of problems that have emerged in publishing since the pandemic began in March. Most recently The New York Times outlined some of the challenges with printers alone. Publishers Weekly even created and now maintains an "Impact Listing" of cancelations, closures, policy changes, and more. Even though this might be the new normal, learning about the later launch date of my book was still tremendously disappointing.

However, even with this delay, the National Arts Club - a cultural institution with over 120 years of history - has offered me the opportunity to preview my book in an online event. I will be presenting a complete overview of Film Noir Style and also share some of impact of the iconic costumes on fashion. The event is free for everyone - you just need to register through Eventbrite and they will send you the link to Zoom.

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Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Book Preview Event for Film Noir Style: The Killer 1940s

National Arts Club

Online via Zoom webinar

4 pm - 5:30 pm PT (7 pm - 8:30 pm ET)

Tickets are free - register on Eventbrite for Zoom event

About the book...

In 1941, Hollywood turned down a dark alley and began to explore stories of vice, corruption, and murder. Pictures featured tough leading men and mysterious women who were often very good at being bad. While navigating the impact of the Production Code and World War II, studio costume designers defined the style of the decade's crime thrillers and murder dramas, which would collectively become known as film noir. They transformed Hollywood's leading ladies into intrigantes and femme fatales - women who would do anything to get what they want.
 
The actors in film noir, led by Humphrey Bogart, set style standards for America in the way they wore suits, fedoras, and trench coats. And oh, the women - whether good or bad, they captured the imagination of the country and immediately began influencing fashion. Film noir made stars of young actresses like Lauren Bacall, Ava Gardner, Gene Tierney, and Marilyn Monroe and magnified the careers of Rita Hayworth, Barbara Stanwyck, Jane Greer, and Gloria Swanson. In all cases, costume design proved vital to their success. Historian Kimberly Truhler explores twenty definitive film noir titles and traces the intersection of film noir and popular fashion through the decade and beyond.

You're Invited! Online Pre-Code STYLE OF SIN Series Continues 9/20 with Jean Harlow

UPDATE: The recording is now available on demand - click to view on Vimeo or watch in embedded player above.

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September is here and the next month or so is going to be filled with events! It all starts September 20 with the next in my online Pre-Code series THE STYLE OF SIN. The third event in the 6-part series focuses on the early life and style of Jean Harlow with stories behind the style of films like Three Wise Girls (1932), Red-Headed Woman (1932), and Dinner at Eight (1933). Join me for a little more illicit fun!

THE STYLE OF SIN: Jean Harlow
Pre-Code Film with Kimberly Truhler

Sunday, September 20

Starting at 4 pm PT/7 pm ET

Tickets are $10 - click to register on Zoom

The Pre-Code era of Hollywood refers to the years between 1930 when the Production Code was adopted and 1934 when it was in full effect. The Code prohibited seeing many sins on screen, so Pre-Code films are beloved for how risqué and provocative they could be with their look and content.

Join me for this 6-part series that introduces you to some of the most popular actresses of the Pre-Code era - Joan Crawford, Kay Francis, Jean Harlow, Barbara Stanwyck, Carole Lombard, and Joan Blondell.

Though costume design is important in film, it is particularly significant to the plot and production of the movies selected for this series. In each talk, you will also learn about the costume designers themselves - how they contributed to the style of the studios along with the evolution of the actresses' careers and personal style.

You can view past online events on demand on Vimeo. 

Upcoming events:

FILM NOIR STYLE

Book Launch Event with the National Arts Club

Tuesday, September 29 at 4 pm PT

Tickets are free - register for Zoom event on Eventbrite

FILM NOIR STYLE: Before the War 1940-1941

First of 4-part series in coordination with my book

Sunday, October 18 at 4 pm PT

Tickets $10 - register on Zoom

More information can be found on the GlamAmor Events page

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Reviews - and Loves - FILM NOIR STYLE

Update 9/21/20: Due to COVID's impact on the publishing industry, the launch of Film Noir Style has been delayed until January 2021.

It is now about a month away from the September 29 launch of my book Film Noir Style: The Killer 1940s! The first review is in and it's a big one. Publishers Weekly is the "bible of the book industry" and informs librarians, book sellers, consumer media, agents, and other industry stakeholders around the world what books are new and notable. A good review from them, particularly with non-fiction work, is really an achievement and I'm thrilled to announce they loved Film Noir Style. You can read their review on the Publishers Weekly site or below.

And as if that wasn't good enough, the reviewer actually sought me out and emailed to expand upon the official review, starting with "I wanted to share with you how truly impressed I was with the book! It is a fine example of how culturally relevant film has been - and continues to be - and why it is important to study all aspects of film, not just the stars and directors."

Of course Film Noir Style focuses on the contributions of the costume designers, but also celebrates the cinematographers, screenwriters, and other artists who were involved in the production of the 20 influential films featured in the book. Considering that it's the goal of any film historian to inspire people to watch these movies and understand their importance, I could not be more pleased or proud by the review.

The official launch date of Film Noir Style may be September 29, but you can pre-order the book on Amazon now!

Watch THE HITCHCOCK BLONDES on Vimeo!

Last weekend actress Susan Claassen and I had a wonderful time celebrating the work of director Alfred Hitchcock, costume designer Edith Head, and the women who played his most memorable heroines. We were delighted that such a passionate audience joined us for GlamAmor-ous Conversations: The Hitchcock Blondes! Susan once again stepped into the shoes of the iconic costume designer and I took everyone on a journey through an important part of film history that has had an ongoing impact on fashion.

In case you missed the live event, you can now watch it on demand on Vimeo. You can either go to Vimeo through the link or watch through the embedded player below.

With next month's event, we will be back in the 1930s with my Pre-Code series The Style of Sin. This time we'll be discussing the early life and style of the luminous Jean Harlow. You can now buy your tickets for the Sunday, September 20 event. Craft your favorite cocktail and I'll see you there!

I paid homage to two of the Hitchcock Blondes - Kim Novak and Doris Day -

with my gray suit, vintage 1950s black patent handbag, and matching patent pumps