Cinema Style File--The Look of Lauren Bacall

Turner Classic Movies continues its wonderful August Summer Under the Stars with a day dedicated to the stylish Lauren Bacall.  Bacall is a Hollywood icon and deservedly so.  At the ripe old age of 19, she was seen modeling on the cover of Harper's Bazaar and was picked by Howard Hawks to do To Have and Have Not with possibly the hugest star of the time, Humphrey Bogart.

Though Bogart was much much older than her at the time--and married--he couldn't help falling for her and he fell hard.  They were ultimately married and remained happily so until his death many years later.  You can see why he adored her so much when you watch the movie.  She seduces the audience just as she seduces Bogart with that famous come-hither look of hers.  The country nicknamed her "The Look" for that very reason.

For her first picture, Lauren was costumed by the great Milo Anderson and

both her checked skirt suit and midriff-baring black silk gown from the film became famous

Bacall's famous seduction scene from To Have and Have Not

The chemistry between Bogart and Bacall (in Leah Rhodes' well-known costume design)
was so intense that the studios continued to pair them in movies, starting with the film noir giant The Big Sleep

Bacall was a bona fide actress, though, and performed without Bogart equally well both on stage and screen. Designing Woman with Gregory Peck is a favorite of mine to watch for the simple reason that it's a movie inspired by the life of costume designer Helen Rose...with costumes by Helen Rose for the movie.  I'm a huge fan of many of her designs, so it's a real feast for the eyes.

I love Lauren Bacall because she's just pure class.  She shows you that you can be sophisticated and sexy at the same time.  Her style choices are generally classic shapes with clean lines.  But she also does sophistication with a great sense of humor and is known to be comfortable being athletic and hanging out with the guys.  Sounds like inspiration for the perfect modern woman to me.