Happy Holidays from GlamAmor!

Happy holidays, my friends!

2017 was a year that simply flew by, and yet was somehow filled with so much activity. I still manage marketing for Sony Pictures Television - Sony Movie Channel, Cine Sony, and getTV - but it's my work on behalf of film history through GlamAmor that's been busier than ever. This year I consulted for companies that ranged from Christie's (Audrey Hepburn auction) to a CNN production pilot on 100 years of style. My almost monthly speaking engagements took me out of town on several occasions, including flying to Sacramento's California Museum to discuss the influential costume design of film noir and to Tucson, Arizona to give an overview of a century of fashion in film. I also had the pleasure of being among the speakers at a Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) Museum event celebrating the career of Thierry Mugler where I shared many examples of his inspiration from classic film. And I completed my year-long HISTORY OF FASHION IN FILM 1920s to 1980s series at the Annenberg Beach House with several of those events having at capacity crowds.

On that note, I have a few upcoming events that are now in the final planning stages.  For those who missed it - or may want to see it again - I will be doing my HISTORY OF FASHION IN FILM series at the Egyptian Theatre. This series will be 7 parts - one event per decade from the 1920s to 1980s. What's extra exciting is each one will have a screening afterward of a film featured in that talk. This will likely begin in late February.

In addition, I will once again be doing a talk right before the TCM Classic Film Festival (TCMFF). The FASHION IN FILM TCMFF 2018 will take place the evening of Tuesday, April 24 at the historic Woman's Club of Hollywood. It's super close to the festival and has a ton of history. Names associated with the place include Jean Harlow, Gloria Swanson, Charlie Chaplin, and Edith Head. Two movies that have already been announced as part of the festival programming will absolutely be included in my talk - 1940's His Girl Friday and 1942's Woman of the Year. More details to come on all of these events.

Until then, I offer up this newsletter with articles and photo essays in celebration of the holidays. The first is brand new to GlamAmor - the 1947 film It Happened on Fifth Avenue. This is a movie that I've only come to know in recent years, and now it's among the first I watch each December. You can also check out the style of other classics from the GlamAmor Archive that take place around Christmas and the New Year  - The Thin Man (1934), Holiday (1938), The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942), Lady in the Lake (1947), White Christmas (1954), The Desk Set (1957), and Ocean's 11 (1960).

Don't forget that you can always visit GlamAmor's YouTube channel for a fun Classic Holidays playlist complete with clips, television specials, vintage videos, and holiday radio programs of the 1930s and 1940s.

As 2017 comes to a close, I truly appreciate how I've been able to continue celebrating my beloved film history and put a spotlight on the contributions of Hollywood costume designers. My heartfelt thanks go out to each and every one of you who has shown such interest and support. My deepest thanks to you all.

As always, wishing you the best from the crossroads of film, costume design, and fashion history...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Kimberly

Quoted in Christie's catalog (lot 116) for their September Audrey Hepburn auction

With makeup artist extraordinaire Brenda Rippee after shooting

CNN production pilot on 100 YEARS OF STYLE

With the California Museum's Amanda Meeker and Brenna Hamilton

after my talk on the HISTORY OF FASHION IN FILM NOIR in Sacramento

With Susan Claassen before my HISTORY OF FASHION IN FILM talk in Arizona

With FIDM Museum's Joanna Abijaoude and Christina Johnson

who were also speakers at the THIERRY MUGLER: ANGEL TO ALIEN event

One of my HISTORY OF FASHION IN FILM 1920s to 1980s series 

at the Annenberg Beach House

The historic Woman's Club of Hollywood

where I will give my FASHION IN FILM OF TCMFF 2018 talk in April

1922 opening of the Egyptian Theatre, which will be home to

my HISTORY OF FASHION IN FILM 1920s to 1980s series this year

Merry Christmas from Hollywood (1946)

Courtesy of Water and Power Associates

GlamAmor-ous Holidays--Holiday Style of 1947's IT HAPPENED ON FIFTH AVENUE

Every year at this time I enjoy looking at style in movies that celebrate the holidays. In the past, this has included The Thin Man (1934), The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942), and White Christmas (1954). Anyone who knows me knows how much I love film noir, so last year I looked at 1947's Lady in the Lake. These tributes are always accompanied by a Classic Holidays playlist I share on GlamAmor's YouTube channel, which is is filled with films, clips, and even radio programs from earlier eras. This Christmas I have chosen to cover a holiday film that I've come to know and love in the past few years - 1947's It Happened on Fifth Avenue.

It Happened on Fifth Avenue is centered on a homeless man named Aloysius T. McKeever (Victor Moore) who takes over a vacant mansion in New York each winter. This Christmas he helps Army veteran Jim Bullock (Don DeFore) and his friends who struggle with their own housing. What makes the movie such fun is that - unbeknownst to anyone - the actual owners of the mansion become part of the ragtag group that now inhabits the house. Some of the charm of the story stems from watching this wealthy family evolve through the experience. For a lesser known picture, these characters are played by an incredible cast and are well known to classic film fans. The movie is led by Moore, who many love in the Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers musical Swing Time. The affluent O'Connor family (who pose as anything but) is made up of Charlie Ruggles, Ann Harding, and Gale Storm. And other character actors include the always good Alan Hale, Jr., Grant Mitchell, and Edward Brophy.

This period of time is one of my favorites for film - the reason being that it is right after World War II. I love movies that look at these post-war years and the challenges that servicemen faced when returning to America. William Wyler's The Best Years of Our Lives probably did this best of all. It Happened on Fifth Avenue's own storyline starts with Bullock being kicked out of an apartment and then welcomed into McKeever's creative housing solution. Several of Bullock's war buddies soon enter the picture with their families - all with housing challenges of their own.

The post-World War II storyline extends to the costumes as well. For those who don't know, much of 1940s style came as the result of rationing that happened during the war. This is the reason for the functional and rather austere feel of much of the era's clothing. You simply weren't allowed to use a great deal of fabric. The length and circumference of skirts, for instance, were dictated by a government regulation. Though It Happened on Fifth Avenue was made after rationing had ended, styles had not changed that much. That seismic shift came in February 1947 courtesy of Christian Dior and his "New Look," a collection that featured longer fuller skirts and ushered in the over-the-top femininity of the 1950s. It Happened on Fifth Avenue premiered in April of that year, but was in production well before that date and its costumes still reflect much of World War II style.

This leads to one of the reasons I wanted to share It Happened on Fifth Avenue - its costume designer Lorraine MacLean. Clearly she is not as well known as someone like Edith Head, and it's important to remember that the Hollywood studio system was filled with many unsung heroes such as herself. Lorraine is interesting because she started her career as an actress, similar to costume designers Irene and Orry-Kelly. She actually went further as an actress than those two and appeared in movies like Love Shy (1928) and Fools for Scandal (1938) with Carole Lombard. After her time on screen, Lorraine moved behind the camera to the makeup department and then onto costume design. She eventually became the studio stylist for Monogram Pictures and Allied Artists. It Happened on Fifth Avenue was the first production from Allied Artists, the unit that Monogram built for bigger and better productions from the "Poverty Row" studio. You'll see that Lorraine stepped up to the challenge with her costume design. Gale Storm's wardrobe, in particular, is filled with plenty of winter coat inspiration - including fabulous Willard George furs - and classic pieces that would still be stylish today.

It Happened on Fifth Avenue is such a perfect holiday movie. It has lovely messages about family - both those that are blood-related and those people we choose to be in our lives. It also has great inspiration about entrepreneurship and designing your own destiny. Of course it also has plenty of romance and a sweet fairy tale feel to the movie that just makes you feel good. It's become a classic that I must see every holiday and hope you enjoy it, too. Merry Christmas!

Home sweet home -

the O'Connor mansion is the winter residence of Aloysius T. McKeever (Victor Moore)

Jim Bullock (Don DeFore) and McKeever 

catch late night prowler Trudy O'Connor (Gale Storm) "stealing" a fur coat and more

Bullock takes back what Trudy has been "stealing"

Trudy overhears why these two strangers are in her home and plays along

as they allow her to stay while she's "down on her luck"

Trudy gets a job at a music store

We see that Trudy is already falling for Bullock

I love this coat of Trudy's with a hood attached that continues the front plaid trim

Bullock's war buddies - and their families - are also allowed join the McKeever household

Trudy wants to see if this nearly strapless gown will turn Bullock's head

I say nearly strapless because the vine-like "strap" is more decorative than functional

Looks like Trudy may have accomplished her mission

Love Trudy's fur-trimmed wrap coat with coordinated fur hat

that she wears when she bumps into her father Michael J. O'Connor (Charles Ruggles)

This leopard coat and hat is another great ensemble from Trudy's wardrobe

A "chance" meeting in Central Park with down-on-his-luck "Mike"

Mike is invited to join all the others and

sees the transformation of the O'Connor mansion

Costume designers put just as much care into robes as they did in coats or gowns -

you can see the careful construction in the shoulders and embroidery in this robe

Trudy pays a visit to her mother Mary O'Connor (Ann Harding)

who is currently separated from her father

Here's a great example of costume establishing a character -

Mary simply exudes wealth and style with her dress, fur coat, hat, and jewelry

Trudy in yet another great coordinated ensemble - double-breasted coat, hat, and gloves -

as she plots to bring Mary into the McKeever household to meet new love Bullock

Mary joins the household - dressed to appear down on her luck as well -

and becomes the cook much to Mike's chagrin

Bullock play referee between Mike and Mary,

not realizing that they're Trudy's separated parents

Christmas comes to the McKeever household

Bullock has fallen for Trudy and vows to prove himself

Trudy's holiday dress would still be perfect today

Bullock gives Trudy a coat for Christmas so she doesn't have to "borrow" any more -

it's more special to her than all of her furs

The last dinner of this extended family

with toasts for the future of the two happy couples and Aloysius McKeever

Merry Christmas!