Look-of-the-Day

The ever-lovely Keira Knightley wore a particularly elegant Burberry Prorsum gown last winter at the London premiere of A Dangerous Method.  The conservative burgundy dress features a black bow at the waist and cap sleeves, yet reveals a much sexier side from another angle… Much like the twisted psychological tale Knightley was promoting.  She accessorized it perfectly with a simple black clutch, cocktail ring, a swept-back bun, with dramatic dark eyes and a perfect pink pout.  She is perfection.

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Look-of-the-Day

Today, Suri Cruise (the daughter of Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise) turned six!  Her wardrobe is supposedly worth two million dollars (which makes sense, since she’s usually better-dressed than we are), she wears controversial heels, and the mystery that surrounded her “silent birth” has always made her one of the most interesting celebrity babies.  For “Pink Wednesday” we picked one of her more “ethnic” looks – that of a flamenco dancer while on a walk with her parents in Spain.  It was custom-made for her by El Taller de Lina.  Suri even topped off the dress with red and white ballroom dancing shoes for kids – great commitment to a look!  Happy Birthday little girl!

Look-of-the-Day

“What I need is the dandelion in the spring. The bright yellow that means rebirth instead of destruction.”  It seems the color of the sun will forever play an interesting role in Katniss Everdeen’s life… Here she is with fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) in The Hunger Games.  The two make quite an attractive pair in a bright blue suit, and a soft, non-threatening yellow dress – nothing like what Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) has worn prior to this moment in her young life.  Without revealing too much about the series or the film, this seemingly happy moment will only be short-lived… Let the countdown to Catching Fire begin!

Look-of-the-Day

“Only I keep wishing I could think of a way to…to show the Capitol they don’t own me. That I’m more than just a piece in their Games.”  Peeta Mellark is the other tribute from District 12 that has to enter the arena with Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games.  For the film, he’s played by Josh Hutcherson, who it’s hard to believe, is only 19-years-old.  He carried the entire movie Little Manhattan as a young boy, made us cry in Bridge to Terabithia, and really showed his acting skills as the son of a lesbian couple in the Oscar-nominated film The Kids are All Right.  After auditioning for the role, author Suzanne Collins and director Gary Ross high-fived each other without saying a word when he left the room, because they knew they had found their Peeta.  We usually don’t feature too many male outfits on theSkinnyStiletto, but Peeta is such an integral part of the story, we didn’t want to leave him out!  Here, he’s wearing the matching outfit to Katniss’s arena digs – leather boots, a plain black t-shirt, and drab olive utilitarian pants (he has an identical jacket, as well, which is not pictured.)  Costume design Judianna Makovsky told EW, “In the book, [the Tributes] all wear exactly the same thing in exactly the same color… For film, that wasn’t gonna work well. You couldn’t tell who is who. Gary was very specific. He wanted each district to have their own color jacket and then they would all have the same color trousers.”  With all the hidden meanings of the characters’ names, it seems Peeta’s has stumped many of the readers… Our mother picked up that his surname, Mellark, probably comes from the word “malarkey,” which is slang for meaningless talk, or rubbish (hmm, just like the way he manipulates everyone with his words?)  Most assume “Peeta” is derived from pita bread, since his father is a baker, which makes sense, but it also happens to be Scandinavian for “rock” – the perfect word to sum up “the boy with the bread.”

Look-of-the-Day

“She’s a survivor, that one. She is.“  In The Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen has to fight for her life, along with 23 other tributes, when she enters the arena.  The costume Jennifer Lawrence wears might seem simple, but let’s be serious – this character is an icon in the making.  Katniss sports her famous brunette braid, a black t-shirt, leather boots and a black jacket with grey piping.  Costume designer Judianna Makovsky told Entertainment Weekly, “The main conversation that we had was that it would be practical… We were shooting in North Carolina in 90 degree, 100 degree weather – and humid. So we didn’t want to kill the kids! With Katniss, we started out not having a black jacket and ended up just like the book, having a black jacket.”  Katniss’s stylist, Cinna (Lenny Kravitz), finishes her look off by attaching her mockingjay pin to her lapel.  The odds certainly aren’t in Katniss’s favor, but we know the “girl on fire” isn’t going down without a fight…

Look-of-the-Day

“At least you two have decent manners. The pair last year ate everything with their hands like a couple of savages. It completely upset my digestion.“  In The Hunger Games, Katniss and Peeta’s publicist Effie Trinket (played by Elizabeth Banks) has elaborate outfits and outrageous powdered wigs that bring to mind a modern-day Marie Antoinette.   Costume designer Judianna Makovsky and Banks actually worked together before on the 2003 set of Seabiscuit.  (Fun Fact: The actress’s wedding to husband Max Handelman was actually inspired by the 1930s-era of the film.  This editor remembers seeing her stunning photos in In Style when I was in high school.)  Despite all of Effie’s costumes being made specifically for the actress’s body, Banks told People, “They were all torture.”  Yet, this poofy-sleeved teal dress embellished with an enormous flower pin happened to be her favorite, because, “it was the most comfortable.”  We love the miniature black hat, and ridiculous manicure, which apparently took 45 minutes everyday to complete!  While the word “trinket” means a tiny, cheap ornament (like Effie’s whole wardrobe), “Effie” is short for Euphemia, which means “well-spoken.”  But, it is also happens to be the the name of a martyr, who refused to take part in her government’s ritual sacrifices, and as a result, was forced into an arena and tortured to death.  Hmm… Is that a hint where Miss Trinket’s true allegiance stands underneath that seemingly shallow persona of hers?

Look-of-the-Day

“I am not pretty. I am not beautiful. I am as radiant as the sun.“  In The Hunger Games, Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) leaves her coal-mining district to compete in a battle to the death in Panem’s Capitol.  But she’ll have to make an impression to earn sponsors before she enters the arena.  Instead of showing the dark coal of District 12, Katniss’s stylist, Cinna, decides to show the fire.  Costume designer Judianna Makovsky used orange silk taffeta and organza with crystal embroidery when creating Katniss’s gown for her interview with TV host Caesar Flickerman (played by Stanley Tucci).  Makovsky told Entertainment Weekly, “In the book, it’s described as being covered in flame-like jewels.  Well, to me, that’s very dangerous, because it could be like a Dancing With the Stars dress… I just wanted this image of what I call ‘the Gypsy moment,’ when Natalie Wood comes out in the blue dress in Gypsy. She’s only been in these boys’ clothes before that, and you go, ‘Oh my God, she’s actually gorgeous.’”  Makovsky certainly achieved that vision – Katniss goes from the plain girl in the Seam to the “girl on fire” in this stunning sequence.  And the Capitol will soon realize it’s a flame that’s inextinguishable…

Look-of-the-Day

“Cinna has given me a great advantage.  No one will forget me.  Not my look, not my name.  Katniss.  The girl who was on fire.“  Lenny Kravitz plays Cinna, Katniss’s stylist, who dresses her and Peeta as a team in matching black leather bodysuits when they ride into the Capitol of Panem.  Accentuated by simple, but striking, make-up the two tributes make quite an impression when they arrive in their chariot, hands held and engulfed in flames.  Costume designer Judianna Makovsky told Entertainment Weekly, “In the book, it’s described that Katniss and Peeta are wearing exactly the same thing.  And that’s an instance where things don’t always translate.  Boys don’t look good in what girls wear.  So [we were] trying to have a similar look, but cut them differently so that Katniss has this beautiful figure and Peeta looks manly.”  Although fashion and frills have no part in Katniss’s daily life in District 12, it quickly becomes clear that what she wears might determine if she lives.  No wonder her stylist becomes one of her most trusted allies…

Look-of-the-Day

“Happy Hunger Games!  And may the odds be ever in your favor!“  Who else would we feature on “Pink Wednesday” during our tribute (pun intended) to The Hunger Games, but Effie Trinket?!  Played by the wonderful and underrated Elizabeth Banks, Effie comes to the Reaping wearing a completely over-the-top magenta skirted suit, black stiletto open-toe booties, and her famous pink hair adorned with a flower hat to match her other ridiculous accessories.  While this is a darker shade of the purplish pink color, costume designer Judianna Makovsky told Vogue how she was heavily influenced by Elsa Schiaparelli, “The woman was a genius. I have to admit, I used a lot of color.  Schiaparelli pink,” when creating the clothes for Capitol citizens. “We looked a lot at Italian fascist architecture that is very imposing.”  Makovsky’s sly marriage of political themes and high-end fashion is present throughout the film.  I must admit, before reading the book, catching a glimpse of Banks dressed as Effie in the movie trailer completely terrified me when she reads off the name, “Primrose Everdeen” to the crowd of District 12.  Standing beside Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss, Effie shows the sharp contrast between the lives of the citizens of Panem.  While these two women may dress, think, act and live as total opposites, it turns out both of them are much stronger than anyone expected…

Look-of-the-Day

“Leave the district.  Run off.  Live in the woods. You and I, we could make it.”  It seems The Hunger Games is everywhere you turn these days, and after reading the entire series in a couple of days, now this editor knows why… it’s one of the most amazing books ever written.  Suzanne Collins’ simple words have hundreds of meanings, but more on that later.  As our admiration skyrocketed for both the books and the movie, we realized it was time to dedicate an entire week to the story we can’t get enough of.  This “Tuesday Twosome,” (even if this editor is 100% Team Peeta) are best friends Katniss and Gale, played by Jennifer Lawrence and Liam Hemsworth, on one of their hunting trips.  Liam Hemsworth looks somehow strong, handsome and poor in a worn-in crewneck, hunting boots, ripped pants and a matching vest all in the muted greys and browns of District 12.  In the novel, Katniss’s jacket was an oversized hand-me-down from her deceased father, but costume designer Judianna Makovsky told the LA Times, “We tried that, but it didn’t look good, and she couldn’t move her arms to shoot.”  Instead, they went with a tan leather jacket modeled after 1940s styles from different costume houses.  Her striped pants were made from an 1870s Levi Strauss pattern.  Accessorized with matching boots, her famous long braid and (of course) a bow and arrow, Jennifer Lawrence comes to life as Katniss Everdeen in the film’s opening scene.