Look-of-the-Day

It’s a family tradition to watch It’s A Wonderful Life every Christmas, and a personal favorite of both our editors.  (Fun Fact: We love it so much that it was worked into the maid of honor speech this editor gave at the other’s wedding!)  Here is the gorgeous Donna Reed as Mary Bailey in a beautiful, long-sleeved black dress with a white lace collar, a strand of white pearls and a pair of black heels.  All dressed up for Christmas dinner, Mary doesn’t realize that her husband, George, may be going to prison if he doesn’t sort out his uncle’s financial mess… but she figures out something is wrong pretty quickly!  Thankfully a pretty slick angel and the townspeople of Bedford Falls come to George’s rescue, after Mary gathers friends, family and neighbors to aid the man that’s worked hard for them all their lives.  It’s one of the most touching films of all-time, and Reed saves the day as one adorable heroine in this Christmas classic.

Look-of-the-Day

This “Fancy Friday” happens to be 1940s screen legend Barbara Stanwyck from the romantic comedy Christmas in Connecticut.  This editor’s sister pulled this movie off the shelf at their local library years ago, and it was surprisingly hilarious!  Stanwyck stars as Elizabeth Lane, a single writer from New York who pens a column about traditional cooking and housekeeping from the point of a view of a housewife, even though she doesn’t do a stitch of physical labor…  When an injured sailor returning home from WWII is interested in visiting her fictional home in Connecticut, she realizes it’s her patriotic duty to… well, lie to him!  It doesn’t help that he’s drop-dead gorgeous, and Miss Lane is supposed to be a Mrs!  Here, Elizabeth wears a beautiful, long black gown and a cropped, white jacket with fuzzy trim, while she gets distracted trimming her fake Christmas tree.  Fun Fact: The legendary costume designer, Edith Head was actually borrowed from Paramount Studios to outfit Ms. Stanwyck, alongside Warner Brothers costumer, Milo Anderson.  Below, we’ve included the link of Dennis Morgan as the handsome serviceman singing to Stanwyck.  You can imagine why “O Little Town of Bethlehem” was our favorite holiday song for quite sometime…

Look-of-the-Day

We’ve talked about several of our favorite Christmas movies this past week, but It’s A Wonderful Life still remains our all-time favorite holiday flick.  There’s no other film on Earth that can make this editor choke up not once, but usually four times in one sitting – and that’s after seeing it dozens of times.  Originally panned by critics, the 1946 Frank Capra movie was completely insulted and ignored when it was released following the end of World War II.  James Stewart and Donna Reed play George Bailey and Mary Hatch, a pair of friends who have known each other since childhood.  All George wants to do is flee his one-horse town, but Mary actually misses Bedford Falls when she goes away to university and interns in New York City.  The above scene is when the two are reunited after Mary’s college graduation, and George is frustrated after finding out some news that may cause him to never escape their hometown.  Mary dons on a lovely full-skirted dress with an embroidered collar, princess sleeves and a ribbon tied around her waist.  She looks adorable waiting for her crush to admit his feelings, but he’s certainly in a different kind of mood… After arguing and yelling, the two answer a phone call from a mutual friend that leads to one of the most romantic scenes in cinematic history, and causes the future Mr. & Mrs. Bailey to realize they’re meant for one another.

Look-of-the-Day

theSkinnyStiletto has been on a bit of a hiatus, because our main editor was on a work stint in Washington, DC for the last six weeks, but she’s so glad to be back home!  (And back to writing!  Which is pretty difficult when you don’t have a computer in your apartment!)  Today is the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the event which would eventually draw the United States into World War II.  A movie by the same name was made 10 years ago starring Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett and this beauty pictured above, Kate Beckinsale.  The three play friends and lovers in a dramatic triangle set to the background of the attacks in Hawaii.  Beckinsale plays a nurse in the US Navy, and sports some stunning 1940s looks (which we’ll definitely compile in a future article…), but we just couldn’t take our eyes off of this still!  Beckinsale is just stunning in her bright white nurse’s uniform and matching cap, with luscious brunette waves and a dark red pout.  This English rose looks right at home as an American sailor!  It’s important to remember this day, and the men and women who sacrificed their lives on this fateful day in 1941.

Walking Down Lois Lane

“It’s a bird!  It’s a plane!”  No, it’s Lois Lane.  She’s the only girl we’ve featured this week that doesn’t have some enormous secret identity, costume or superhuman strength, but she’s one of the most recognizable comic book characters of all-time.  Lois Joanne Lane is the love of Superman’s life.  She was created in 1938 in Action Comics #1 by Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.  Lois was based on a model named Joanne Carter (just like her middle namesake) who would later marry Siegel!  Carter went on to work as a ship builder during World War II and unfortunately died earlier this year, but that is one romantic tribute!  It’s no surprise Lois Lane is such a strong-willed lady, considering she’s based a real-life wonder woman!  Lois was born to Sam and Ellen Lane who were originally farmers from Pittsdale, and in later comics were depicted as a military couple who taught Lois hand-to-hand combat.  They also have another daughter named Lucy Lane.  Lois works as a reporter at Metropolis’s Daily Planet, just like Superman’s alter-ego, Clark Kent.  She is tough, intelligent, hard-working, and the top reporter in town!  Although, for being an extremely bright writer, she’s a poor speller and… well, she hasn’t noticed that the love of her life also works with her everyday, despite a pair of glasses.  After Clark admits who he truly is, he proposes and he and Lois are married, although she keeps her maiden name.  (Can’t imagine why this was my ideal when I wanted to grow up and become a writer… a well-dressed, dark-haired feminist whose sister has the same initials as she, and dates the strongest and best-looking man on Earth!  Gee, I wonder why I wanted to be her…)  Onscreen, Lane has been portrayed by a bevy of different ladies, including Margot Kidder and Teri Hatcher, but her best clothes were in the 2006 Bryan Singer version Superman Returns.  Played by Kate Bosworth (who probably wasn’t the best choice – she looks far more comfortable surfing the shores of Hawaii…), but still had a fantastic look.  Costumed by Louise Mingenbach, who has alsoworked on the X-Men films, The Hangover and The Usual Suspects, she did a gorgeous job of maintaining the classic look of 1930s and 1940s Metropolis without looking too costumed.  Mingenbach stated that she wanted to incorporate the prime decades that Lois Lane was around for.  Her go-to items in this version are strings of white pearls, sophisticated leather handbags, a camel-haired trenchcoat, tailored skirted suits, black stiletto pumps, high-waisted pinstripe pants and the most stunning silk blouses.  Our favorite item is the beautiful gown Lois gets to wear during the story arch (pictured, above left), which was today’s “Look-of-the-Day.” Bosworth got poor reviews for her performance as the most famous fictional reporter in modern history, but at least she got to dress well while doing so.  The new reboot is set to premiere in 2013 with British hunk Henry Cavill as the Man of Steel with the perky Amy Adams playing another girl with an alliteration for initials – Lois Lane!  Let’s hope she gets a wardrobe as accurate and fabulous as Mingenbach’s terrific job on this 2006 film!  Lois Lane is one of the most popular pop culture characters of all-time and definitely our favorite human comic book girl!  We can’t wait to see her reappearance in two years on the silver screen!

Look-of-the-Day

Is green the new black?  Well, in our opinion, no color will ever be the “new black,” but it seems green has had a big comeback in recent years.  Between Keira Knightley’s stunning gown in Atonement, and new “It Girl” Pippa Middleton’s maid-of-honor dress, it seems like the world’s best-dressed are attracted to the wonderful Land of Oz.  Here, Angelina Jolie is wearing one of the most beautiful gowns seen on the red carpet in recent years.  The vintage long-sleeved Versace gown was covered in crystals, and looked straight out of Hollywood’s Golden Era.  Our editors had an argument over this dress, so much so, we didn’t even do a Golden Globe rundown this year, because we couldn’t stop arguing about this outfit – I find it beautiful; our other editor disagrees.  But, it remains this editor’s favorite gown of 2011.  The Emerald City looks like one glamorous place to visit!

Look-of-the-Day

No strangers to being a “Tuesday Twosome,” Prince William and Kate Middleton’s outfits may look like they belong to a Pecksniffian pair, but this royal couple is actually quite grounded.  Despite having billions of dollars, they don’t have any servants and do their own grocery shopping!  Although in this photo, the Prince and Princess appear to be the playing the part at the Epsom Derby over the weekend.  Wills dressed in a traditional top hat and morning suit, while Kate had on a conservative cream suit from favorite store Reiss, nude platform pumps and a 1940s-esque hat.  Terrific and toothsome, as always.

Wednesday’s Shoe

In honor of Memorial Day (and Fleet Week here in NY), this Wednesday’s Shoe is a red, white and blue peep-toe pump.  What better way to honor our fallen than with a great pair of shoes?  (Okay, we can think of about 100 better ways, but here’s a superficial one…)  These patriotic puppies were found on BabyGirlBoutique and retail at $54.00.  They are a great throwback to the 1940s, and look just adorable for summer!

Look-of-the-Day

Inglourious Basterds was one of the worst Oscar-nominated films we’ve ever seen.  It was historically inaccurate, predictable and ridiculous, but its saving grace was Brad Pitt’s southern accent and Diane Kruger’s wardrobe.  The movie’s costumes were created by two-time Academy Award Nominee Anna Sheppard (The Pianist, Schindler’s List).  The stylish German star Kruger plays actress/Resistance-fighter Bridget von Hammersmark.  According to Sheppard, this gown was created in Berlin out of beaded silk fabric and additional Swarovski crystals had to be applied by hand.  The train was made of tulle and silk feathers were sewn onto it.  All of the jewelry in the film was actually made in the 1940s and from Sheppard’s own personal collection that she’s been adding to since Schindler’s List.  Long white evening gloves, a fur stole and a handgun certainly make for memorable accessories – almost memorable enough to ignore how horrible the movie was… nah!