tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post8393215332946157783..comments2024-03-14T16:03:32.434-04:00Comments on Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing: Fashion and The Hunger GamesGertiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314542159287533507noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-66876426271992871612012-04-18T18:02:58.450-04:002012-04-18T18:02:58.450-04:00I decided not to see the film tonight, as they onl...I decided not to see the film tonight, as they only had seats left in the front row (hello, neck crick? I think not!)<br /><br />But two things occurred to me. Firstly, how often what fashion folk say is completely out of touch with the real world or indeed, common sense (Karl Largerfeld's Twitter feed verges on the surreal).<br /><br />The second thing was the alleged saying by Coco Chanel, about how you should see the women, rather than a woman wearing a beautiful dress. If you see a costume instead of seeing the character, then surely the costume has failed? As a former film student and a lover of clothes, I've come to think that some of the most attention-grabbing clothes actually detract from attention on the story. For example, Ingrid Bergman wears beautiful clothes in 'Casablanca', but they never draw too much attention away from the main thing that a film has to do: tell a story.<br /><br />I was particularly struck by the mentions of 'Blade Runner' in the Times' piece. I don't think it was intended as a 'fashion' film! And looking back at it, so many of the costumes are precisely not a vision of the future, but a prism reflecting current fashion: a 1980s version of the 1940s for Sean Young's outfits (with extra shiny bits to denote sci fi), glossy sexy 1980s punk for Daryl Hannah, and that slightly loose Armani-type cut for the male costumes, with a bit of a grungy edge.<br /><br />I liked the piece in the FT that Bissy gave a link to (thanks!) - nice to have another perspective!Awfulknitterhttp://pinterest.com/awfulknitter/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-35952207169861004502012-04-13T22:36:23.636-04:002012-04-13T22:36:23.636-04:00Yep, totally Effie, that's me. Thing is, she i...Yep, totally Effie, that's me. Thing is, she is such a jerk (though she improves as the novels progress). I liked that the clothes in the Capitol in the film version were all a bit "off"-- the fact that they were not as fabulous as I had imagined them while reading was, I thought, commentary on just how NOT fabulous the Capitol truly is, regardless of what it might try to tell itself. <br /><br />This week, I had a Hunger Games event at the school where I teach-- it was chosen by students as the book the whole school should read in an annual event I help to organize. All week long, I got emails telling me to dress up like Effie, images of Effie sent to me for inspiration,etc. I had planned to wear a Katniss-inspired outfit b/c I was so uncomfortable dressing up as Effie. I really wrestled with it all week long. In the end, I did go with Effie as my outfit/costume inspiration, but not without mixed feelings.YYZhttp://www.fashionisdanger.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-57426961879229319572012-04-12T21:16:44.190-04:002012-04-12T21:16:44.190-04:00I have to admit that when I saw the pictures of th...I have to admit that when I saw the pictures of the Capitol people and of Katniss's red dress, my first thought that Katniss's fire dress wasn't extravagant enough and that the other people of the Capitol were dressed too extravagantly but also hideously. <br /><br />However, I don't feel uncomfortable when considering the outfits of the movie. I feel uncomfortable when thinking of us as Panem. When I was reading the series, I felt very much that we were seen as Panem (although I do think Panem was supposed to be more extreme). This is one of the reasons I had trouble with it - it hit too close to home. The description of bullimia, the throwing out of food, etc. <br /><br />What made me most uncomfortable was that I wore Hunger Games nail polish to the movie. As I was putting it on, I realized how the book would take it: I'm one of those people who delight in the Tributes' deaths. (In truth, I could barely stomach to read the book.) As I sat next to people in line to see the movie who were all, "Peeta and Katniss together forever!" like the people of the Capitol that cheered on the death match, that was when I was uncomfortable. Even though the world is fictional, it seems far, far too real. .Raynenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-16116281108998993432012-04-11T17:57:14.388-04:002012-04-11T17:57:14.388-04:00Thank you, thank you, thank you....for maintaining...Thank you, thank you, thank you....for maintaining your integrity as you think about fashion! Something these others can't do or never did. How can anyone critique fashion out of context? Would we love the 80's style without knowing what was driving the American bus? (Or hate it for that matter)<br /><br />Love your thinking.Brenda C.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-4766814462646051572012-04-11T15:28:30.222-04:002012-04-11T15:28:30.222-04:00pah! I have not seen the movie, but I'm sure t...pah! I have not seen the movie, but I'm sure the costumes will be great. not to make too sweeping generalizations, but the fashion people just seem like arrogant snobs. If you ask me, fashion is completely arbitrary, and most of what these people put together which is supposedly "high fashion" just looks completely ridiculous. Also these people obviously did not read the books or even pay attention to the plot lines- I guess the sole reason they go to movies is to critique the costume choices... But that's just my humble opinion....anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-36962376539388825592012-04-11T13:41:45.882-04:002012-04-11T13:41:45.882-04:00I think whether you were an Effie or a Katniss (in...I think whether you were an Effie or a Katniss (in terms of how you dress) would depend more on your lot in life than on your personal sense of style.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-61791851106831686642012-04-11T04:40:02.360-04:002012-04-11T04:40:02.360-04:00Hi Gertie, I found this article very interesting. ...Hi Gertie, I found this article very interesting. http://vigilantcitizen.com/moviesandtv/the-hunger-games-a-glimpse-at-the-new-world-order/<br />I have not read the books or seen the film. But as a designer I am interested how the fashion and pop industry are promoting very subversive messages to the younger generation. I would hope that the handmade movement is a way to inspire younger people to make things for themselves in an independent way.I think Its important that we see a hopeful future for ourselves. I live in Ireland and I find most people here emulate the United States. It is only since our economy has fallen down around our ears that people are starting to question our way of life.janeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00950108255114430790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-59014010649251126402012-04-11T01:21:10.661-04:002012-04-11T01:21:10.661-04:00Well said Gertie! I loved the books, I loved the m...Well said Gertie! I loved the books, I loved the movie, I loved the costumes, and I loved this post. It is interesting to hear everyone's opinions. I fear the world of fashion is taken too seriously sometimes. Clothing is supposed to be fun, whether you are a Katniss or an Effie.Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01144961154831360253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-7002978708799079402012-04-11T00:59:47.120-04:002012-04-11T00:59:47.120-04:00Um, sorry about all the typos! I'm not really ...Um, sorry about all the typos! I'm not really as much of an illiteratus as I seem; I just forgot to "spell-check!Sufiyanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-37568896267889044352012-04-11T00:57:24.659-04:002012-04-11T00:57:24.659-04:00I really don;t know where the fashion industry get...I really don;t know where the fashion industry gets off criticizing anybody...it is all too evident that they have lost their way and that everybody is "out of ideas". This is maily due to the fact that they must pump out 4 collections a year (I can remember when it was TWO: spring/summer and fall/winter) and all of them must be completely original and dazzling...nobody can keep up with such pressure and it's really starting to show, seriously...when socks with high heels, butt cracks and white after Labour Day is all they can find as inspiration, when things look like they were cobbled together out of the fabric scrap bin with eyes closed, it is plain that inspiration is fizzling. honestly: the most stunning clothes I see are those made by US, the sewers/sewists/call us what you will; it is a fact that we are the LAST bastion of clothing originality, beauty and grace...I hardly bother with 'fashion" anymore, it's just TOO DEPRESSING to look at page after page of ungly, gracelles, tasteless thrift shop reject-looking RAGS being fobbed off on the public as 'high couture"!Sufiyanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-65432961034644854582012-04-10T23:31:56.294-04:002012-04-10T23:31:56.294-04:00We are supposed to covet their outfits so that we ...We are supposed to covet their outfits so that we can understand our disgust for the Capitol is our disgust for what we see of them in ourselves.<br /><br />Hunger Games nail polish, on the other hand, I am pretty sure is unironic and it freaks me the hell out.Jessicanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-52971157015888945312012-04-10T22:28:10.828-04:002012-04-10T22:28:10.828-04:00I haven't read the books, but I saw the movie ...I haven't read the books, but I saw the movie and, being a costume designer wanna-be,I kept saying to my friend next to me, "the costuming is done so obviously!", not realising that it was in part dictated already in the book (from what I'm understanding). It made it's point: rich, flamboyant and gaudy who've lost sense of humanity and playing on our associations with aristocracy in marie antoinette's era ("let them eat cake"), opposed to the poor, close-knit, struggling and down-trodden, who realise the importance of family and friends, just like we associate with WWII. It wasn't done with any subtlety, it was just really obvious.Dondahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01469584323388772141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-14121414750841990092012-04-10T19:00:16.391-04:002012-04-10T19:00:16.391-04:00That is so weird! I mean it makes you wonder if th...That is so weird! I mean it makes you wonder if these "critics" even saw the movie or read the books or if they're just basing their opinions on the stills they've seen on line and in commercials. I loved the artistic portrayal of the capitols outfits compared to the districts very "depression era" look. Surprisingly I have an actual vintage pattern that is almost exact to Katniss blue dress. I noticed that right off. That dress was very pretty and feminine and I don't think there is anything wrong with admitting that lol.Jessiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01553119193374658520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-27362392960444570712012-04-10T11:12:23.945-04:002012-04-10T11:12:23.945-04:00Considering that if you've actually read the b...Considering that if you've actually read the books you know what symbolic importance is placed on aesthetics, the costumes are a really important part of the movie that have obviously been skimped on. I found the costuming lazy in that this seemed to be the thought process: poor people = Great Depression, rich people = TODAY!!!!!!!, with a little bit of froufrou thrown in based on our own historical associations of wealth (Marie Antoinette and Victorians, apparently). And then the hair and makeup was nearly all contemporary. And this was supposed to depict a society whose historical memory does not in any meaningful sense reach back beyond its own founding? But their track suits look *exactly* like ours do? That is what we call lazy. And if things that are supposed to look hopelessly expensive and otherworldly look cheap to your audience, you have failed at costuming. Hopefully the fact that they've refused to pay the director as much money as he demanded for the second movie means they'll be able to hire a competent costuming and makeup team.<br /><br />Look, we'd be critical if a movie about Marie Antoinette didn't have better costuming than a community theater play about Marie Antoinette, right? I'm not saying every movie should be W/E--in fact I think it's disgusting how many pieces belonging to the Duchess of Windsor they actually used in that film--but if you're going to make a film that is supposed to be about wealth and power, you should maybe worry about how you're going to visually represent that wealth & power? Have you *read* the books? Because then you'd be aware that making this movie an action romance is doing a disservice to not only the first book but especially to the sequels. I haven't seen the movie yet because I'm broke and trying to get my parents to pay, full disclosure, but the reason I didn't rush out opening weekend was to wait for word of mouth because unlike some adaptations (Harry Potter) I'm not saying, "Screw it, the visuals will be amazing, I can tell from the previews." Because the previews look like crap on a stick.undeadgoathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13507897954077278765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-35980715306424881972012-04-10T08:57:52.734-04:002012-04-10T08:57:52.734-04:00I thought Katniss' statement outfits (flame ju...I thought Katniss' statement outfits (flame jumpsuit and flame dress) were a bit bland, but had they been more lush the entire movie would've started its descent into being just another piece of panem et circenses. <br /><br />I also thought the use of the Depression-era imagery for the costumes of the Districts seen thus far was spot-on. It will be interesting to see if other Districts are interpreted other ways.<br /><br />And, overall, I think the comments of the fashion critics are humorous due to their lack of self awareness.Gailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01084920468504331880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-75114637558503508112012-04-10T08:42:42.557-04:002012-04-10T08:42:42.557-04:00I read all of the books a while ago, but haven'...I read all of the books a while ago, but haven't seen the film. I find that you're spot on in your comments about the lack of self-awareness/irony in the reactions from the fashion industry.<br /><br />@Joni: Does the world see the U.S. as a kind of Panem?... Well, having lived in Europe for four years now I think I can say (at least in the countries I've lived in) that yes, people do see the U.S. as somewhat lacking in world-awareness. The U.S. has a lot of cities like the Capitol - there's a kind of geo-centricism and a perceived sense of "we should have everything we want" that sounds eerily like Capitol talk.<br /><br />As for the costumes, I'm surprised by Katniss's reaping dress, but I do like it. And, am I Capitol or District? I think I may be a bit of both...adriprintshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03924063778972115705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-58466773995660192322012-04-10T08:16:03.448-04:002012-04-10T08:16:03.448-04:00The Financial Times ran a really insightful column...The Financial Times ran a really insightful column about the fashions in Hunger Games:<br /><br />http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/d695e4e4-728d-11e1-9c23-00144feab49a.html#axzz1rdfPRfHGBissyhttp://www.elizabethlarsson.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-37195314419133961432012-04-10T07:25:43.566-04:002012-04-10T07:25:43.566-04:00Lovely Katniss dress. It's silly that all thes...Lovely Katniss dress. It's silly that all these people are being so critical about the fashion and clothes made, the acting and the story is far more important. XxxX http://thesecondhandrose.blogspot.co.uk/Second Hand Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12937657828552984478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-59280540001207796622012-04-10T07:01:07.529-04:002012-04-10T07:01:07.529-04:00If Collins' inspiration came from channel surf...If Collins' inspiration came from channel surfing one day between a reality competition and coverage on the Iraq war, it's only appropriate that the Capitol citizens are in garish, cheap looking clothes. Because, really, they're a representation of us in the First world. We buy cheap clothing without a care of the conditions in which it was made. We follow fashion trends more closely than we follow what's happening in the rest of the world. I'm always amazed that Google News is filled with juxtapositions such as "People are Dying in Syria" and "Kim Kardashian got a Manicure."<br /><br />The entire series was a commentary on our society. The fashion industry's whining only helps illustrate that Collins' inspiration and the subsequent story aren't very far apart.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-70338915181340167462012-04-10T03:00:49.831-04:002012-04-10T03:00:49.831-04:00I think it was let down because I read all the boo...I think it was let down because I read all the books (and am a costume designer myself) and the world and costumes I saw in the writing were very different from what was in the film.<br /><br /> I don't understand a lot of the source material they obviously used for this film like the dust bowl and depression era. As others have mentioned I would like to have seen the "1984" type uniform influences created by rationing and gov't control. I wish there was a more futuristic bent to the whole thing and much more technology used. In the book they have really advanced technology and if you look at designers like Hussein Chalayan you will see that textiles, fashion and technology together can create amazing things. I think they phoned it in, especially on 3 most important looks in the story (Katniss & Peta in flame jumpsuits, Katniss' flame dress and her wedding gown/mockingjay dress)<br /><br />Also I hate to say but I agree with a lot of critique given from the fashion industry, I expected much more lush detail and artistry from this film. I honestly think it was just a failing on the part of the costumer and the director.CandaceClayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17662626812034625990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-44051060351428025452012-04-10T01:54:07.403-04:002012-04-10T01:54:07.403-04:00Look other have say I can't believe how upset ...Look other have say I can't believe how upset people have gotten over the issues of weight, race and clothing because of this film. First people say Jennifer is too fat to play Katniss. Which she is not. The people were upset because there are black people in the movie. They are in the books. Now the fashion is wrong. It's actually right.<br /><br />I also agree that people are reacting this way because the film and books come too close to home.Melodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09136222564933396828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-44648901640668677792012-04-09T22:25:49.751-04:002012-04-09T22:25:49.751-04:00I thought the costume design was well done. I tho...I thought the costume design was well done. I thought the costumes and neutral color choices of the people in Panem reminded me a lot of depression era clothing. I thought the Capitol costumes were very great as well. I think the over the top costumes on the Capitol dwellers show how out of touch they are with the rest of Panem.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18226974782422398270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-13431572090530708462012-04-09T20:03:01.001-04:002012-04-09T20:03:01.001-04:00Gertie, I think you really make a great point and ...Gertie, I think you really make a great point and these discussions are one of the reasons I love to read your blog. But after reading the comments, so many commentators are completely missing the point! There they are, arguing about whether or not the critiques were warranted, and not about how shallow we have become as a society.kristenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07586636418231373163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-73818308883068808722012-04-09T18:49:49.700-04:002012-04-09T18:49:49.700-04:00Sigh, people said Katniss looked fat because she w...Sigh, people said Katniss looked fat because she was supposed to be starving. Why do people have to look for some great skinny conspiracy everywhere. All of the District 12 main characters all looked too fat.Carynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17870436666815513446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-21529244607773329802012-04-09T17:27:43.488-04:002012-04-09T17:27:43.488-04:00I loved katinss's dress she wore to the reapin...I loved katinss's dress she wore to the reaping -- and generally the look of District 12. I think the stark contrast of the simple, serviceable and sturdy clothes of the district were sharply contrast to the flamboyant, colorful and complicated -- with pleats and poofs and wild colors. I never once, while reading descriptions of the clothing of the capitol residents to be anything but <i>cheap</i> because it was a throw away when the next fad came along. There was nothing that screamed a need to have well made clothing -- because it doesn't have to last long.<br /><br />In a way, this is a good example of how todays society is a bit like the capitol -- there is no interest lasting fabrics, or items that can be worn season after season.Mariahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07345702558559420081noreply@blogger.com