The release of Titanic 3D is upon us – and the fashion world is just as excited as everybody else. Rescu. has the scoop…
The launch of Titanic 3D is largely passing fashionistas by, though Kate Winslet’s crack that, nearly two decades after they filmed it, “I’m thinner and Leonardo DiCaprio’s fatter” caused a few giggles.
However, James Cameron doesn’t want us to feel neglected. He and Harper’s Bazaar have collaborated with photographer Rankin to set a fashion shoot among the most famous props and sets from his career, including Terminator, Aliens and Avatar alongside the blockbuster Titanic.
Starring Hailey Clauson, the mind-blowing fashion story actually sets her inside Ripley’s power lifter in Alien II. Many of the pieces came either from the archives of Hollywood studios or Cameron’s private collection of artefacts.
Some pictures look only vaguely real – Clauson is allowed to lean against the 42ft replica of the Titanic used for long shots in the epic film, a piece of kit which would probably be priced in the millions for its complexity alone.
Harper’s Bazaar has a history of teaming up with directors to pay homage to their entire oeuvre. Who could forget their amazing spread with Tim Burton, shot by fantasist photographer Tim Walker?
The shoot, designed to advertise a retrospective of Burton’s work, used props including the actual costume of Edward Scissorhands, and generated images of Burton in a clown suit and making iron sausages with his wife, Vivienne Westwood devotee Helena Bonham Carter.
With news that the ultra-stylish Thin Man film series from the 1930s is due to be remade, we’re hoping for a very slick movie-inspired shoot in Harper’s Bazaar in the near future. Is that so much to ask?
Image: James Cameron’s shoot by Rankin in Harper’s Bazaar 2012.
The film Bel Ami, based on Guy de Maupassant’s classic novel of fin-de-siecle Paris, is getting a lot of buzz – not less in the fashion world.
After all, it has three of fashion’s most reputable muses swanning about in impeccable costuming. Uma Thurman, Christina Ricci and Kristin Scott Thomas spend their time corseted and swaddled in sumptuous fabrics, succumbing to Robert Pattison’s advances. The clothes, however, are just as much an attraction as him.
And let’s not forget the upcoming (and possibly terrible) remake of Anna Karenina, starring the Vogue favourite Keira Knightley, which will doubtless feature the English beauty in all manner of Russian period glamour.
So how to get in on the period romance trend without making yourself look like a costume party-goer?
The key is to focus on elements of period looks which are timeless – high-necked silhouettes, intricate lace, structured tops, embroidery and layers of tulle – and to balance them with ultra-sharp modernity.
The bustle-skirt and mutton sleeves are out entirely unless you’re in the habit of wearing couture to work, but a gorgeous blouse or brocade jacket adds sumptuousness without excessiveness.
Need some designers inspirations? Temperley London updated the Tolstoy trend for Fall 2012, with beautiful fur hats and 1800s-inspired military coats, accessorised with some museum-quality evening gowns. The embroidery itself would have made Maupassant gasp. And let’s not forget the elbow-length gloves.
Full-length dresses are your only option if you want to adopt the right silhouette – but go for sleek rather than puffy. Vivienne Westwood’s classic corset tops are the industry’s staple for 1800s-gone-modern chic, if you’d like that tight feminine structure.
If none of this appeals, stick to jewellery – look for pieces which abandon sleekness entirely for old-school filigree and pomp, and anchor them with a tuxedo jacket and slicked-back hair.
Now go spurn some lovers and the look is complete.
Image: Nina Ricci Fall 2012.
We’ve all been in that position – you see a gorgeous top, gown or piece and it looks absolutely great. The only problem? The colour.
The good news is that dyes exist, and Rescu. is going to give you a guide on how to dye your own. The bad news is that not all colours are made unique, and some clothes are never going to be made over.
Let’s start with fabrics. There are three types – protein fibers, cellulose fibers, and synthetic fibers. Don’t panic, this isn’t science class – it’s just about sorting which fabrics need which dye. Here’s your easy guide.
Cellulose fibers are plant-based, and include rayon, cotton, linen and hemp. Protein fibers include silk, wool and cashmere. Synthetic fibers include spandex, nylon and polyester. Each of these types requires different methods for dying, and some don’t take dye well at all.
Cellulose fibers need fiber-reactive dye, which is easy to find and generally ‘takes’ fairly well. Fiber-reactive dye is cold-water only, so follow the instructions carefully – and some types advise you to add salt, which helps the colour to ‘stay’.
Mix the dye with water and put in the clothing, letting it sit and ‘agitating’ it now and then to keep the dye moving through it. Rinse it, and you’re done. (Silk also needs to be dyed this way, but be very careful – dyeing silk can be an unreliable process and leave you with splotches.)
For protein fibers, you need a hot-water dye, and a mordant (a product which helps the dye to stick to the fabric). This is more difficult and advanced. Acid dyes are most commonly used for protein fiber dyeing, but don’t worry, it’s not toxic unless left on too long.
Follow the instructions on the mordant (generally they need to soak for about an hour), then get to dyeing in a hot water bath.
Synthetic fibers are the hardest – they’re factory-made, and designed not to take colour well. Nylon can be washed with an acid dye, like protein fibers, but polyester, acrylic and spandex aren’t designed to be dyed at home, so leave it to the professionals.
Dyeing shoes is also possible – many dye-to-match shoes exist. Check your local bootmaker for types of dyes – leather, interestingly enough, has the most options.
As for bleaching beforehand, only do it to clothing you know can stand it – cottons, linens, denims and other hard-wearing materials. Silks and delicates are out.
Dyeing darker is, naturally, always easier. And if all else fails, consult an expert.
Image: Hand-dyed wedding dress, courtesy of Offbeat Bride.
