#silver dress

One Dress a Week Challenge

May: Gold & Silver

The Hustle / Anne Hathaway as Josephine Chesterfield

In this scene, Josephine is pretending to be a naive (but wealthy) tourist so she can pull off her con unsuspected. For that purpose, this sequin-covered dress with puffed sleeves and cutout back makes her stand out visually from her surroundings. According to Shop Your Movies, it’s designed by Carolina Herrera.

I haven’t actually seen this whole movie, but I know it’s a remake of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, which I have seen–and also the movie that was based on, with David Niven in the sophisticated con artist role. I think it was called Bedtime Story.

One Dress a Week Challenge

May: Gold & Silver

Death on the Nile / Gal Gadot as Linnet Ridgeway (later Doyle)

Linnet wears this glamorous silver dress for her first appearance, establishing her as a wealthy style icon. The skirt is made of chiffon or some similar material in silver-grey, while the bodice is of silver lame with strips of the same material hanging down over the skirt. The construction of the bodice is quite intricate, with triangular insets just under the bust in front and a low back with a hanging loop of fabric that looks forward to 1940s styles. (For comparison, see the coat that goes with Ginger Rogers’ pink dressfromThe Barkleys of Broadway in 1949.) The “lift” photo shows that this loop swings freely.

There is a matching shoulder cape as well, but we never get a good look at it, as she removes it immediately upon entering the club. Otherwise, she keeps accessories to a minimum: silver pumps, small earrings (pearl?), and a rather nice bracelet (see below).

One Dress a Week Challenge

May: Gold & Silver

Daredevil / Jennifer Garner as Elektra Natchios

I just saw this movie for the first time, and I found it really intriguing, sort of a test run for the MCU. It seems to be set in a parallel world that’s half 21st century and half noirish 1930s/40s, and the costuming reflects that. Elektra’s low-backed metallic dress with wide silver bracelet has definite classic Hollywood vibes–although it’s a bit more revealing than anything that would likely have made it to screen post-Hays Code. Interestingly, the dress as worn in the movie has a thin halter around her neck, but not on the mannequin.

(Minor spoilers from the photos, so sorry about that! But the movie is from 2003, and it’s a plot point you can pretty much see coming anyway.)

One Dress a Week Challenge

May: Gold & Silver

Pocketful of Miracles / Hope Lange as Elizabeth “Queenie” Martin

Queenie wears this sparkling showgirl’s outfit for a brief scene at a bash celebrating the end of Prohibition–hence the flying streamers that sometimes get in the way of the camera. It was featured on the movie poster and also used for some publicity shots which ironically give us a better view of the costume than the actual film does.

The material seems to have an interesting sort of fish-scale texture, and the double halter straps add some visual interest. The fringes help to accentuate Queenie’s movements, as do the feathers on her headdress and fan.

This has some interesting similarities to Roxie’s silver showgirl outfit in Chicago, with the textured top and fringe skirt, but I’m sure it’s just because they’re looking back to the same set of 1920s/30s originals. (Costumes for this film are by Edith Head for the women and Walter Plunkett for the men.)

I had thought Hope Lange was related to previous silver-dress-wearer Jessica Lange, but apparently not!

One Dress a Week Challenge

May: Gold & Silver

Magic City / Elena Satine as Judi Silver

I haven’t seen this series, but according to the description, it’s set in Miami starting in 1959. This character looks to be a bombshell type, and the simple sheath dress covered in sequins is certainly eye-catching, even without the diamond necklace.

The popular image of 1950s fashion is of flared skirts, but the stripped-down sheath look existed alongside that style for much of the decade. The contrast is even a plot point in Bells Are Ringing, with the dress that was the subject of my very first “Dress a Week” post, here.