FMN celebrates both iconic films that have shaped fashion in a significant way and documentaries offering a behind the scenes look into the fashion industry. In a series of blog posts following our FMN viewing parties, I analyze the impact of each film on fashion.
Blow Up (1966), a mod murder mystery set in swinging London, perfectly epitomizes 1960s British Carnaby Street fashion. When fashion photographer Thomas (David Hemmings) takes some shots of a couple in a park, he accidentally catches a murder on film. His frivolous life of sex, drugs and models suddenly takes a turn for the serious when he develops his film and realizes exactly what happened.
Above: Veruschka poses for David Hemmings in their notorious photography scene
High Fashion Cred: The character Thomas was based on fashion photographer David Bailey, who was considered to play the lead role.
The first notable scene is of Hemmings straddling a writhing Veruschka, the leggy German supermodel, in a sideless and sequined frock. The sexy scene was notoriously imitated in Austin Powers. In fact, much of Blow-Up is spoofed in the Austin Powers movies.
Several high fashion designers have based collections off the fashion from this movie including Dolce & Gabbana.
Best dressed: My favorite outfits go to two models from the fashion photography scene. I adore the light blue dress with the psychedelic headpiece on the left (above) and the striped jacket and white helmet on the right. So space-agey Paco Rabanne. I LOVE this era for clothes.
Most visually stunning scene: A bevy of models posing for Hemmings in over-the-top 1960s outfits on a stark white set was a delight for my fashion fiend eyes. I loved the clothes, loved the weird poses, loved the colors. I even loved how Hemmings berated the models for having no passion, before gleefully moving on to a very passionate photo session with Veruschka.
Above: Jane Birkin plays tug-of-war with David Hemmings for her dress
Above: Jane Birkin and Gillian Hills with David Hemmings
Substance score: 4. Unless you really like art-house films, fashion and camp, I wouldn't exactly recommend this. Translation: Don't try to watch this with your action movie loving boyfriend, although he would probably appreciate the nudity (Blow-Up is the first British film to feature full-frontal). Besides the awesome fashion, scenes with Veruschka, Birkin and Vanessa Redgrave and an appearance from the Yardbirds make this worth watching at least once. The inexplicable mime anarchists were also a hilarious bonus.
Most unexpected scene stealers: Jane Birkin, of Birkin bag fame, plays a wannabe model who practically stalks Hemmings for a shot at the spotlight. After showing up at Hemmings' cooly stark loft with her model friend, a topless wrestling match ensues for no apparent reason. One instantly realizes where Dov Charney got the inspiration for his American Apparel ad campaigns. Waifish model types clad only in brightly colored tights doing naked acrobatics sounds awfully familiar, doesn't it?
Above: Jane Birkin and Gillian Hills with David Hemmings
Above: A topless Jane Birkin and Gillian Hills wrestle with David Hemmings in purple paper
Substance score: 4. Unless you really like art-house films, fashion and camp, I wouldn't exactly recommend this. Translation: Don't try to watch this with your action movie loving boyfriend, although he would probably appreciate the nudity (Blow-Up is the first British film to feature full-frontal). Besides the awesome fashion, scenes with Veruschka, Birkin and Vanessa Redgrave and an appearance from the Yardbirds make this worth watching at least once. The inexplicable mime anarchists were also a hilarious bonus.
Above: Vanessa Redgrave hangs out topless
Above: Veruschka in her second (and final) scene of the movie
Above: One of the awkward mime scenes in Blow-Up
