Fashion has started taking the big screen by storm (with cameos made by Prada, Hermes and Manolo, just to name a few) and now the mother-ship of fashion films is set to arrive when Confessions of a Shopaholic walks the runway into theaters February 13th from Touchstone Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films.
The film is based on the novel of the same name by Sophie Kinsella, and stars the adorably-hilarious Isla Fisher. The story follows Rebecca Bloomwood (Fisher) on her shopaholic journey throughout Manhattan racking up tremendous debt, but looking fabulous doing it, of course! She is one of many girls that cannot resist the beauty of fine designer goods.
Since the film is about fashion, M&C thought it was time for a look at the best dressed films of the past years.
The Devil Wears Prada:
Andy enters the world of fashion as a dreaded size six with mousy hair and no fashion sense, and is therefore looked down on as a leper at her job at the ultra-chic Runway magazine. It is a job which “a million girls would kill for” - something we are reminded about over, and over again.
Eventually growing tired of being ridiculed for her fashion sense, or lack-there-of, Andy turns to fashion assistant Nigel to help her revamp her look by raiding the closets of Runway and giving her items of clothing that consist of Chanel and Jimmy Choo.
The next day she stuns her coworker Emily (Emily Blunt) along with Miranda, and begins to climb her way to the top of the corporate world, while beginning to alienate her friends and boyfriend. But not without “sharing the wealth” first!
One of the more notable scenes is where she is late to dinner, but makes up for it by supplying them with superficial items that are all worth over $1,000 and makes sure to let them know. Items that night included a phone, cologne and some Clinique items.
The final item of the night was the new Michael Kors bag, which Andy so coyly dangled in front of her friend Lily asking, “Oh, did you want this?” as Lily grabs it out of her hands. This is the same Lily who later on in the film says to Andy, “What happened to the girl who once thought Club Monaco was couture?”
Andy ends up beating out Emily to accompany Miranda to a trip to Paris, but while there decides Runway is not the place for her, regardless of how much of a foot in the door the job is.
Once she returns home, she calls Emily and offers her all the clothes she got from Paris, almost like a peace offering. Andy eventually returns to her roots, but a bit classier.
Sex and the City:
With the help of stylist Patricia Field (who also styled Confessions of a Shopaholic), the series and the film showcased an array of fashion, which helped to distinguish each cast member from the rest.
With scenes from the show featuring Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) strut her stuff up and down 5th Ave and looking into a store window breathing the words, “Hello Lover,” to shoes, as well as the fact that she owns more shoes than she does money and will one day become the old lady who lives in her shoes; one can only expect the film to blow this aspect of the film to extraordinary heights.
It has been mentioned that wardrobe is the fifth character on the show, so it is no surprise that the movie’s theme song, sung by Fergie is called, “Labels or Love,” and name drops designers such as Louis Vuitton (Louis), Fendi and Dior.
This film screams fashion! Every scene seems to be carefully constructed around what the women are wearing. At some points, the fashion was a bit more interesting than the plot itself.
One of the more breathtaking scenes that revolved around fashion was Carrie’s wedding dress photo shoot for Vogue (every fashionista’s bible), in which she prefaces the shoot in a voiceover that says, “Just your typical Wednesday, hanging out with old friends, like Stanford Blatch, and new friends like Vera Wang….and Carolina Herrera….and Christian Lacroix…and Lanvin….and Dior…and Oscar de la Renta…and finally: Vivienne Westwood, a dress so special it could bring a wedding tear to even the most unbelieving of women.”
In addition to posing for a Vogue photo shoot, the film showcases New York Fashion Week. You can’t get more fashion oriented than Vogue and New York Fashion Week!
Because I Said So:
Daphne Wilder (Diane Keaton) makes a personal ad on the internet for her daughter Milly (Mandy Moore) behind her back. Daphne makes sure that when Milly meets the man she has picked out for her, she is dressed to perfection - Daphne’s perfection that is.
When Daphne, Milly and Daphne’s other daughters: Maggie (Lauren Graham) and Mae (Piper Perabo), go shopping, Daphne find a “lovely” red polka dot dress for her daughter Milly to wear. Milly throws an adult tantrum of sorts, but somehow concedes and buys the dress to wear on her date.
When Daphne drops by Milly’s before her date, she notices that Milly is showing some extra skin and tell her, “You look like you’re asking for it.” And Milly responds with a simple, “I am asking for it!”
The dress then makes an appearance as a birthday present from Milly to Daphne. Milly gives it to her because the dress brought her so much luck; she wanted her mom to have just as much luck, as well. And, she did! Daphne ends up dating, and in the final scene of the movie marrying Milly’s love interest’s father with a polka dot themed wedding!
Clueless:
One of the more memorable scenes from the film that showcases Cher's (Alicia Silverstone) love of fashion was a dialogue between her and her father regarding her attire for a date. When Cher came downstairs wearing a dress that looked more like lingerie, her father (Dan Hedaya) asked, "What the hell is that?” to which Cher responded, "A dress." Father: "Says who?" Cher: Calvin Klein."
In addition to Cher’s love of fashion, she is also passionate about charity, and helping others…With their fashion sense. When Cher and her BFF Dionne (Stacy Dash) spot the new girl in school, Tai (Brittany Murphy), the two biffs instantaneously decide “make over!” and completely revamp Tai’s grungy look into something a bit more feminine.
The film also birthed one of the best lines when talking about flannel, a fashion faux pas: “She can be a farmer in those clothes.” Ladies- let’s be real, who wants to dress like a farmer?
Cher also took her love of fashion to a little more of a vein level as she did not trust mirrors, she would solely use a Polaroid camera to make sure she looks fabulous before she leaves her house. And, did you get a load of her rotating closet? Overkill or practical? Only a true shopaholic can be the judge.
In the words of Fergie: “Gucci, Fendi, Prada purses, purchasing them finer things,” is every fashionista’s and shopaholic’s theme song. In Confessions of a Shopaholic Rebecca Bloomwood’s case, it is her inspiration. What’s your inspiration?
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