A whirlwind. That is the only word that could describe 1981’s Possession starring Isabelle Adjani and Sam Neil. No, I lie, fucking insane, could also work. I have never watched a horror movie where I’m profoundly fixated on the conflict appearing onscreen. The direction by Andrzej Żuławski puts the viewer directly in the middle of the tumultuous relationship between Anna and Mark. You’re constantly in and out of breath as the couple fight and argue, even before the disturbing elements start to arise. Another aspect which I wholly love is the setting of Possession, which occurs right in the middle of cold war Germany. The colors of the movie are grey, muted, and cold. You feel the weight of the 1980s berlin wall constricting the events of the film with its omniscient presence. Yet, it’s the wardrobe of Anna that seems to be a character of its own. Throughout the film, she is constantly wearing this beautiful indigo dress as it journey’s alongside her absurd adventures and evil antics. The gloomy atmosphere, mysterious motives and soviet-esque setting perfectly embodies Denma Gvasalia’s Balenciaga.
Set in New York City, Rosemary’s Baby was a deeply unsettling film to watch. I felt uncomfortable and uneasy throughout its runtime. It was in stark contrast to the production and costume design of the movie itself. As a self-proclaimed lover of 20th century aesthetics, I was obsessed. The interior design of the apartment in which our characters, Rosemary and Guy Woodhouse move into, is deeply appealing to me. With all the charm of the apartment’s interior, I couldn’t stop noticing the effortlessly cool and suave style of John Cassavetes’ Guy Woodhouse. His first appearance is a baby blue light sports jacket, stone cotton chinos, striped tie and a pair of what is known as ‘paraboots’. This immediately caught my attention and I was constantly finding myself admiring his wardrobe every time he appeared onscreen. To sum up his style, it was a refined ivy-league summer style perfectly encapsulated by New York based fashion label Aimé Leon Dore that emphasize fresh yet timeless design.
At first, I was skeptical in watching 1922’s Nosferatu. It was a silent film shot in black and white. It’s considered as being the very first vampire movie put to screen as an unofficial adaptation to Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Thus, my expectations were high. It wasn’t the fault of the movie at all, but my mindset falsely interpreted as it being potentially outdated. I was happily proven wrong. Nosferatu was absolutely terrifying. The movie managed to keep my attention with its creepy atmosphere, gothic architecture and haunting visuals. It was beautifully captured from start to finish. It felt like what cinema should be. The wardrobe, especially the clothing worn by Count Orlock complimented the vein of the movie. Draping a dark heavy double-breasted coat with a tough material throughout the movie. I was instantly reminded of the gothic glamour of Ann Demeulemeester.
02. Possession (1981) & Balenciaga
Watching Jaws for the first time felt like I was transported back to my childhood. That sense of adventure, camaraderie and the tireless pursuit of being in the outside world that starts to dwindle as you reach maturity. Jaws was an action-packed horror that delivered on all the genuine scars but also maintaining a lighthearted spirit. The color blue was constantly depicted onscreen obviously due to half the movie taking place on the ocean. Yet, it was the wardrobe worn by Richard Dreyfuss’ Matt Hooper that my eyes were constantly attracted too. The cheeky oceanologist constantly sported denim matched with other pieces, such as a grey sweater, a blue bucket cap, a blue beanie or a denim jacket. I was immediately remined of Japanese label Blue Blue Japan and their specialty of dyeing garments in the color blue (well indigo if you want to get technical).
Five Horror Films to guide your style this Halloween
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03. Rosemary’s Baby (1968) & Aimé Leon Dore
05. The Shining & Story MFG
What can I say about The Shining that hasn’t already been said? It’s a masterpiece through and through. Not just an excellent horror but a perfectly paced, tension induced and brilliantly captured film that won me over on my first watch. It was another one of those feelings in which I thought it was overrated due to its nature of being a classic. Yet, I was pleasantly proved wrong again. I can go on and on about the exceptional acting, chilling cinematography and perfectly crafted direction by the legend himself, Stanley Kubrick. However, it was Shelly Duval’s Wendy Torrance that stole the show for me. Her heart-rending performance will forever be high on my list as my favorite performance in horror. Her wardrobe also remains highly memorable. Wendy Torrance’s clothing in The Shining stuck perfectly to the primary colors. The first outfit, red long johns with the white/blue gingham apron is so delightful it captures this authentic American spirit of the 70s. The standout for me is the bright yellow patterned coat paired with a tartin scarf, blue jeans and mustard boots. Paired with a cigarette, Wendy Torrance exuded cool mom and cemented herself as a style icon. This outfit particular reminded me of London based brand, Story MFG. The colourful designs, bright patterns and natural fibres would’ve been perfectly matched with the Americana spirit of Wendy Torrance’s style.
I’ve been devoted to watching as many classic horror movies as I can this month. Looking back on October, I can say that I’m having a terrific time. Each subsequent film that I’ve watched has delighted me in its eerie atmosphere, enticing plot, twisted minds, unstoppable villains and sometimes downright absurdity (I’m looking at you 1977’s House). As I sat watching all these movies I couldn’t help but notice the wardrobe and clothing that were depicted on these unfortunate souls.This is a list of my five favorite horror classics with the best costume design alongside some fashion brands that match the tone of each film.
01. Nosferatu (1922) & Ann Demeulemeester
04. Jaws (1975) & Blue Blue Japan
