The FDA's War On America's Health
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February may be the Season of Love for most but, for me, it is the heart of Awards Season! I’ve started chipping away at my watchlist for awards-nominated films- with my personal focus being on Costume Design nominees for the Academy Awards, BAFTA, and Costume Designer’s Guild Awards, as well as the Academy Best Picture noms. Here are some of the ones that I found especially visually pleasing:
Nosferatu (Costume Design by Linda Muir)
This was my first watch of the new year and, man, did it set a high bar! I thought the film did an amazing job of capturing the source material’s gothic core. Gothic differs from modern horror in that it is less about jump scares and edge-of-your-seat suspense. Gothic is unsettling, it’s conflict and turmoil; the struggle of acknowledging our inner demons and what it means when we succumb to them. Linda Muir’s costumes, expertly researched and crafted, are integral to the film’s mood because they feel so real. Vulnerability, dread, terror, restlessness, and even hope, are all amplified by what each character is wearing.
Anora (Costume Design by Jocelyn Pierce)
The colors red, white, and blue appear often throughout the film, a callout to this idea of the American Dream. Ani, a confident young woman and sex worker, knows that her work does not define who she is but, like many others, wonders if things could have been different, hopes that maybe life can offer her more. Her clothes are just as much her armor as they are her captor- her sense of self makes her strong but she is chained down by the perception of others and society’s expectation of who/what/how she should be.
Conclave (Costume Design by Lisy Christl)
What is faith without doubt? What is hope without uncertainty? What is tradition and what is simply outdated? Viewers were immersed into this conflict of ideals as visuals throughout the film leaned heavily into stark contrasts. The costumes were no exception. The Cardinal’s uniforms themselves seem to have a harsh line drawn between the deep crimson capelet and bright white robes. Then you get the added layer of seeing these garments, which harken to a time long since past, against the backdrop of their almost neo-futuristic living quarters. There is always this feeling that things are at odds with each other.
If you want to keep up with my movie views and thoughts, feel free to follow me on Letterboxd! I also have a few lists compiled there for your viewing consideration!
This time of year is one of my favorite because there are always amazing film/costuming events and panels to check out, especially being close to Los Angeles! You’ll find several I’ve gathered below, plus other events, exhibits, and fashion-minded outings around the globe.
ASU FIDM - Los Angeles, CA
Unboxing and Discussion with Mark Bridges- Tuesday, February 4 at 6pm
Designing Shogun: An Evening of Art and Storytelling- Wednesday, February 5 at 6:30pm
Guest Lecture with Arianne Phillips- Tuesday, February 11 at 6pm
UCLA School of Theater, Film, & Television - Los Angeles, CA
15th Annual Sketch to Screen Costume Design Panel- Saturday, March 1 at 1:00pm (registration has not yet opened, but I will share the link on my page when it does!)
Academy Museum - Los Angeles, CA
Oscar Nominee Spotlights: Makeup and Hairstyling- Saturday, March 1 at 11am
Museum of Broadway - New York, NY
SCAD Museum of Art - Savannah, GA
Exhibition: Imane Ayissi: From Africa to the World- from now through Sunday, February 23
Sandy Powell exhibition: Dressing the Part: Costume Design for Film- from now through Sunday, March 16
Lightroom - London, England
VOGUE: Inventing the Runway- from now through April 26
Grand Palais - Paris, France
Du Cœur à la Main: Dolce & Gabbana- from now through Monday, March 31
I am trying to make an effort this year to disconnect more from social media and mindless scrolling. Here are a few things I’ve been filling that newfound time with instead:
Watching
I’ve embarked on a rewatch of the gateway drug that got me into Formula 1 last year. It is reality tv disguised as a docuseries, so take a lot of the drama you see with a grain of salt. Still, it is a good introduction if you are interested in the motorsport! New season airs Friday, March 7.
Listening
DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS by Bad Bunny
This has been on repeat. It makes my Puerto Rican heart so happy :)
Mayhem by Lady Gaga
Only two tracks available so far on her soon-to-be-released 7th studio album, but I am a Little Monster through and through! Can’t wait for the whole album to drop on March 7!
~En Français~ Playlist by radbuddha
A playlist curated by my self-appointed big bro of French pop bops.
Reading
Cher: The Memoir, Part One by Cher
I have been a lifelong Cher fan! She is a fashion icon and trailblazer in so many respects! It was great to read about so many moments embedded in pop culture from her perspective.
Poor Things by Alasdair Gray
I loved the film and found myself searching for the source material on a recent trip to Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena. Up next in my TBR!
