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Griffin Daily News
‘The Boy Friend’ look is in
By HELEN HENNESSY
NEA Women’s Editor
NEW YORK—(NEA)—Is it
just by accident that some
films have almost immediate
fashion impact? A few
movies seem to give instant
inspiration to fashion design
ers and fashion collectors
alike. The costumes are sud
denly translated into contem
porary clothes and faster
than you can say. "Lights,
c a m e r a. action.” they're
ready for selection at your
local store.
Films that affect fashion
actually do so by definite de
sign Let's go behind the
scenes of the Boy Friend
Collection and find out how
it came about.
First a film must have a
strong fashion feeling going
for it. And "The Boy Friend”
gets rave reviews in that de
partment. The Ken Russell
film, slated for national re
lease in February, is a lav
ish visual extravaganza. The
star. Twiggy, is fashion’s
own phenomenon. And the
costume designer, Shirley
(Mrs. Ken Russell, is well
known for combining fashion
flair with period authentici
ty. For the 250-odd costumes.
Shirley borrowed from the
Sherlock
Holmes
isn’t forgotten
LONDON — The world’s
most famous detective is alive
and well and still living at 221-B
Baker St.
Sherlock Holmes and his con
stant companion, Dr. Watson,
continue to share their apart
ment here as they have for al
most 90 years, and though to
day they do not clatter through
London fogs in hansom cabs on
their errands of detection as of
yore, nevertheless they are in
great demand as armchair
consultants.
More than 2,000 letters a year
from all over the world are re
ceived at the famous address,
giving advice, arguing fine
points in criminal cases, seek
ing explanations of Holmes’
more famous cases, and beg
ging assistance in the solution
of crimes beyond the ability of
lesser sleuths.
“I have my eye on a suite in
Baker Street which should suit
us down to the ground,”
Holmes said to Watson on the
first meeting of the immortal
pair, and the doctor later re
ported, “We met next day and
inspected the rooms at No. 221-
B Baker St.”
He described them as “a
couple of comfortable bed
rooms and a single large airy
sitting room, cheerfully fur
nished and illuminated by two
broad windows.”
London, of course, has
changed in almost a century
and 221-B Baker St. is no exceo
tion. Holmes and Watson would
never recognize their old home.
Today, 221-B has been
merged in the Baker Street ad
dress of the Abbey National
Building Society that covers
the street from 215-229, and
where the modest rooming
house of bygone years stood
there is now an eight-story
brick and concrete building
with tower.
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He could be hoppy with you in Vicky Vaughn's true-blue Stars and Stripes shirtdress (left) inspired by
MGM's “The Boy Friend." Play the demure little schoolgirl in fire engine red sailor separates (center)
from Pranx. Be as prim as "The Boy Friend's" Twiggy in contemporary Acrilan doubleknit. Dance all
night—or all year—in a Wear-Dated halter dress from The Company (right). Flounce off in a fruits-and
flowers print with your own feller.
Art Deco design style that
flourished during the 1920 s
and '3os—her favorite per
iods. She was also inspired
by the style-setting Twiggy
in creating the film’s total
fashion look.
After Mrs. Russell com
pleted the costuming, the
real-life designers got to
work. They scrutinized color
stills from the movie just as
soon as they were available.
Each designer decided upon
an individual fashion direc
tion in order to adapt the
costumes into The Boy
Friend Collection of junior
sportswear, sleepwear,
loungewear and dresses.
Then they created contem
porary adaptations of "The
Boy Friend” look.
While this collection is by
no means a copy of Twiggy’s
costumes, it’s easy to spot
the fashion influence in the
film. Polly Browne (Twiggy)
appears first as the provin
cial assistant stage manager
in a simple sailor middy
blouse, skirt and spectacles.
Cross cut to today’s demure
schoolgirl in fire engine red
Acrilan sailor separates.
Polly could have danced on
top of a 24-foot phonograph
record all night in a long,
languid halter dress. But for
modern romantics, the danc
ing can last a year in a
flowered and flounced Wear-
Dated version. Fashion takes
a cue from the spectacular
production numbers, too. as
Vicky Vaughn turns the
chorine’s costume into a con
temporary stars and stripes
shirtdress.
Both Polly and her coun
terparts play many roles,
and there are many more
fashion scene stealers to
spotlight in The Boy Friend
Collection. All capture the
young spirit of the movie in
"fashion looks that are as
"now” as the new star.
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Fashion starts at the top for the girl on the go. Susan Clark, former British
model now appearing in the film, "The Skin Game," has chosen this ward
robe of hats to give her a new look. For a sleek tailored look there is the nos
talgic '3os cloche (top left) in crushable felt by Betmar. For after dark she
chose a side draped turban of black jersey (top right) with flowing drape and
open crown by Frank Olive. She likes the young fashion fun in the popular
knitted pulldown cap (lower left) set off with a matching scarf. Her pull-over
"utility" hat in dyed rabbit (lower right) is a great ally for hiding hair that
needs a "do." These last two designs by Merrymakers.
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