Even though my actual holiday is Hanukkah, the part of December that I look the most forward to is Christmas Eve. It is the one night a year where I can sit with my family, sip organic eggnog, and watch one of my all-time favorite movies, It’s A Wonderful Life. It is an undisputed classic because of its characters, quotes, and the theme of redemption, but I think that it is also incredibly beautiful.
The movie is shot in black and white, yet there is a hazy glow over every scene, and the characters, especially George Bailey, Mary Hatch, and Violet Bick manage to look dapper even in the small town of Bedford Falls. If the message behind the movie is that even without adventure and travel, one can have a rich and full life, then the wardrobes undoubtedly exemplify this.
Although the movie spans from 1919-1946, the costumes are primarily forties-flavored. George, lanky and jaundiced against those able to get out of town, is nevertheless always well-dressed in a sleek suit, tie, and overcoat. In the 1940s, men and women adhered to a specific dress code, and we see this propriety in the form of hats and gloves.
This sense of manners does not prohibit the sense of style, however. George’s wife Mary wears elegant dresses, the standout being a sheer-sleeved frock when George comes to call and finally succumbs to their love for each other. On the opposite spectrum is Violet, a notorious flirt always bedecked in furs, jewels, and snug-fitting ensembles.
Fashion Lesson: Even in a small town, there is no shortage of love, friendship, and, apparently, stylish boutiques.
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