'at the side of the everlasting why, there is a yes, and a yes, and a yes!'
E.M Forster, A Room With A View
a room with a view by e.m forster is one of my favourite books of all time. for a man, and a homosexual man at that, e.m forster could really get inside the head of women and understand them so completely. In the manner of, say, how olivier theyskens really understands women. his most famous books, this one, howard's end and a passage to india, are all exceptionally well written moving between social satire, romance and social examination with ease. He writes without some of the heavy tones that dickens employed and with the wit and charm of an early austen. I like him immensely and wholeheartedly recommend him!
the merchant ivory production of a room with a view is an exceptionally good version of the novel, the casting is excellent, the setting authentic (oh how it makes me dream of florence, where the smells are stronger, the air richer, the colours brighter!), the costumes dreamy, the tone witty and true to the novel. It is a joy to watch the film unravel as it takes you gently by the hand on a light sojourn to an idyllic but blissfully lovely edwardian england via the humid passion of italy. Helena Bonham Carter, Daniel Day Lewis, Judi Dench all look so incredibly young. Especially Helena, who looks very fresh, and is enchanting as the naive ingenue heroine Lucy Honeychurch.
The costumes are very good, authentic and true, providing escapism into this historical world. I love all the silk blouses, the tightly waisted long skirts, and the messy buns that all these women wore. I loved all the lace too, as i was watching it with my sister she said, 'oh god, it's like an 80s revival flick'. And she's right, if you look at all the Adam and the Ants videos, or even some of Madonna's stuff, they all liked to wear these Edwardian-esque dresses, lots of lace, cotton gloves and messy buns and plaits. Odd, don't you think? But then, i suppose, people wear all sorts of things now that no-one thinks are odd. Also, and maybe this is weird, i LOVE LOVE LOVE what all the little children are wearing, lace up ankle boots, white pinafores, satin sashes and ribbons in their hair. Oh to be an edwardian child!
I think some of the elements, not all together obviously, but some of them would look very nice mixed and matched up with other things. Certainly lace is making a comeback, but the styles and sillhouettes themselves are not half bad. The cinched in waist with a satin sash would be nice with say, a plain black skirt and leather jacket. Or a parasol giving a darling edge to an otherwise grungy outfit. You get the picture.
I mean, isn't fashion all about absorption and re-invention? I know for a fact that Theyskens loves the edwardian era clothes, and his collections at Rochas were characterised by the high necklines, long sleeves and frilled skirts that were so indicative of edwardian dressing. Although you may be frowned upon as 'eccentric' and 'dramatic' nowadays for wearing something in the style of Lucy Honeychurch, inspired dressing can come in the form of assimilating aspects of edwardian outfits into your everyday style. Lace, gloves, satin, pretty blouses, high necklines, the cinched in waist, a long skirt, satin... And some of the items of clothing are bang on trend at the moment, think of the little girl's laced up ankle boots. Sound familiar? Stick a platform heel on them and they could be strutting down any of the runways at the moment. You don't have to dress head to toe in a sweeping gown and parasol... but it could be very chic incorporating some of the elements into your daily wardrobe. Personally, i'm going for the lace, the long skirts, the ribbons and the boots. Just some food for thought!
i know this is a bad picture of it, but on the left can you see the little girl? i love her calico skirt and black boots.
ribbons!
[caps my own]
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