This month I’m looking at glamour goddess Jane Russell, specifically at her outfits in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
All the costumes, designed by William Travilla, are absolutely stunning and cast Russell’s character Dorothy as the gutsy glamorous sidekick to Marilyn Monroe’s ‘dumb blonde’ Lorelei.
Monroe’s outfits are all amazing but I like the simple day to day styling of Russell.
This outfit, worn for the number ‘Aint There Anyone Here for Love’, is easy to replicate and showcases simple black every day pieces with added pops of colour to really draw the eye!
First up the lovely halter top; I adore this neckline, so flattering! You can get this little number from Bamboo Bettie http://bamboobettie.com/product/cross-your-heart/
which has a great fit and will work great with a pencil skirt or for this outfit, a good pair of capri or cigarette leg pants.
http://www.vivienofholloway.com/women-c70/trousers-c14/pedal-pushers-black-p799
As summer is not here yet, you might want to replace the halter top with a plain slash neck top like this. http://www.vivienofholloway.com/women-c70/tops-c12/slash-neck-top-black-jersey-p1505
The simplicity of a black slash neck top with either a black pencil skirt or plain black fitted trousers is the best base for adding colour!
Jane wears some strappy heels in the movie, quite standard and available in most places. Something like this will do the trick. http://www.schuh.co.uk/womens/schuh-super-fly-black-high-heels/1111647060/
If you are like me and walk a lot you may want something more comfortable like a wedge shoe. But the ankle strap is key to lengthening the leg, especially when wearing cropped trousers.
Add a burst of colour with some bright earrings.
Perhaps try these beauties from Bow and Crossbones: http://bowandcrossbones.com/collections/jewellery/products/blue-glitter-vivien-hoop-earrings-glitter
And then the main feature is the gorgeous swing coat. Coats like this are hard to come by. You could be lucky and bag a vintage one from somewhere, but with an item this specific I’d head for the sewing machine!
This Butterick pattern is perfect.
Just get yourself some nice flannel or patterned black and white cotton fabric such as this one.
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/259729715/buffalo-check-plaid-black-and-white
Use a good cotton in a bright colour for the lining and you have a great jacket to go with a variety of outfits. You can also make this in a heavier fabric to wear in the winter! Either way, it’s a statement piece you can use to instantly brighten up any plain outfit, and is suitable for every day wear.
The pattern is available from Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/180244684/1950s-swing-coat-sewing-pattern-uncut
(ED: for the less crafty folk, hold out for the new Vivien of Holloway ‘Swagger’ swing coat coming soon: http://www.vivienofholloway.com/women-c70/jackets-c11/swagger-jacket-black-white-fleck-p2112)
In another scene Russell wears a similar swing coat with another halter top and shorts. This time, she uses white as a base colour, letting the matching top and coat lining to do the talking.
The key to these outfits is the use of colour, stick to black or white as a base colour then add your colour accents in splashes, giving a bigger impact and allowing you to experiment with more daring colours like canary yellow or bright blue.
