Movie Monday: The Wizard of Oz (1939)
These photos are not mine.
Okay, I know what you are thinking.
“Sarah, why would you pick The Wizard of Oz this Monday when the characters don’t even change their style at all the entire film?”
Let me explain.
You see The Wizard of Oz has been a very understated and influential film for fashion. Plus, who doesn’t love a movie about magical shoes? Because of its unique mix of black and white and one of the earliest uses of technicolor, The Wizard of Oz has become way more than just a classic piece of cinema. The slew of merchandise dedicated to this film alone marks it as one of the most famous and easily recognizable films, but the clothes may be what makes it most iconic.
These photos are not mine.
The dramatic and colorful costumes in The Wizard of Oz have swayed fashion in many ways for years. The sky blue, gingham dress that Dorothy is wearing in the film would be super popular in summer 2018! (Matter of fact, I just wrote another post about the gingham trend last week. You can read it here https://faintlyfamiliar.com/2018/06/22/the-gingham-trend/ if you would like) The green felt costume the Scarecrow wears is another great selection that would go over swimmingly if styled without the ropes and worn in the modern day.
Honestly, this movie’s costume choices have become iconic not only for how they look, but for the way each one of them fit the personality of the character. The Tin Man’s hard, cold exterior means he has no heart. The Cowardly Lion’s overgrown, bushy hair is something for him to hide behind because he has no courage to face the world. That is why it is so important for these characters to never truly change how they look in the film, their costuming plays a large role in creating the characters.
These photos are not mine.
Even The Wizard of Oz’s Wicked Witch of the West has become one of the most iconic ways to imagine a witch. Nobody does a better job playing a wicked witch than Margaret Hamilton!
As a young girl, I was quite fond of the green, fuzzy hat worn here in Emerald City! Reminds me of British soldiers with their black, fuzzy hats.
These photos are not mine.
Quite possibly the best part of this whole film was learning that the ruby slippers had the power all along to take Dorothy back home. Are we really surprised a pair of shoes would end up being more powerful than a wizard? I’m not. 🙂
Much Love,
Sarah
