Thursday, January 19, 2017

Cinema Style Spotlight-Winter Fashions in 1934''s The Man Who Knew Too Much

Winter can be a difficult time for fashion:


People are rightly concerned with warmth and safety and if your like me and bike or walk every day you need clothes you can move in.   Also if your like me then your clothing choices are pretty central to your identify.  I'm just not willing to give up my vintage style in the winter, and so I'm always on the look out for practical vintage winter style inspirations and I found a stunning one in the 1934 Hitchcock Film The Man Who Knew To Much.



Most viewers are probably more familiar with the 1956 version starring James Stewart and Doris Day, but if you ask me the 1934 version is far superior, and not just for Peter Lorre who is amazingly creepy as the vilian:



The entire look of the film is better, and that includes the fashions.  The film takes place in Switzerland and the look that really got me swooning was worn by the young girl, and kidnap victim, Betty played by Nova Pilbeam.  While she watches her glamorous mother Jill, Edna Best, participate in a clay pigion shooting contest.  Betty wears some kind of adorable wool suit, maybe a ski suit, and the cutest crochet tam hat and gauntlet gloves I have ever seen.





(I also love the monogram or insignia on her father's scarf and bonus points for the cute dachschund, but I do wish he had a sweater too.)

Though Betty is obviously a young girl I definitely think this look would work on a women of any age and it certainly looks warm.  One of my most treasured items of clothing is my own 1930s wool ski suit:


and I can attest to the fact this it is very, very warm. 

The gorgeous fashion doesn't stop in the shooting scene though, the movie is choc-a-block with beautifully shot noir moments. 




  I am also in total awe of Edna Best's hair, it might just be the most perfect 1930s hair I've seen.







What are your favorite things to wear in the winter?

25 comments:

  1. those are gorgeous. I just reach for any warm sweater and am not too fashion conscious when it is cold.

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  2. Oh boy you look good. It must have been difficult finding your winter wear
    Snorts,
    Lily & Edward

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  3. I've never seen the two versions you mentioned, but I believe I have seen a more recent version, though my memory of that is hazy!

    Staying warm while retaining vintage sensibilities is tricky. I tend to wear the fifties repro jacket I made rather than a coat, my fur trimmed ankle boots and my new to me fur hat, which I adore! I'm also very fond of my fur collars, though I haven't tried my rose coloured one yet, far too taken by my leopard one xxx

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    1. That sounds lovely. I've come to love winter styles

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  4. I need to up my vintage winter clothes games (mostly in the boots department), but I have a wonderful 1950's vintage winter coat that was given to me that is my go to for my winter look.

    Love the looks in this movie.

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  5. Those are some great vintage winter looks! Vintage winter coats are the best--there are some great faux furs with a vintage look.

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    1. Agreed. I just got a great faux 1960s,Leopard coat

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  6. Looking good in cold weather isn't easy but I certainly think you've cracked it
    Loves and licky kisses
    Princess Leah xxx

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  7. I love the hair style of Edna Best!

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    Replies
    1. Me too that's my dream hair but I just can't get it right I wish I knew how,she did it

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  8. That hat and gloves are excellent.

    Woollen skirts - tartan or tweed - plus knits are my winter go-tos. I like summer best, but being able to get my woollies out in autumn/winter makes up for some of the greyness of the season.

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  9. What a great subject for a winter post! I've just got my jumpers out as cold weather hit us this week. Looking stylish in winter isn't easy, and when you see what people are generally wearing, it's obvious they don't do stylish winter clothes anymore. I love your 1930s ski suit, which I already admired on Facebook. It's warm and cosy without compromising on style! Well done Kate! xxx

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    1. Yes,winter wear is tough I think your winter outfits are fab

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  10. Great post. Love the ski suit.
    My favourite 'winter warmer' is a beautiful Norwegian sweater, knitted from absolutely top quality wool with a traditional pattern. Bought for me nearly 20 years ago by a boyfriend who was then working in Norway. The sweater has long outlasted the relationship and still looks as good a new!
    Cheers, Gail.

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  11. I have this movie in a Alfred Hitchcock collection and really like it. But will have to admit, Jimmy Stewart is pretty good too. But I also like movies from the thirties and really enjoyed this one. And fashions of the 30s were always a class act.

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  12. I know exactly how you feel about wanting to still dress like yourself while dressing for the cold weather while still being able to do stuff like biking and walking. I've been hiking more and have really had this battle lately. Love your ski suit! Looks like the perfect solution for your region which gets super cold!

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