With the 88th Annual Academy Awards just around the corner, we can’t help but indulge in some Oscar nostalgia in this key periods of waiting…

One fantastic find is this clip from Oscar.com of the costume design portion of the 1987 ceremony which celebrated the best films of 1986; a fantastic year which include Roland Joffe’s “The Mission”, Woody Allen’s “Hannah and her Sisters”, Oliver Stone’s “Platoon”, and of course, my boy David Lynch’s iconic modern masterwork “Blue Velvet”*.

*one nomination for David Lynch in the category of Best Director (should have been many more).

Presenting the award is none other than style divinity Lauren Bacall in all her sultry, sophisticated glory….MAN! THEY DON’T MAKE THEM LIKE THEY USED TO!

What began as the most innocent unassuming presentation turned into full-on 80s fashion MADNESS!!!

Basically, the jist was that the costumes of films have always and will always directly influence fashion so with the help of legendary costume designer Theoni V. Aldredge ( 1974’s ‘The Great Gatsby’ ) who used the year’s nominees (“The Mission”, “Otello”, “Peggy Sue Got Married”, “Pirates”, and that year’s winner “A Room With a View”) as inspiration for contemporary fashions a la 1987 through the eyes of one magnificently creative and visionary mind.

They just couldn’t help themselves, and be prepared to be dazzled by some super enthusiastic dancers and some really exciting fashion that probably never actually made it to the streets, but at least opens the eye to the possibilities of inspiration.

In a not very surprising instance of history repeating itself, Jenny Beaven, the winner of the Oscar that year for James Ivory’s stunning, classic film “A Room With a View” (starring young and fresh faces Helena Bonham Carter and Denholm Elliot), is nominated again this year for George Miller’s visionary epic “Mad Max: Fury Road” and is primed to taking home the Golden Boy once again!

What is so fantastic about Jenny Beaven’s contribution to “Mad Max: Fury Road”, personally, is that it is such a different kind of project than her past films which have garnered nominations such as “Gosford Park“, “The King’s Speech“, and “Howards End“, which makes it so cool to see her creating such raw and original and truly contemporary visions for this latest masterwork, and getting much deserved recognition for it.

If you haven’t seen “Mad Max: Fury Road” do so. It is a magnificently conjured film by true veterans of the craft. To be honest, I had my doubts about it, as I am getting so tired of these Hollywood remakes, but with the original director at the helm it truly is a treat to see what could be done with a story like Mad Max if given the treatment it deserves.

And if you wonder how possibly could we see the tattered and extreme costumes of “Fury Road” translate to today’s fashion scene. Look no further than say Kanye West’s label “Yeezy” and his latest collection SEASON 3 . . .apparently dystopia is tres chic these days, and that’s just a single example.  Go figure!

We hope to delve a bit more into the Costume Design category in the coming week, so stay tuned!

And don’t forget to watch on the big night (Feb. 28) to see history in the making!

How rich it is to find the threads of our {past}, {present}, and {future}

entangling us so  . . .

Until next time,

{theEye}

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