Film Costume Review - Taking Woodstock
Real looks of 1969 - Hippies in their van and everyday casual clothing
We sometimes think of costumed films as having to take place a long time ago. However, I think films set in periods within living memory can be more challenging because there are many who will remember the era and mistakes will leap off the screen.
Last year Danny Glickman did a phenomenal job of creating the costumes for Milk. Set in the late 1970s, he caught the corduroy and denim soft brown look of the era. Glickman was nominated for a costume Oscar however, Michael O’Connor took home the Oscar for the equally well done, but flashier and more historical The Duchess.
The original vest worn by Michael Lang in 1969 was loaned to the actor playing Michael Lang in the movie
Like Milk, Taking Woodstock has phenomenal attention to detail. Researched and recreated by Joseph G. Aulisi and his twenty member team of costume assistants, the film accurately captures every type of clothing (but haute couture) worn in the summer of 1969. This film is about how the Woodstock music festival came to be in Bethel New York and is based on true events as accounted by Elliot Tiber, the central figure who pulled together the various elements that added up to an historically important moment in time.
The actual Woodstock festival was filmed from beginning to end, and it is obvious the costumers studied this film carefully for ideas. It would have been stupid not to take advantage of this remarkable document for costuming references but some costumers ignore the obvious and wave away authenticity as unimportant compared to their own creativity. This was not the case with Joseph Aulisi who aimed for historical perfection.
The film deserves high praises for its art direction and costuming. I can’t find any faults so I have to give it a 10/10 for accuracy in dress history.
Can’t wait to hear your take on “A Single Man”. I haven’t seen the film yet, but I heard an interview with Tom Ford on NPR. The film takes place in 1962, but Ford chose to dress Julianne Moore’s character in Op Art fashions because he wanted to portray her as on the edge of fashion and felt she would be a muse of a designer like Rudi Gernreich. Graphic op-art inspired fashion in 1962? I’m not buying it. What do you think?
Comment by Couture Allure — December 28, 2009 @ 7:46 am
We wanted to see A Single Man on Christmas Day, but it wasn’t playing here yet so we saw Up in the Air instead (great movie). I will look forward to seeing what Tom Ford does and how ‘OP’ he goes. I am sometimes surprised what I find in the early 60s Vogue magazines which often looks more mid 60s in style. Do you remember I got that Vera Butterfly print dress from you which is 1962 and I would have thought 1965/66 had you not found that Vogue advert for Vera. Anyway, can’t wait to see it!
Comment by Kenn — December 28, 2009 @ 1:08 pm
I’ve been looking forward to seeing this one, but had put it off because it really does make me nervous to see a movie set in a time that I remember and see the costumes done up all wrong. So now I can see it with no fear! And I love that they actually used Lang’s vest.
Comment by Lizzie — December 29, 2009 @ 2:58 pm