I recently saw the Todd Haynes latest movie “Carol” , staring with Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, and I can say it’s one of the most beautiful film that I’ve seen in 2015. Apart from the beautiful story, the delicate playing of the two wonderful actresses, the scenes full of poetry, I’ve been so much attracted by the costume in this movie of an absolute style of 50s.

Carol(played by Cate Blanchett), is an elegant and fashionable woman from the upper-class of the 1950s New York city, while Therese(played by Rooney Mara), is a young girl just coming out of school, pure and simple with an arty heart.  Therefore, you can imagine how different would it be the costume of the two characters. But somehow, the costume designer Sandy Powell , a three-time Oscar winner has managed to create a perfect contrast and harmony between the two styles for the whole movie.

The coat

A fur coat(one of the symbols of the 1950s style), a chic red wool coat for Carol, assorted with an elegant suit along with the most fashionable accessories(Clutch bag, sunglasses, hat or leather gloves), these silhouettes who make Carol a 50s “fashionistas” are strongly inspired from the fashion magazines of that time(1952-1953).

 

The coral color of Carol’s scarf and gloves is definitely not by accident. This color is very stylish at that time and matches so well with the skin color of Cate Blanchett.

The color of the fur coat is also carefully chosen. It goes perfectly with the blond hair of Cate Blanchett. How beautiful she is in the sunshine!

 

I LOVE this long red coat of Carol’s. This kind of over-sized wool coat is totally returned to the fashion word these days!

 

As for Therese, a simple “student” black coat will do.

In order not to look too gloomy, Sandy Powell put on to Therese a colorful (red and yellow) hat to cheer her up.:)

Well, it does not seem to work…Therese still looks sad in that hat……

 

I love the following scene with the two women standing together, on the way to Carol’s house. The two opposite styles seem to go so well together.

 

The dress

Carol needs an elegant dress with high quality(often in silk or in wool), which shows clearly the shape of her body, without being too much extravagant (to meet her personality).

 

While Therese, young and free, wears a comfortable shirt and a long tile pattern skirt which is very popular in the 50s.

PS: I’m really fond of the following scene with Therese in her tiny New York apartment. A typical 1950s style kitchen with the Smeg style refrigerator! See my article about the vintage kitchen here🙂

 

The picture bellow is the FAMOUS scene with the two lovers who have gone for a travel together, having a moment in a humble hotel. Another good exemple to show how they contrast each other’s style with a perfect harmony. One is the “femme fatale”, the other one is, on the other hand, the pure and innocent girl.

 

The suit.

The suit appears frequently in the movie. Most of them are in pile pattern. (Yes yes, that’s TOTALLY 50s!)

PS: in case that you haven’t noticed, the PILE PATTERN is really omnipresent in this movie!

 

Even the pyjama of Carol’s is in pile pattern…

 

The accessories

Finally, the accessories in the movie are really remarquable. Clutch bags, hats, scarfs, gloves, broches…Every detail has been thought through, in roder to meet the characters.

 

Well, if you haven’t seen this movie yet, hope this article will give you more motivation to go and watch it. 🙂

As for me, I’m gonna go for a shopping “Theme Carol”!