ONTD Original: 6 Films from the 1960s with Impeccable Style
Below I've compiled a list of 6 films from the 1960s that are worth watching for 2 reasons: 1) because they're great movies, and 2) because the fashion is impeccable!
I tried to avoid some of the most obvious films that might immediately spring to mind (e.g. Breakfast at Tiffany's) and go with some choices that people might not have seen yet.
How to Steal a Million (1966)
Starring Audrey Hepburn, Peter O'Toole, and Eli Wallach and directed by William Wyler, this '60s comedy heist movie is a must-watch even if you don't care about fashion. The plot is centred on the daughter of a prolific art forger in Paris who goes to great lengths to conceal the truth about her father's prized art collection - getting caught between an art collector and a thief in the process.
But if you do care about fashion, you're in for a treat. Hepburn was styled by Givenchy for the film, with Cartier taking over for jewelry design. This movie serves up some truly eye popping 1960's style.
Bonus: If you're a film score fan, this movie is also for you too! The score was done by John Williams (credited as "Johnny Williams").
Peppermint Frappé (1967)
This Carlos Saura directed film is a slow burn thriller about the dangers of sexual repression in conservative societies. The film follows an unlikeable, conservative, and sexually frustrated radiologist named Julian (José Luis López Vázquez) who fetishizes women's body parts and the makeup and fashion used to accentuate them (he's particularly obsessed with false eyelashes).
He becomes obsessed with his friend's wife, Elena - a confident, bold, fashionable woman totally in charge of her own life and the decisions she makes. Despite repeated attempts to connect with her - even insisting that they had met before - Elana consistently rebukes Julian’s advances. Julian turns his attention to his nurse, Ana, a quiet and obedient assistant in his practice. In a strange, alcohol-fuelled scene, he coerces and berates her into exercising more and dressing more like Elena, the object of his desire, and educates her about the makeup and fashions of the day that she must understand in order to be desirable herself.
Interestingly (and obviously symbolically), both Elena and Ana are played by the same actress - Geraldine Chaplin. And while I know ONTD hates nepotism babies - Chaplin is fantastic in her dual roles.
The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967)
Jacques Demy’s The Young Girls of Rochefort is a camp French musical that truly exemplifies swingin’ sixties style. Two twins - one a piano teacher and the other a dance instructor - are bored of small-town life and have dreams of superstardom in Paris. When a carnival comes to town, they see an opportunity for a way out. Even if you’re not a fan of musicals, this one is just so bright, so colourful, and so fun that it’s really hard not to enjoy.
Daisies (1966)
Directed by Věra Chytilová, Daisies is a fantastical surrealist trip of a movie that follows 2 young women determined to be spoiled and to spoil everything around them. This one might be an odd choice for this list - given the film’s themes of anti-consumption and the destructiveness of apathetic and nihilistic attitudes - but the fashion here is just as interesting and symbolic as any courtesy of Ester Krumbachová. This movie has '90s riot grrrl energy. The standout outfits of the film come at the end when the girls are trying to clean up the mess they caused while wearing an ensemble made entirely of newspapers.
Blood and Black Lace (1964)
Maybe the most fashionable slasher flick ever made? This movie is all colour and fashion - it literally centres on a serial killer operating at a fashion house in Rome. The plot may not be the greatest and the acting is certainly terrible (including an absolutely horrible portrayal of a man with epilepsy) - but if you go into this movie treating it like the eye-candy it is, you'll have a great time!
Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1965)
My favourite on the list. Is this a good movie? Maybe not. Is this a great movie? Absolutely! This '60s exploitation film follows 3 stunning go-go dancers who get their kicks from racing fast cars, kidnapping, and killing in the American desert. This movie starts and you're like, "what the fuck is this?" and then a few minutes later you're like, "ohhhh shit this rules!" - the looks and dialogue are absolutely iconic. This movie is available to watch on the internet archive here.
Source: All gifs and photos are made by me and sourced from livejournal scrapbook. | Rochefort Gif 2
I tried to avoid some of the most obvious films that might immediately spring to mind (e.g. Breakfast at Tiffany's) and go with some choices that people might not have seen yet.
How to Steal a Million (1966)
Starring Audrey Hepburn, Peter O'Toole, and Eli Wallach and directed by William Wyler, this '60s comedy heist movie is a must-watch even if you don't care about fashion. The plot is centred on the daughter of a prolific art forger in Paris who goes to great lengths to conceal the truth about her father's prized art collection - getting caught between an art collector and a thief in the process.
But if you do care about fashion, you're in for a treat. Hepburn was styled by Givenchy for the film, with Cartier taking over for jewelry design. This movie serves up some truly eye popping 1960's style.
Bonus: If you're a film score fan, this movie is also for you too! The score was done by John Williams (credited as "Johnny Williams").
Peppermint Frappé (1967)
This Carlos Saura directed film is a slow burn thriller about the dangers of sexual repression in conservative societies. The film follows an unlikeable, conservative, and sexually frustrated radiologist named Julian (José Luis López Vázquez) who fetishizes women's body parts and the makeup and fashion used to accentuate them (he's particularly obsessed with false eyelashes).
He becomes obsessed with his friend's wife, Elena - a confident, bold, fashionable woman totally in charge of her own life and the decisions she makes. Despite repeated attempts to connect with her - even insisting that they had met before - Elana consistently rebukes Julian’s advances. Julian turns his attention to his nurse, Ana, a quiet and obedient assistant in his practice. In a strange, alcohol-fuelled scene, he coerces and berates her into exercising more and dressing more like Elena, the object of his desire, and educates her about the makeup and fashions of the day that she must understand in order to be desirable herself.
Interestingly (and obviously symbolically), both Elena and Ana are played by the same actress - Geraldine Chaplin. And while I know ONTD hates nepotism babies - Chaplin is fantastic in her dual roles.
The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967)
Jacques Demy’s The Young Girls of Rochefort is a camp French musical that truly exemplifies swingin’ sixties style. Two twins - one a piano teacher and the other a dance instructor - are bored of small-town life and have dreams of superstardom in Paris. When a carnival comes to town, they see an opportunity for a way out. Even if you’re not a fan of musicals, this one is just so bright, so colourful, and so fun that it’s really hard not to enjoy.
Daisies (1966)
Directed by Věra Chytilová, Daisies is a fantastical surrealist trip of a movie that follows 2 young women determined to be spoiled and to spoil everything around them. This one might be an odd choice for this list - given the film’s themes of anti-consumption and the destructiveness of apathetic and nihilistic attitudes - but the fashion here is just as interesting and symbolic as any courtesy of Ester Krumbachová. This movie has '90s riot grrrl energy. The standout outfits of the film come at the end when the girls are trying to clean up the mess they caused while wearing an ensemble made entirely of newspapers.
Blood and Black Lace (1964)
Maybe the most fashionable slasher flick ever made? This movie is all colour and fashion - it literally centres on a serial killer operating at a fashion house in Rome. The plot may not be the greatest and the acting is certainly terrible (including an absolutely horrible portrayal of a man with epilepsy) - but if you go into this movie treating it like the eye-candy it is, you'll have a great time!
Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1965)
My favourite on the list. Is this a good movie? Maybe not. Is this a great movie? Absolutely! This '60s exploitation film follows 3 stunning go-go dancers who get their kicks from racing fast cars, kidnapping, and killing in the American desert. This movie starts and you're like, "what the fuck is this?" and then a few minutes later you're like, "ohhhh shit this rules!" - the looks and dialogue are absolutely iconic. This movie is available to watch on the internet archive here.
Source: All gifs and photos are made by me and sourced from livejournal scrapbook. | Rochefort Gif 2