The Fashion Fantasia of The Red Shoes

Like a subconscious, surrealist nightmare, The Red Shoes (1948) is a visual masterpiece with some of my favorite fashion moments in film history. Based on the Danish fairytale of The Red Shoes by Hans Christian Andersen, the movie takes on a technicolor over-real aesthetic, with exaggerated makeup, clothing and lighting making the visual images unforgettably luminous. The ballet costumes were original designs by Hein Heckroth and the non ballet wear was famously designed by contemporary fashion designer Jaques Fath. With ballet, 1940s wear and technicolor you can't possibly go wrong with me, but this Powell and Pressburger adaptation of the fairytale is more than just fantasy - it's a true masterpiece. Forget everything about Black Swan, this is the single most expression of how art can utterly consume its performer. Almost operatic in it's dramatic style and visual expression, it transcends you to an otherworldly sphere of real life as stage life. Although the fashions are a bit late 1940s for my personal style and taste, the color palette makes up for everything - highlighted with 1940s flawless pastel daywear as ballet costumes.

If you're ever looking for 1940s hair inspiration, you have come to the right place with The Red Shoes. I was never more tempted to dye my hair flaming red eternally wearing a blue ribbon in it. If you are one of those who's not into 'old movies', but love vintage fashion - this might be the best intro you'll ever get. The film projects its own micro cosmos of fashion, with its own rules for taste and style. The theatrical is law, and the main character's inner journey culminates in a 17 minute long ballet piece in the middle of the picture which is pure magic. This is really just an attempt to make you see it, if you never have and to remind you - if you have that it's the best ballet movie there ever was. And the outfits! It's a slight fantasy projection of contemporary fashions of the time, making every outfit a costume. But this fits perfectly into the technicolor wonder world. Although all of Moira Shearers outfits are beautiful, I love watching the background characters for more casual (but colorful) 1940s wear. If I was allowed to choose a costume from any movie (ok, it would be a tough cut), The Red Shoes ballet costume would be a serious contender. There's a gorgeous close up of the bodice of it in the photo cavalcade. Make sure to watch the Criterion Collection's introduction of the restored edition right below.

I do have a definite weak spot for anything technicolor, which will undeniably be proven in upcoming posts, but this is one of my absolute favorites.