Even though stars on the big screen are usually more interesting in reality than they appear in film, it’s exciting to see their style in contrast to the characters they play. It’s even more interesting to see what types of buying trends these characters promote and how celebrities play a part in that process.
Marketing junior Julie Leveque worked with props on film sets in New Orleans over the past few years and has some entertaining stories to spill about a few celebrities’ wardrobes.
“So Undercover,” a movie featuring Miley Cyrus and Alexis Knapp, mandates that Cyrus play an undercover agent with a sorority-girl cover, in which she is said to have been styled in ample short-skirt numbers paired with taut pink tops and fancy stilettos. This image seems like a highly clichéd idea of a typical Southern sorority girl, which takes cues from movies like “Legally Blonde” and “The House Bunny.”
Even though those movies are some sorority favorites, orange will never be the new pink, and film wardrobe may never be able to capture the true style of the Southern sorority girl.
Many young ladies wear looks around campus that range from comfortably loose tanks and Nike-short getups to luxurious semi-casual charm integrated with trends inspired by international runway collections. If any observation should be made of Southern campus socialites, it’s that they are quite style savvy and quick to adapt based on new, innovative trends.
As Leveque recalls her summer days on the New Orleans set of “So Undercover,” she remarks Cyrus is “pretty hardcore” about her true style before changing into wardrobe and is “a pretty cool person … she’s really nice.” Cyrus can usually be caught with candid street style, sporting a grunge-rock look consisting of razored fitted jeans or shiny leggings, combat style boots, fishnets and oversized vintage rocker shirts.
In recognition of the ovesized trend that is still at large within the fashion community, another film Leveque worked on last summer in New Orleans – “21 Jumpstreet” – allowed her to spot a conveniently slimmed-down Jonah Hill with oversized wayfarer-type glasses, a big trend of 2012 spring and summer eyewear collections. Leveque thought it was entertaining that during filming Hill was styled in a T-shirt, featuring an eyeglass-wearing elephant. When the directors yelled cut, Hill would immediately restore his own oversized glasses to his face, maintaining his cool, star-like façade.
Channing Tatum, who played opposite Hill, was wardrobed primarily in fitted shirts and khakis when not donning the police uniforms the two wore throughout the film. He was said to have a laid-back demeanor and no specific style outside of the movie wardrobe, mostly opting for comfortable, masculine clothes.
Fashions from recent films like “My Week with Marilyn” and “The Rum Diary” show how influential earlier films have been on what we now feel are characteristics of fine vintage clothing and tailoring. Long, flowing, sparkling evening gowns, fabulous updos and short bobs made of body curls often provide nostalgia of old Turner Classic-type movies, encouraging a prima donna-like image of women in entertainment.
But it’s not just the stars who provide resilient style inspiration to others. Often times, those behind the scenes display the most creative and innovative looks that never go acknowledged.
Leveque gives a more exaggerated detail on her opinion of behind-the-scenes crews.
“There’s a really unique breed of people that arrive day-in and day-out. They do their job, they do it well and they’re behind the scenes, but they look like rockstars,” Leveque said.
Al Burks is a 25-year-old apparel design senior from New Orleans.
 
 
—-
Contact Al Burks at [email protected]