1. Bringing Up Baby (1938)
Setting: New York, 1930s
Synopsis: A bored society girl (Katharine Hepburn) ensnares a nerdy paleontologist (Cary Grant) and the two have a series of misadventures with her pet leopard, Baby.
Style: Masculine/Feminine
Watch for: The movie in which Katherine debuted her signature pants, never before seen on a woman in film. When the studio heads insisted she wear a skirt, she strolled around the set in her underwear until they gave her pants back.
2. To Catch a Thief (1955)
Setting: French Riviera, 1950s
Synopsis: A former thief (Cary Grant) is suspected of a series of jewel thefts; to prove his innocence he tries to find the copycat with the help of an American heiress (Grace Kelly).Style: Glistening extravagance
Watch for: The jewels! Grace Kelly in that white strapless dress with an over-the-top diamond necklace. Her ball gowns, shimmering gold, blue chiffon, etc. 3. Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
Setting: New York, 1960s
Synopsis: Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn), a socialite/call girl, becomes interested in Paul (George Peppard), a struggling writer who moves into her apartment building.
Style: Lux Glamour
4. And God Created Women (1956)Setting: Saint Tropez, 1950s
Synopsis: A vampy sexpot (Brigitte Bardot) loves one brother, but marries another.
Style: Rampant female sensuality
Watch for: This is the movie that put Brigitte Bardot on the scene, and she became the instant symbol of the "sex kitten." That gingham bikini, the pouty lips, the ultimate "beach hair," and how the (near-naked) Bardot carries herself throughout the film.
5. American Gigolo (1980.
Setting: Beverly Hills, 1980s
Synopsis: Julian Kaye (Richard Gere) is the highest-paid male prostitute in LA (naturally). He falls in love with the wife of a local politician (Lauren Hutton) and is framed for the murder of one of his clients.
Style: American chic at its best. This is the film that put Armani suits on the style map. Lauren Hutton epitomizes effortless American sportswear. And FYI, Richard Gere becomes the first Hollywood actor to appear full-frontal nude on screen.
6. Marie Antoinette (2006).Setting: France, 1700's
Synopsis: Portraying the life of the French queen who supposedly said ‘let them eat cake’ while sending the country into deficit with her spending habits.
Style: Pastel hued decadence.
Watch for: Very few films can pull off decadence like Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette with even the food filled with dazzling colour. The frocks, the fans, the wigs, the stockings, the titillating bedroom scene affair and the masked ball. It’s near impossible not to be inspired by the visuals.
7. Chicago (2002).
Setting: Chicago, 1920’s.
Synopsis: Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger) will do anything to be famous, including murder. Once locked up, she and fellow murderess Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones) turn to slick lawyer Billy Flynn (Richard Gere) to help get them off.
Style: Skimpy jazz-age sexuality
Watch for: If you like great music, clever cuts, and over-the-top costumes, you'll understand why Colleen Atwood walked away with the Oscar for Best Costume design for this movie.
Setting: Los Angeles, early 1990s
Synopsis: The lives of two mob hit men, a boxer, a gangster's wife (Uma Thurman), and a pair of diner bandits intertwine.
Style: Hip simplicity.
Watch for: Uma Thurman in the dancing scene. Her capri pants, her crisp white shirt with the black bra underneath, her severe bangs and black hair.
9. (500) Days of Summer (2009).
Setting: Los Angeles, 2009
Synopsis: Boy (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) meets girl (Zooey Deschanel). Boy thinks he has met the ‘one’, but girl thinks otherwise. A quirky Y-gen film about how sometimes things don’t always work out.
Style: Return to the sixties, quirk and indie feminine.
Watch for: The leading lady’s off beat style, sixties hair cut, indie quirks and her blue dresses. The leading man’s simple neutrals and washouts and his over the shoulder bag.
10. Sex and the City: The Movie (2008)
Setting: New York, 2008
Synopsis: A new chapter for our four favorite now 40-something STAC girls and their fashionable adventures and their frank discussions about romance and sexuality.
Style: Designer soaked NYC Chic.
Watch for: With four main characters, each with their unique style, there is something for everyone. Charlottes ‘Jackie Kennedy’ inspired preppy classics, Samantha’s power colours, lines and cuts, Miranda’s corporate androgyny and rustic tones and Carrie's uptown whimsy chic.
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