The Icon: Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face

There's no better excuse than a trip to Paris to figure out a new wardrobe.

When you find yourself stuck in a rut of isolation and a drab existence, sometimes you need to step outside of your comfort zone and pursue whatever random opportunity presents itself, no matter how frightening it may be. 

Take Jo (Audrey Hepburn), for instance. She worked at a dark little bookstore in New York when, by a twist of fate, the editor and photographer for a women's fashion magazine decided to conduct an impromptu photoshoot there. What ensued was a job offer in Paris to model for the magazine and a well-known fashion designer. Could life have gotten any better for Jo?

Though Funny Face (1957) may be somewhat flawed in the sense that at the heart of the film is a love story between Audrey and Fred Astaire - yawn - it is still nonetheless a musical about fashion, set in Paris.

Costume design legend, Edith Head, also provided some iconic looks in All About Eve (1950), Roman Holiday (1953), Rear Window (1954) and Vertigo (1958), not to mention that she shared the work on this film with none other than the great Hubert de Givenchy.

Iconic is an understatement.

Psycho Chic: Kate Winslet in Revolutionary Road

"If being crazy means living life as if it matters, then I don't mind being completely insane."

Safe. Being safe. What is "safe"?

Is "safe" familiarity? Is it repetition? Is it predictability? 

The sentence "a safe choice" can mean something good or something bad. Usually it's something bad.

Pastels are safe. 

Revolutionary Road (2008) is one of the most depressing films ever. Somehow whenever Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio come together, they create a beautiful tragedy. 

If I ever become April Wheeler (Kate), a suburban housewife who has lost all her dreams and ambitions to her marriage and children, I will die. Her wardrobe is lovely though.

Costume designer, Albert Wolsky, has created some iconic looks in Grease (1978), Manhattan (1979), Sophie's Choice (1982), Runaway Bride (1999) Galaxy Quest (1999) and Across the Universe (2007). Such diversity.

Pastels are a lie.

The Icon: Yves Saint Laurent

No film is as fashionable as a film about fashion.

When creating a Bildungsroman-esque film about an iconic French fashion designer, it is safe to assume that there will be a fair share of risk involved. But when you have said fashion designer's business partner's / long-term companion's approval, you may rest assured that you have a hit.

Yves Saint Laurent chronicles the designer's life and career, from when he first became head designer at Christian Dior at the youthful age of 21, how he created his own brand as a result of being fired, how he came to struggle with drug-abuse whilst partying with the likes of Andy Warhol, as well as the pressure and anxiety that came with being one of the world's most influential designers. 

Oh yes, and most importantly, at the heart of the film is the tempestuous and, at times, heartbreaking love story between Yves (played by Pierre Niney) and Pierre Bergé (Guillaume Gallienne) that lasted until the designer's death in 2008.

In fact, it was Bergé's assistance that made this film as true-to-life as possible; he loaned 77 vintage YSL outfits to the production, many of which were iconic signature looks of the designer's. This is perhaps one of the best aspects of the film, as it works as a historical exhibition-like feature, providing a context and setting for his creations. 

If you're obsessed with the fashion industry, you will also be delighted to catch several glimpses of the one-and-only Karl Lagerfeld (Nikolai Kinski) in his youth, and Yves's early model/muse Victoire Doutreleau (Charlotte Le Bon), as well as his later muse Loulou de la Falaise (Laura Smet). 

It will be interesting to see how Saint Laurent, another French biopic that will be released later this year, will fair compared to this gem. It will star Gaspard Ulliel (young Hannibal Lecter from Hannibal Rising (2007), hmm...) as Yves, Jérémie Renier as Bergé, and It-Girl of the moment Léa Seydoux as Loulou.

It may be rather scandalous, seeing as real-life Bergé did not support that project.

Cult Status: Traci Lords in Cry-Baby

"I wouldn't be caught dead in a full skirt."

Ever consider how great Grease (1978) would have been had the film started where it ended? In essence, we would have been able to witness Sandy's full style transformation into a Greaser, and not simply be left with that one iconic look?

Well, Wanda Woodward (Traci Lords) in Cry-Baby (1990) is probably the best we could hope for.

The verb, to be a "Drape" (that's a Greaser by the way, the opposite of a Square): Performing acts of juvenile delinquency with neat cars, whilst wearing leather jackets, slightly risqué dresses and kitten heels. Is there any better style inspiration?

Mildly vulgar language and behaviour often comes into play too.

If you do choose to watch this silly film, please ignore all the creepy girls (below). There is no excuse for them.

Psycho Chic: Michelle Williams in Shutter Island

For a 1950s' housewife, a complete psychotic breakdown must occur
when wearing a floral dress.

Do you ever feel like a housewife from the '50s? Everything is seemingly alright, your life is fine, you have a nice dress... But for some reason you feel trapped and on the brink of a mental breakdown?

Maybe it's just the fact that you're bored with your uneventful life?

Dolores (Michelle Williams) may have been a tad crazy, but in a strange way, I can relate to her. There's very little satisfaction to be had from a constant, repetitive routine.

It's time to shake things up.

On a side note: Shutter Island (2010) is yet another amazing Martin Scorsese film to exhibit the artistic talent of Sandy Powell. Others include The Wolf of Wall Street and The Aviator. What an amazing duo.

The Inspiration: Gwyneth Paltrow in The Talented Mr. Ripley

I'm so over winter that I'm already making plans for summer.

After re-watching The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) for the first time since I was about twelve, I have decided that this summer will be a grand one. 

Marge Sherwood (Gwyneth Paltrow) has inspired me to start working on a plan to go live somewhere chic, maybe Italy, and maybe ride on a vespa. The boredom of winter has really begun to hit, thus I've decided to ignore it and dream up a plausible scenario involving sun, architecture, sitting in outdoor cafés, drinking wine, and listening to good music with friends.

Of course, all whilst dressed head-to-toe in chic.

The checklist for this summer will include:

1) A floral bikini (though not tacky).

2) A white men's shirt to wear over said bikini.
3) Cropped blouses.
4) A-line skirts.
5) Killer hats and bags.
6) Kitten heels.
7) Cat-eye sunglasses, for everyday use.
8) A man who can drive a vespa.

This list will more than likely expand over the coming months.

Costume designers Ann Roth and Gary Jones really did an incredible job on this film (Oscar nomination incredible). In fact, Ann Roth is a bit of a legend, having worked on films such as Dressed to Kill (1980), Working Girl (1988), The English Patient (1996), The Stepford Wives (2004), Closer (2004), Mamma Mia! (2008), and endless amounts more. 

Brilliance.

The Icon: Marilyn Monroe in Some Like It Hot

If only I could take a train down south to play on the beach...
and nab a millionaire.

Some Like It Hot (1959) is one of my favourite films of all time. Not only is it a film made in the 50s that is set in the 20s, but it also presents the iconic Marilyn Monroe in one of her most famous (and most stylish) roles as the ditsy Sugar Kane Kowalczyk. 

Sugar may make bad decisions when it comes to men and booze, but she sure knows how to dress. 

Her best look is, without a doubt, the first outfit we see her in, when she's strutting her stuff before catching a train. Utterly iconic, and apparently wearable during chillier times. Style inspiration? Oh yes. 

Now, all I need to do is learn to play the ukulele and find an all-female band to travel across America with.

Cult Status: Lisa Marie in Ed Wood

Anyone who dresses like Morticia Addams is a goddess to me.

Ed Wood (1994) is by far my favourite Tim Burton film. It's quite un-Tim Burton-esque, which is probably why I love it so much.

And also because of Vampira (a.k.a. Lisa Marie, a.k.a. my ultimate inspiration).

If I had been working in Hollywood in the '50s, I would hope to have been Vampira. She is not only a style-inspiration, but a life-inspiration for me. 

Not only does she have amazing dresses, but she is extremely pale, wears dark make-up, has long blonde hair (but wears a black wig) AND carries an umbrella outside when the sun is shining (which is something I should start doing during the summer).

Vampira embodies everything fabulous the world has to offer.

You know what's even more fabulous about Vampira? The real-life Vampira was a Finnish woman. 

Yes. She is basically me (although exponentially more glamorous and chic).

The Inspiration: Marilyn Monroe in The Seven Year Itch

No matter how sweaty you get, it's vital to remain stylish.

It's hot. Like, really hot. 

So hot, as a matter of fact, that I've almost resorted to wearing tank-tops and tiny shorts when going outside. Almost. Haven't yet. Thank goodness.

Whenever I am tempted to leave the apartment looking like a fourteen year old, I remind myself of "The Girl" (a.k.a. Marilyn Monroe) in The Seven Year Itch (1955). 

She's constantly talking about how hot it is, but does she go out looking like a mess? No. She puts her undies in the icebox. Simple.

Never let heat get in the way of incredible style. If you must, stand over an air-vent to keep cool.