Sally
Year: 2013
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Rating: 
In Baz Luhrmann’s epic adaptation of the classic novel, The Great Gatsby, one thing that stood out was the costume design. From the dazzling jewellery to the beautiful dresses, he outdid himself with his creative imagination and eye for style. Set in the Jazz Age era or the “Roaring Twenties” as they called it back in the day, women wore flapper dresses while men wore tuxedos and dark suits. Fashion played a big part in the cultural scene and that was well presented in the movie. Every piece of detail from the custom designed headpieces to the landscape settings, Luhrmann captured the essence of the 1920’s period and mesmerized the audience with his taste in clothes.
The outfits that Daisy Buchanan (Carey Mulligan) wore were impeccable. From the bejeweled gowns to the classy white gowns, she looked regal and sophisticated. Only Leonardo DiCaprio could pull off a pink suit as he sat waiting for Daisy with his bouquets of flowers. Every character dressed in clothes that fit their social class and personality. Jay Gatsby’s clothes reflected his wealth and social status. Daisy wore simple yet elegant clothes that represented her superiority and class. Nick Caraway (Tobey McGuire) represented the working class by wearing simple black suits. Mrytle dressed appropriately for her type of character and Jordan looked very polished.
Apart from the gorgeous costume design is the enthralling music soundtrack. Lana Del Rey’s “Young and Beautiful” song has a sensual vibe to summarize the movie up. It sounds nostalgic and bittersweet at the same time. The music captures the feeling of anxiety and desire as it goes from a dark mood to a lighter mood. Her vocals were great in this song and it had a lot of depth.
All in all, Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby was a fine movie and it will satisfy book fans with its close adaptation and visual effects. Go see it today if you haven’t already, it’s in 3D as well!
Photo by Anders Kristensen via Pexels