Reel style: Life imitating art

With the Oscars around the corner, it's no wonder that my thoughts of the cinematic and sartorial collide. Below is a retrospective of past looks alongside the brilliant movie costuming that inspired them.

Movie photo credit: Atonement, Gone with the Wind, 

Batman Begins, Casablanca.

Movie costuming can be just as important as the dialogue and action in a movie, so much so that the clothing becomes an explicit expression of the character's psyche and actions. And some clothing will always be synonymous with its movie title. Where would  "Annie Hall" be without Diane Keaton's menswear, or "The Seven Year Itch" without Marilyn's white halter dress, or "The Graduate" without Mrs. Robinson's fur coat (or ahem, pantyhose)?

Do you find inspiration from movie style, and if so, which films? Will you be watching the Oscars this Sunday? 

Here's looking at you, kids,

Reel style: The Darjeeling Limited

I know there's a lot of adoration for Wes Anderson movies in the blogosphere already, but my favorite of his works has to be "The Darjeeling Limited" for the scope of its cinematography. The plot centers around three estranged American brothers (Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzmann and Adrien Brody) who, a year after their father dies, embark on a train vacation through India to experience their own spiritual awakenings and become closer to each other.

What's fantastic about the movie is that its cinematography is in extremes: most of the brothers' journey is within the confines of a train and in the expanse of India's dusty terrains. I particularly admire the costuming as well -- the brothers' practical dark suits contrast their brooding grief to the country's bright, jewel-toned paints and marketplaces.

All photos from Fox Searchlight.