Brideshead Revisited

The big-screen adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's 1945 novel revolves around the travails of an aristocratic English family ruled by an imperious matriarch who insists that her children live by her strict code of Catholicism.

Daughter Julia Flyte (Hayley Atwell) displays a hint of rebellion in her first moments onscreen through her modern flapper bob, although her initial costumes are dominated by a virginal white palette.

For the pivotal scenes set in Venice where Julia falls in love with her brother's best friend, however, costume designer Eimer Ni Mhaoldomhnaigh upped the bohemian sensuality of the character's costumes.

She unearthed vintage silk panels embroidered with vivid Japanese motifs in a Parisian flea market, which were then appliqued onto silk satin and made into a 1920s-style dress for Julia.

The result is a striking mix of the Oriental exotic and a modern cut, signalling the character's imminent break from her mother's uncompromising faith.

The embroidered creation was 'so apt, so appropriate', the costume designer told Britain's Telegraph newspaper. 'I knew everything else would fall into place.'

Australia

The latest epic directed by Baz Luhrmann, set in World War II era Australia, features 2,000 costumes by costume designer Catherine Martin who is known for her work in Moulin Rouge.

The headlining outfits will be worn by star Nicole Kidman, who plays an uptight aristocrat who inherits a ranch Down Under.

To reflect the character's prim nature, Martin designed period costumes with high, buttoned collars and precise fits, several inspired by Chinoiserie influences like Mandarin collars.

Italian label Salvatore Ferragamo supplied her shoes and accessories, and will be adding one of these shoe designs to its holiday collection.

Martin has also reproduced one of the movie's gowns for retail: The green organza dress was featured on the cover of July's American Vogue and just four of these garments were sent to luxury retailer Bergdorf Goodman, where they were priced at US$9,850 (S$13,800).

All prim and proper, there's not a mini skirt in sight on actresses in movies Brideshead Revisited (top picture), Australia (left), Quantum Of Solace (right), and Twilight (below).

Quantum Of Solace

Flamboyant American designer Tom Ford is replacing the Italian house of Brioni to tailor sharper, slimmer suits for the James Bond in this British spy's latest screen outing due out in cinemas on Nov 7.

However, the Bond girls won't be strutting their stuff a la Ursula Andress and Halle Berry in their skimpy bikinis. Instead, costume supervisor Lindsay Pugh decided on 'toned-down starkness with unfussy lines and no frills', she told The Telegraph.

Actress Gemma Arterton plays a fellow agent dressed in classics like a Burberry trenchcoat and a black Prada shift from the Italian label's last autumn/winter collection (American Vogue editor Anna Wintour reportedly has the same dress in different colours). Ukrainian actress Olga Kurylenko also dons a little black dress from Prada in her femme fatale role, as well as threads by British designer Jasper Conran, who is known for his classy, accessible style.

Twilight

There are more than a few local fashion journalists who are besotted with the Twilight series by American writer Stephenie Meyer, so it is only a matter of time before teen heroine Bella Swan's big-screen debut in local cinemas in December starts making waves in the style stakes.

Granted, the main reason women are entranced by these four vampire novels - Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn - is dreamy vampire hunk Edward Cullen.

The long-suffering, all-too-human Bella, played by Kristen Stewart in the Hollywood adaptation, is but a convenient surrogate for this collective female adoration.

Costume designer Wendy Chuck outfitted her elfin teen star in casual threads from labels like Miss Sixty, Guess and Nordstrom Rack.

'As she gets involved with the Cullens, her wardrobe progresses to cooler blues and grey-blues and some romantic elements like the floral embroidery on her shirts,' Chuck told In Style magazine. The showstopping garment for this wallflower: a cobalt-blue ruffled prom dress that is both sweet and striking.

TAKE A CUE FROM TV TOO

The goggle box is giving style vibes too. Here are two TV shows that are creating waves in the fashion world.

Mad Men

This cult Emmy-winning drama series about the advertising industry in the 1960s will be airing on Starhub cable channel FX every Wednesday from next week.

The two-year-old show has already inspired designers such as Michael Kors with its exquisite costumes.

To crib style tips from this show, look no further than its trio of central female characters.

Actress January Jones plays a desperate housewife and former model who always looks immaculate in her curls and waist-cinched dresses, while voluptuous secretary Joan (Christina Hendricks) works her curves in expertly tailored shifts in striking colours.

Copywriter Peggy (Elizabeth Moss) does timeless geek chic. Just skip the drab colours and her A-line skirts, proper blouses and girlish ponytail will look just as good for the 21st century.

It's all over the grapevine: Gossip Girl (right) is drawing fans with its posh schoolgirl look, while the actresses in Mad Men (left) make 1960s retro look chic again.

Gossip Girl

This TV show about rich Manhattan high school cliques may not be a mainstream hit yet, but the style of its young, telegenic stars has made a big impact on fans, retailers and designers. It is currently showing on mioTV in Singapore.

The posh schoolgirl look touted by the show is not quite the tarty Lolita version modelled by Britney Spears in her salad days.

Stars Blake Lively and Leighton Meester pair their school uniforms (think plaid skirts and smart blazers) with bold accessories like bright, patterned tights, Christian Louboutin heels and trendy It bags.

'The show has had a profound influence on retail,' Stephanie Solomon, the fashion director of department store Bloomingdale's, told the New York Times (NYT) earlier this year. The NYT reported that 'the show has given mass appeal to patrician staples like crested blazers, layered polo shirts and kilts. When cooler days approach, some retailers are predicting a run on argyle sweaters, knee socks and high boots'.

This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times on Oct 31, 2008.