Cinematic Style: Felicity Jones in Like Crazy

In my sartorial adventures I'd like to say there's times I oscillate between wanting to dress like I'm a fully grown, exciting person who knows exactly what they like and what their 'style' is, and wanting to mess up my attempt at order intentionally just so I can feel as mismatched on the exterior as my mind is usually.  Mostly it's the latter just because my attraction to neutral basics means everything always matches even if I don't intend it.  I'm not really sure where I sit with the term 'style', and whether it's ingrained or if it grows as you grow or changes with you, but I definitely do think that it's something you possess whether it's consciously considered or not.  Now this isn't a revolutionary idea, but reflexively speaking I don't think anyone really ever closely examines why they've decided to change old sartorial habits or embrace new ones, aside from what society dictates.  We wear corporate attire to professional jobs, we wear something more comfortable on the weekend.  Most people don't consider what they used to wear five years ago on the weekend to what they do now, or even remember at all.  Is this a reflection of society mindlessly embracing trends, or do we just not stop to see how we've changed sartorially because it's perhaps vain?

Felicity Jones in Like Crazy is a perfect example of the sartorial changes adolescence and young adulthood present.  A story which explores the strains of a long-distance relationship over a period of seven or so years, Jones plays Anna, a British exchange student in Los Angeles who falls in love with local Jacob (played by Anton Yelchin).  Forced to return to London after overstaying her visa and attempting to return to the US, the film explores the depths of fledgling intimacy with emotional warmth, but also hope and despair as the two swim and sink in love.

What attracted me so much to Jones' style was her effervescence and poise on screen.  Her growth from a teenager to a twenty-something spans the passage of time and starts with untamed hair, mismatched jewellery, colour and loosely fitting shirts, and ends with classic silhouettes that are fitted, considered and neutral. Although older than her character in real life, the freshness of Jones remains like magic throughout the movie...I mean if I had her complexion at her age, let alone now, I'd probably be making sure my face was on the big screen too.

Saying that, while the passage of time in Like Crazy and the change of clothing indicates a transformation of physical maturity, if we pull this idea back into real life I don't think this is always the case intellectually.  Even in the film the intelligence of Anna shines through even when she's still a senior in college and an aspiring writer.  The change in sartorial aesthetics might be a reflection of the growth of the character, or a technique used to harbour the transition of time, but I really appreciate the film's decision to not change Anna's nature entirely to justify this.  It's effortless - perhaps contrary to the relationship - and allows for this really nice simplism of character whose depth isn't undermined at all.  Like Crazy was shot on a tiny budget, with Jones doing her own hair and make-up, and the dialogue entirely improvised.  This naturalism in film making - you judge whether it's extreme or not - isn't seen often and for that I really enjoyed watching Jones' character blossom.  Her wardrobe is uncomplicated, intelligent and gracious in thought.

take me there

Photo: Bobby Chen

somewhere
Level 2, Royal Arcade 314 Little Collins St, Melbourne

When you’re a student, and a lover of fashion, I can vouch two things: one, you probably have little money (…or none, I’m just being polite here); and two, you frequently receive the icy daggers of shop assistants who think you have little right to be in their store because of your appearance.  They might be able to presume your steamy liaison with aforementioned problem one, but that’s not the point.  Scuffed shoes and a baggy shirt with a hole in the armpit should not be your passport to belittlement.

And that’s where somewhere comes in.  Perched high above the Royal Arcade, this homage to Nordic style and design sits sleek in an airy white studio.  Don’t be intimidated by its appearance, though: somewhere provides some of the friendliest service encountered within Melbourne’s fashion scene, and has a distinct and carefully curated range of wearables to back it up. 

Local talent is combined with emerging and established designers from around the world to create a considered – and affordable – retail environment free from affectation, stocking labels such as Handsom, Cheap Monday, Why Red, Won Hundred, Carly Hunter and Resteröds.

somewhere’s cool and friendly nature is reflected in the sharp, classic aesthetic of its wearables.  And as if you needed anymore convincing, the store also has a gallery space aimed at supporting local artists and fostering an environment of collective creativity.  The accessibility of their retail endeavours, extended to young artists and designers alike, means that the two spaces symbiotically nurture creativity in a welcoming setting. 

Go visit somewhere and you’ll be assured a great experience in effortless design and clothing by some really cool people.  And what about the next time you’re in a store with a snotty shop assistant who faux compliments your appearance or new shirt as a totally transparent sales technique? Tell them you picked it up from ‘oh, somewhere’.

the meaning of it all

I went to France when I was sixteen for three weeks with my family, not knowing much about anything expect that it was obviously a very nice looking place...and that I could conjugate all my French verbs.  Fast forward four years and the more my memories of the trip become hazier and selective, the more I realise that all the architecture, elegance and urbanity of Paris had quite a subconscious influence on my personal aesthetic.  It's probably something I'll continue to wax-lyrical on this blog but when I look at my wardrobe and its predominant variations of black, grey, white, blue and tan I think this is only something that I created once I returned without even knowing it.

I don't know why it's taken me so long to write about the style icon I revere with great respect, but Sofia Coppola is definitely the one individual (that I don't know personally) I look to for inspiration in a lot of my creative endeavours.  That effortlessly-cool chic!  As foremost my favourite film director, Coppola has the creative influence across multiple channels that I've only ever dreamed of.  Despite this, all her work - as well as her personal aesthetic - is constructed with more thought than what appears on the surface, and is proof that minimalist chic doesn't belong solely to the French.  She's made black loafers, crisp unbuttoned shirts and tailored pants her absolute own and she pulls it off like no one else....so much so she can even collaborate with Louis Vuitton and create a stellar line of leather goods just as perfect.  Small pieces of jewellery and an always-perfect-and-simple bob make her look refined, comfortable and too-cool for words.  I think I'll just link you to this site before I explode because it probably sums up my argument quite nicely.

hello founder

I can't say too much about this lovely brand because they're little and new and I don't know a lot about them but what I do know is that they're great!  Let me introduce you to Founder The Third: a Melbourne-based design label doing super things for the local independent fashion scene.  As expected I really like them because they do good quality, affordable basics that possess a nice consideration of form and structure...and the shopgirls are lovely!  I'll compare them to Bassike, but depending on your price point are a little bit more accessible.  I'm interested in the challenge the local scene faces against larger, international, mass-produced brands so supporting local talent is always a plus - take a peek of this article on StreetFash, a super proponent for the cause.  After opening a pop-up store in Melbourne Central for a few months Founder have now relocated their store to coexist with their studio in Richmond, which is a great way of engaging consumers and closing the gap between production and consumption in a more sustainable way.  I'm definitely looking forward to watching them grow.

http://hellofounder.tumblr.com/