Vintage fashion fans have been going crazy waiting for the Baz Luhrmann adaption of the 1925 novel by F Scott Fitzgerald... and the trailer is finally here! His production is the fourth cinematic version of this classic American book.
The original (silent) film adaption was released a year after the book was published.
A second adaption was filmed in 1949, with costumes designed by legendary Hollywood costumier Edith Head.
Gene Tierney was originally lined up to play the role of Daisy Buchanan, but was dropped from production when the studio decided her beauty would be a distraction from the plot. Here's the evidence:
In 1974 it was remade with the leading stars of the time, Robert Redford and Mia Farrow, from a screenplay written by Francis Ford Coppola (although Truman Capote was also lined up for the job). Despite the heavyweight names and sumptuous sets, the movie was not a success.
Here is the trailer for Lurhmann's new movie, starring Leonardo di Caprio, Carey Mulligan and Tobey Maguire. It looks fantastic and although the Jay-Z soundtrack won't sit well with everyone, Luhrmann made Fatboy Slim work for Moulin Rouge back in 2001.
The movie's costume designer is award-winning Catherine Martin - Lurhmann's wife and longtime collaborator. The fashion in the film had a strong influence on the Spring Summer 2012 runway shows, in particular the Ralph Lauren collection.
We have got our hands on an original 1920s ivory ostrich feather cape, in fantastic condition. The cape won't be online for a few weeks but if you want to make an appointment for our studio, please get in touch. To give an idea of what it looks like, it's almost identical to the one from Ralph Lauren's SS12 show:
But ours would have been worn to all those Jazz Age parties... if clothes could talk! To quote the book: 'They looked back at me, remotely, possessed by intense life'. A beautiful piece of fashion history.
UPDATE: the ostrich feather cape sold earlier this year. Here is a photograph of our model wearing it with this dress:
