Mise-en-scene #2- Costuming

☆ Costuming ☆

Costuming within my film opening is the way in which authenticity is created within the 1950s atmosphere that my opening is set in. Therefore, every detail of costuming is required to be reflective of the time while simultaneously developing character within the opening, reinforcing the femininity and innocence of the central character, Darlene. In order to achieve this aspect of mise-en-scene, I decided to approach the elements of costuming that are most important to develop authenticity and character by precisely selecting the wardrobe, makeup, and hair styling. 

Clothing

Darlene's costume for the film opening is a vintage-inspired, pastel blue striped dress aligning with the classic 1950s silhouette. The dress has features that contribute to Darlene's delicacy and youthfulness such as the cinched waist, puffy sleeves and the full, short skirt. The pastel blue color coordinates to color theory as the more soft color tones symbolize innocence which are fit to the traits of Darlene. The stripes within the dress serve as an important detail to the 1950s style, maintaining the visual pleasance and elegance associated with her wardrobe. Along with the dress pairing ballet-style flats as well as dainty pearl earrings will accentuate the 1950s patterns and put emphasis on Darlene's feminine and gentle look. 

Here is the dress:

Makeup

During the 1950s, the makeup look was soft, focusing on enhancing natural features. For Darlene, this will be a light coverage foundation base and a soft rosy blush to enhance the youthful features she holds. For the eyes, there will be a subtle eyeliner and light mascara to maintain delicacy within the eye makeup. For the lips, a darker red lip will be used in order to align with makeup trends during the fifties. To remain authentic, nothing glossy will be used due to the lack of glossy lip product being made. In order for Darlene's character to remain with the naive and youthful looks, she will utilize a lighter shade of red, leaning more toward the pink side. Overall, the makeup look of the central character, Darlene will be soft, yet refined, in order to correlate to the films era while keeping her traits untouched. 

Here are a few visuals to help picture the makeup look:

Hair Styling

Hairstyling within my film opening is another crucial part to retaining an authentic 1950s atmosphere. For Darlene, this will be a classic 1950s look being a soft curl to reflect her youth as well as elegance that was treasured in the fifties. The loose, but voluminous curls will be styled in a slightly side part in order to achieve that 1950s classic style. The hair will be accessorized with a small bow or a headband to align with not only Darlene's feminine qualities, but to reflect the 1950s mise-en-scene with these small, yet careful details. 

Here is a visual representation of my inspiration:

Posts, V. M. (2023, October 7). 1950s Makeup: The Best Tricks. The Wandering Antiquarian. https://thewanderingantiquarian.wordpress.com/2022/07/22/the-ultimate-guide-to-1950s-makeup-2/

Sessions, D. L. (2001, May 1). 1950s Hairstyles – 50s Hairstyles from Short to Long. Vintage Dancer. https://vintagedancer.com/1950s/1950s-hairstyles/