Summary
Caroline Young is a Scottish journalist and author, passionate about fashion and Alfred Hitchcock. The exchange is readily pointed: we each noted lots of small, significant details on the “Birds” costumes.We also discuss other subjects: Hollywood style, old films, Prince Charles and even the famous Scottish group Arab Strap , whom I was already able to interview in another life. But we agree on one thing as a priority: if you are closely interested in clothing, the cinema of Alfred Hitchcock is a highly recommended place to better understand the close links that unite fashion and cinema . Caroline Young tells you.
“I have always been a fan of Alfred Hitchcock films since I was a teenager. The first film I saw was I think “ Rear Window ” and I loved it. From there, Hitchcock became one of my favorite directors. As for fashion, what captivated me most were the stories related to costumes in classic films . I became very interested in it by reading about costume designers like Adrian or Edith Head and watching all the films from the 30s. I wrote a book called “Classic Hollywood Style” in 2012.
I also worked at Herald's in Glasgow writing about fashion. I have written other books, on the tartan pattern for example. When it came to Alfred Hitchcock, I combined all my interests: a love of cinema and a love of fashion . I published a book on Hitchcock's heroines in 2018, which particularly observes women and their style in the filmmaker's films, how he constructed their image, etc.
Actually, I'm interested in both Alfred Hitchcock and Edith Head . It therefore seemed logical to me to combine the two, especially since there was no book exclusively devoted to these two characters. Their image is so iconic, more than anyone behind the scenes of Hollywood and its golden age.
Edith Head is a creator who has always loved listening to directors, producers and actresses. That's why she was so successful: she took people's opinions into account, she was also always very receptive. When she knew what a director wanted, she would try to help him translate his artistic vision.
She also designed clothes that actresses felt comfortable in . I don't really imagine that there could have been much conflict between her and him. I also think she had strong powers of persuasion and a similar point of view to Hitchcock regarding clothing. They should not be too tight or too flashy or revealing .
Edith Head never created very creatively innovative costumes. It was still pretty classic. She didn't want the films and costumes to be dated, obsolete. His work was in line with what Hitchcock was looking for. She understood him and I think that's why they worked on 11 films together. »
What to look for in terms of style
When Caroline Young is asked about the costumes for “Birds”, she describes their uniqueness with astonishing precision, as if she had seen this film hundreds of times. Like all of the filmmaker's work, nothing is left to chance in the “Birds” dressing room. A short review of the main things to observe, told by Caroline Young herself.
1. The style of Tippi Hedren, the ideal Hitchcockian blonde
“We find in “The Birds” everything that makes Hitchcock’s women’s clothing style particular. Tippi Hedren completely embodies the Hitchcockian heroine . By the time the film was made, Hitchcock had worked with Edith Head on a number of films. I think she was really listening to what he was looking for and how he wanted to represent the women in this story on screen.
Tippi Hedren was the ideal blonde for him. He wanted her to become the new Grace Kelly. A good part of what she wears in “The Birds” is also a reference to the style and outfits of Grace Kelly in “Rear Window”: we find the outfits, the pearls, the blonde hair . It's the same elegance, even though Tippi Hedren's clothes are particularly mistreated in "The Birds": her suit is torn and soiled by bird attacks.
Basically, I think Alfred Hitchcock always liked the idea that an impeccably dressed woman in the foreground could then be tortured on screen. Tippi Hedren's clothes are in a way part of the story: they show the ordeal she is going through .
Tippi Hedren only has a few costumes in the film. She first wears a black suit. It has something of Chanel in the style. Some have seen in this outfit, its material and its texture, an obvious link with the color and plumage of crows . We can also hear these birds croaking in the air at the beginning of the film.
She then wears a fur coat and a pale green outfit. Tippi Hedren's fur coat is reminiscent of Tallulah Bankhead's character in another Hitchcock film, " Carlos Castillo's Very Inspiring." Then because I already own a Kennedy jacket from the Spanish brand and I wouldn't be against a second one. There's the added bonus of Kennedy inspiration in it, which goes well with Hitchcock's original idea for his character's look.
We can, however, look to Drake's for other inspirations, always just like above. Or from brands more traditionally associated with tweed like Thomas Farthing or Walker Slater. For other fall jacket options, you can also look at our small selection below.
2. Cargo pants
Another interesting piece to discover in Rod Taylor's wardrobe: military-inspired pants, with cargo-type pockets placed a little higher than what we usually see. Note that it is green in color. You can probably find similar models in the vintage section, in military thrift stores for example or possibly at Brut Clothing .
It is of course possible to find more contemporary cargo pants, and not necessarily green. There are many brands, in all cuts and materials. These are versatile pants, easy to wear and in different registers : workwear, sportswear, rock, or even why not a bit of all of that at the same time.
3. Workwear boots
One last wonder to remember from Rod Taylor's wardrobe in “The Birds”: a pair of workwear-inspired brown leather shoes . It's the perfect pair of shoes for this type of adventure. The American brand Red Wing has of course specialized in this type of all-terrain shoe. But you can find them at many other brands, from Alden to Jacques & Déméter . In passing, you will notice in the photograph below the simplicity of the outfit. Brown, green, white - the white being present through the socks and the white shirt , which we could also choose in Oxford.
We can nevertheless prefer less rustic models. Question of style and affinities. This is a problem that comes up regularly: what to choose between workwear and dress boots, and how to wear them? The answer may be found for you in the article below.
