Tuesday, May 05, 2009

Fashion and Film - Lawrence of Arabia

The blockbuster film Lawrence of Arabia was released on January 30, 1963. The film ran 3 hours and 36 minutes long and won 7 Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director. In a clever twist on cross-marketing, the January 15, 1963 issue of Vogue magazine featured a group of advertisements with a Lawrence of Arabia theme called "The Chic of Araby". Evidently, the movie sparked an Arabian desert fashion trend.

Elizabeth Arden created a new orange shade in lipstick and nail polish that it called "Sheik - a lip shade only the chic will know."

"Rosalie Macrini shapes a wonderful swirl of white chiffon into the sweeping lines of the Far Eastern silhouette. Rich gold encrusted velvet bands waist and hood."

"Stella Sloat loves the Lawrence of Arabia look, in homespun.....Does the beach dress superb. With dash. Drama. In these bold, brilliant stripes."

"Branell reflects all the chic of Araby in a beautifully illuminated dress of desert sand Moygashel linen."

"B.H. Wragge interprets the new Lawrence of Arabia look in airy voile....A dramatic harem sheath. Magnificently draped, cool, crease-resistant. In sand with peach burnoose, or oasis blue with green."

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