Girls in 50s West Side Story Inspired Fashion
Beingness vintage lovers, nosotros study movies to proceeds insights into the past. When we look at West Side Story, it's the 1950s era-appropriate costumes that leap out. Legendary costume designer Irene Scharaff designed the costumes for both the stage and movie versions. And she kept it real. The jeans were by Levis. The shirts were custom dyed Van Heusen. The shoes were Keds and Capezios.
Most the motion picture: West Side Story has a serious vintage pedigree. The film version came out in 1961. It was adapted from the original 1957 Broadway play, which was based upon Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare'due south original love story from 1595. It's non just vintage, it'due south celebrated!
A classic musical if in that location e'er was 1, West Side Story gives Romeo and Juliet a mod-solar day twist switching upward feuding families to rival teenage gangs.
The moving picture is set in 1957 on Manhattan'due south West Side, with rival gangs the Jets and Sharks taking heart stage alongside the New York Police. The Jets and Sharks brawl is interrupted by the police force. They agree to meet and rumble at an upcoming trip the light fantastic. Instead of brawling, Tony, a quondam member of the Jets, and Maria, the sister of the Sharks leader, fall in love.
The rumble later happens under a highway and members of both gangs are left dead equally the police go far. Meanwhile Tony and Maria are planning to elope. Just like in Shakespeare'south original in that location is a misunderstanding that turns fatal. In this example, Tony is shot dead by Maria'due south fiancé Chino, and Maria is left to mourn her love. Thus ending the movie with a funeral procession and the arrest of Chino.
The street fashions of the tardily 1950s that Irene Scharaff brought to the stage and screen were both authentic yet designed to heighten the production. The Jets wore Baracuta jackets, dungarees, and t-shirts in shades blueish and xanthous while the Sharks wore like attire in bolder colors of deep red and purple.
The Sharks
The Jets
The girls from both gangs wore colorful dresses in shades of pinks, reds, blues, and yellows. Maria's white eyelet wearing apparel with a bright cherry chugalug is an middle-communicable piece in its simplicity. While Anita'due south (Rita Moreno) fabled pink silk dress is a real stunner.
Natalie Forest as Maria
Rita Moreno as Anita
Any of Irene Scharaff 's wardrobe choices would easily fit into our current civilization. The Baracuta jacket is still fabricated today and the classic look of jeans and t-shirts has held upwards over fourth dimension. The elementary designs of dresses worn by Natalie Forest and Rita Moreno are timeless, with a fitted bodice and full skirt, they volition never become out of fashion. If you are looking to recreate these styles here are some vintage clothing items to get y'all started.
For trivia buffs
It was originally titled East Side Story and was virtually an ill-fated romance between a Cosmic boy and a Jewish girl.
Natalie Wood but got the part of Maria after Audrey Hepburn turned it down due to pregnancy.
Leonard Bernstein, the show'southward composer, and Jerome Robbins, choreographer, and managing director of the Broadway play and co-manager of the movie, both had a history of confronting racism in their work.
For those who can't get enough of this timeless story, there is a remake in the works past managing director Steven Speilberg.
Extra Credit
Read more about Irene Sharaff's costume designs here.
Read a piece from The Atlantic about the short-lived March 2020 Broadway revival hither.
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