OffChance

‘IF…’ is an attempt to cancel out the power of the wrinkled t-shirt, stale-coffee film nerd brigade and provide a playful template for the fashionable cinephile. It's a psychic collaboration between fashion and film culture, with a flair for the theatrical and a Letterboxd kid’s enthusiasm for the movies. It’s paying attention to what Paul Mescal thinks about short shorts. It is trying to decide if Barbiecore is ever really over, or if pink is forever. It’s dreaming of the perfect Sophia Loren-bodiced summer sundress.

Written by film critic Christina Newland, this monthly column is a loving homage to Diana Vreeland’s legendary ‘Why Don’t You…’, from Harper’s Bazaar of the 60s, wherein the style maven took it upon herself to give readers fashion & lifestyle tips of an extravagant nature. Inspired by dirtbag film-logo baseball caps, John Waters’ colour palette, Don Draper’s conversation pit, Giallo victims in thigh-high leather boots, Sofia Coppola’s gauzy girlhood prettiness, Almodovar heroines in shocking eyeshadow, and printed film festival tote bags with a pile of Haribo and ticket stubs at the bottom. ‘IF…' is an exploration of the past and the present of what’s stylish in, at, and around the movies.

So, without further adieu, IF…

IF... you’re in the market for an achingly cool coffee table book, look no further than this selection of essays on what directors where to work. Including Akira Kurosawa wearing his own name on a bomber jacket, and Spike Lee’s best fits, you need this new A24 tome, How Directors Dress.

IF… you want a Brat Girl summer but aren’t sure where to start, take a leaf out of Harmony Korine’s playbook, from the work costume designer Heidi Bivens did on Spring Breakers to the infrared neon colour palette of Aggro Dr1ft. The beauty is that there's no strict definition. It’s messy. It’s luxury (speedboats and champagne) it’s trashy (cheap cigs and a white top with no bra, as Charlie XCX said herself). Brands like Miista and Akyx Studio get it. So go ahead, be chaotic.

IF... you’re a man thinking that you can’t pull off short shorts because you don't have the Roman Gladiator-esque thighs of Paul Mescal, think again. I’m a big advocate for men dressing provocatively, and as a recent rewatch of Richard Linklater’s Everybody Wants Some has reaffirmed, there’s nothing better than a man in slutty sportswear. Just find the right cut and waist line and it’s flattering to all. Confidence is key. Don't be shy...

IF... you prefer a natural pop of colour rather than an uber-glazed and lined look for your pout, you should check out Augustinus Bader’s beauty collab with Sofia Coppola. They've created three shades which reflect her casual-but-polished personal aesthetic.

IF… you’re mourning the passing of Anouk Aimee, 92 year old icon of films like Fellini’s 8 ½ and Jacques Demy’s Lola, pay homage in this Le Specs pair of hyper-sixties cat eye glasses. An immediate level up on intimidating vibes. If you've chosen a Brat Summer, we got you covered.

IF... you shack up with a man, as I just have, (for my sins), make sure he keeps you well-stocked in Sancerre, 70s Cosmo magazines, and the new 4K of American Gigolo. Heaven!

IF… you need a budget-friendly way to incorporate Wes Anderson pastel into your home decor, then it’s really very simple: Maison Boissier candy.

IF… you (like anyone with sense), want to copycat the scruffy chic from The Bikeriders, try: classic biker boots. (o-rings only, accept no substitutes). Genderless and iconic, you can pair them with a leather waistcoat and flowing skirt á la Jodie Comer on the press tour. Alternatively, tie a scarf with a classic knot around the neck, combined with a black leather midi skirt. (A bit like Traci Lord in Crybaby.)

IF… you want to look like what Patti Smith once called ‘a barbed wire fence on fire’, invest in a LBD and spike pumps, Jeanne Moreau-in-Mademoiselle-style. Opt for a nipped waist for 60's glamour, or try this playful corset number if you want to feel like 90s Monica Belluci on her day off.

IF… you’re as picky as I am about graphic tees, go to Brit film/streetwear label SCRT. They do it right. A ruthlessly chic friend of the column, (she only smokes pink & gold cigarettes), informs us that a Lanthimos drop is forthcoming.

And finally, IF... you were vibing to the techno soundtrack of Challengers, here you are. Produced by Trent Raznor and Atticus Ross of Nine Inch Nails, (yes, you read that right.) It's the perfect, relentlessly energetic soundtrack to put on while getting ready for a summer night out.

See you in August!

C