Trendy Colours in a '50s film (from the British Pathé Archives)

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There is so much talk about fashion and film in the industry at the moment.

Sadly many of the videos (or "films") recently produced do not have any real cinematic value, but are essentially sequences of stylish shots and close ups of clothes that leave you very cold (think about the Miu Miu film "The Powder Room", the first in a series entitled "Women's Tales").

While searching for something else in the British Pathé archives, I stumbled upon this video that, I must admit, looks a bit like a proper fashion film (check out the opening titles - aren't they cute?).

Shot in the 50s and directed by Terry Ashwood, the video is entitled "Paris - City of Fashion" and features designs by Christian Dior, Schiaparelli, Balenciaga, Balmain, Jacques Fath, Nina Ricci, Worth, Rochas and Paquin, just to mention a few.

The film a group of models from the morning till the evening, showing them resting in a park, walking in the street, at the local flower market or taking part in more mundane events such as cocktails and parties.

The designs showcased in the newsreeel - all accessorised with striking hats - are extremely beautiful: most of them are characterised by dramatic silhouettes (please pay attention at the voluminous sleeves and asymmetrical necklines, but also at the batwinged hooded cape and the coat and dress with "a hint of Oriental pagodas").

I particularly found interesting the bright colours of some of the designs featured in the film as they seem to call to mind the nuances in trend for the Spring/Summer 2011 season (check out for example the "Solid States" editorial in the February 2011 issue of Surface Magazine) - vibrant green, red and yellow included. Click on the following image to watch the film. Enjoy!