50s Fashion From The Help

Hi hi! Have you watched this movie called The Help? It's a 2009 Academy Awards winning movie, directed by Tate Taylor and starring Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Jessica Chastain.  

The Help poster

Maybe you can guess from the poster that this movie is set in the early 1960s era? Early 1960s is still pretty much influenced by the 1950s, and I LOVE 1950s era! The women, the norms and manners (even though some are quite restrictive :p), and especially, the fashion. I can't describe enough with words how much I love 50s fashion. The bold colors, super feminine cut and patterns, roses, bow ties, polkadots, pearls, bright lips and lovely locks..... I can go on and on and on about 50s fashion!

Anyway, I first knew about this movie because Emma Stone plays in it. She's one of my favorite actresses, and I thought I will watch this movie just because she plays in it. However, after I watched this movie, I was blown by its story and the characters.

This movie is set in early 1960s era during the Civil Rights movement, in Jackson, Mississippi. It revolves around the lives of several black maids working for privileges white women, and how these white ladies treat their "help" with racism. Then, there's this white girl who is part of the white ladies social group, who wants to be a journalist instead of typical housewives, and wants to make the maids' experiences serving the white ladies into a book.

Okay, now with the fashion. The characters in this movie have different personalities and it's reflected in their fashion style.

1. Hilly Holbrook

Super girly dress

At the Charity Ball 

Matching accessories!

Hilly Holbrook is the main antagonist in this movie. She's gossipy and snotty, and just plainly mean. However, I must say I like her clothing style the most!!! She wears the prettiest dress with pretty florals and bow ties and perfect hairdo all the time. Super loveeeeeee <3

Her clothing style mostly consists of fit and flare dress with bold and sweet patterns, with perfect bouffant hair and matching accessories. I'm really in love with the dress she's wearing in the first photo above, it perfectly pictures the typical Southern Belles!

To get Hilly's look, try Bernie Dexter's dresses. Bernie Dexter has the most amazing vintage inspired dresses, and I've been dying to get one of her piece. Saving up my money now!!! I think this dress is very Hilly!

2. Celia Foote

Super cute and playful!

Sexy dress + red lips = <3 

Blouse and pencil skirt in feminine hue

Super glamour evening dress

Celia is called "white trash" by Hilly and her girlfriends because she came from a working-class family and got married with Hilly's ex-boyfriend. Warm and friendly, Celia depicts her personality through her playful and sexy fashion style. Bright colors and silhouette that shows her voluptuous body are Celia's signature style. Think Marilyn Monroe!

To get Celia's look, go with anything fitted, and show your cleavage proudly, ladies! ;) Try this dress and pair it with your heels and add some sparkly jewelries to accessorize it.

3. Skeeter Phelan

The unconventional Skeeter Pheelan 

Simple shirt dress and belt

Tailored jacket and skirt

Skeeter is the unconventional woman of the 60s. She aspires to be a journalist, unlike all of her girlfriends who think the purpose of going to university is only to find husbands. Skeeter's fashion style is more simple compared to her housewives girlfriends, and she prefers earthy-colored shirtdress with comfy cardigans over flowery dress. She also often wears clothing with details on the collar and tailored looking jackets.

To get her look, try this cute dress with adorable collar detail, or this office-friendly dress. Pair those with cat eye glasses and boxy handbag to get the professional journalist look.

4. Elaine Stein

Sophisticated Miss Stein

Elaine Stein is Skeeter's editor who lives in New York and works as editor for Harper & Row. Sophisticated and intelligent, Stein's fashion style really reminds me of Coco Chanel! This suit from Chanel's 2011 RTW collection really suits Miss Stein!

5. Aibileen Clark and Minny Jackson

Minny and Aibileen

Aibileen's simple day dress

Aibileen and Minny are the first maids who wanted to share their stories to Skeeter for her book. They mostly wear maid uniforms throughout the movie, but on some off-work scenes, you can tell they have their own fashion style.

Aibileen and Minny's dresses are more simple and practical compared to their employers, however they have the gracefulness and modesty in it. Go with neutral color dresses and pillbox hats to achieve their look! Try these authentic vintage dresses from Dulcetfig, they have lovely dresses that are practical enough to be worn as daily wear :)

Beside the fashion, I also love the decor from this movie. Look at this pink bathroom! It's Hilly's of course...

Matchy match pink bathroom <3

And also this kitchen from Skeeter's house...

Love the color theme!

So yeah, I really recommend this movie for all vintage lovers out there! Heck, even if you don't like vintage, it is still a very nice movie to watch x) Racism is always ugly and this movie shows beautifully how ugly it is.

Okie then, see you soon, girlies! :)

Love,

Chikka

Disclaimer: All of the scaled-down, low-res images above are owned by The Help movie, and are used in this blog under Fair Use to provide critics and reviews of the movie, ruled under United States Copyright Law.

p.s. My life post Lasik. Check it here :)