In 1974, not long after he founded his company, Ralph Lauren designed the costumes for The Great Gatsby. They launched a mini Jazz Age trend at the time and jump-started his career. Today, with Baz Luhrmann remaking the film—Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan are reprising the roles originally played by Robert Redford and Mia Farrow—Lauren took the opportunity to revisit the roaring twenties, half a year before the movie actually hits screens and everybody and his mother decides to "do" the decade themselves.
Both Daisy and Jay's wardrobes got an airing here. Since way back when, Lauren has always loved the feminine/masculine mix. On the Buchanan side of the story were wallpaper floral bias-cut dresses, timely pastel silk pajama pants, and "vintaged" cashmere sweaters with faux moth holes. For accessories: raffia platform sandals, embroidered and fringed bags, and delicate scarves tied tight at the neck. Lauren's girl Gatsbys had pinstriped three-piece suits with cropped pants, shorts, or full trousers to choose from and the occasional anachronism in the form of a pink leather Perfecto jacket.
The collection really came alive after dark. Glinting silver flapper dresses and column gowns looked tailor-made for the spotlight. Luhrmann's costume designer wife, Catherine Martin, is in charge of the clothes for the new movie, but Mulligan and her female co-stars need look no further than Lauren when it comes to red-carpet sparklers for the premiere circuit.
