Film Noir Style

The Killer 1940s

by Kimberly Truhler

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.

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Pub Date Jan 12 2021 | Archive Date Jan 12 2021

Arts & Photography | History

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Description

Film Noir Style: The Killer 1940s looks at the fashions of the femmes fatales who were so good at being bad, and the suits and trench coats of definitive noir actors such as Humphrey Bogart and Alan Ladd. Film and fashion historian Kimberly Truhler explores twenty definitive film noir titles from 1941 to 1950 and traces the evolution of popular fashion in the decade of the '40s, the impact of World War II on home-front fashion, and the influence of the film noir genre on popular fashion then and now. Meet not only the fabulous women of noir, including Betty Grable, Veronica Lake, Gene Tierney, Lauren Bacall, Barbara Stanwyck, Ava Gardner, and many others, but also the costume designers that created and recreated these famous stars as killers—and worse—through the clothes they wore.

A Note From the Publisher

Kimberly Truhler is an author, educator, guest speaker, and host of screening series on the History of Fashion in Film. An Adjunct Professor at Woodbury University and an expert for companies like Turner Classic Movies (TCM), Sony Pictures Television, the National Film Registry, BBC Worldwide, and Christie's auction house, Truhler has been interviewed by publications ranging from the New York Post to Elle Canada. In 2019, she was featured throughout CNN's docu-series American Style. Her book Film Noir Style comes out October 2020 and she is a contributor for the upcoming Encyclopedia of Film and Television Costume Design. Follow Kimberly at GlamAmor.com and @GlamAmor on social media.

Kimberly Truhler is an author, educator, guest speaker, and host of screening series on the History of Fashion in Film. An Adjunct Professor at Woodbury University and an expert for companies like...

Available Editions

EDITION	Other Format
ISBN	9781732273597
PRICE	$45.00 (USD)
PAGES	288

Additional Information

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Featured Reviews

Literary R, Reviewer

Alas, I could not open the file for FILM NOIR STYLE. I so wanted to see the clothing of 1940s femme fatales and their shady male counterparts. So I read everything I could find online about the book and the look.

Truhler, a fashion historian, suggests this genre was influenced by German Expressionism as well as the designers who made costumes that defined the characters and films. Think sexy black gowns, structured suits with shoulder pads, double-breasted trench coats for actors like Bogart.

The author uses 20 films to illustrate how style evolved from 1941 to 1950, impacted by WWII and its rationing, as well as the severity of noir. We also get to meet the actresses and actors of the era and the designers themselves who had such enormous influence.

5 of 5 Stars for the cover and the intriguing concept.

Pub Date 29 Sep 2020

Thanks to the author, GoodKnight Books, and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

#FilmNoirStyle #NetGalley

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Lauren S, Reviewer

Film Noir Style: The Killer 1940s by Kimberly Truhler is a fascinating read. I can't resist the film noir genre, hard-boiled crime fiction, or anything noir-esque if we're being honest so I knew I needed to give this a try as soon as I saw it. I enjoyed looking at the still photos, reading about the history of the films, and all about the fashion designs that helped make the film come to life. I didn't learn a whole lot of new to me information because like I've said I really like the genre and its background. That said it's still worth picking up if you're interested in the genre and I added a few noir movies I've never had the chance to see before to my watchlist.