From Pan Am to Jackie O
The delightfulness of the colder seasons, not only brings Starbucks red cups, fur stoles and checked blankets. It is also offers a wondrous selection of television offerings. It is hard work, to tell you the truth, what with Gossip Girl, Boardwalk Empire, Frozen Planet, The Young Apprentice and Masterchef... and believe me the list most definitely goes on. My Sky+ planner is heaving under the strain of it all, plus it doesn't help that you can't record 4 shows at once.
I like BBC2, in particular the foodie shows and documentaries. They don't seem to get enough publicity though, so I was very excited for the season premiere of Pan Am. In a nutshell, it is a series based in 1960's America and focuses on the lives of the employees of Pan American World Airways. If you like Mad Men and Boardwalk Empire, you should immediately add this to the list. Also, if you're craving a bit of Mad Men induced fever, I promise you will enjoy this. It has a good plot, including work dramas, lust and good old espionage, but of course I'm going to talk about the fashion.
For 20th Century fashion, I tend to stick to the 20s, 40s and 50s as my decades of choice. But, the beginning of the 1960's still had many of the looks from the 50s and focused on a ladylike, elegant and glamourous mood, emphasised by Hollywood films. The late 60s gave rise to the mod movement in London, and designs catered for a younger generation that wanted to break free from their parents. Pan Am is set in the early 60s and this is reflected in the clothes, that are influenced by the femininity of the pieces in the 50s.
Pan Am primarily shows the glamorous cast including Christina Ricci, Kelli Garner and Margot Robbie, in their signature blue uniform. This uniform alone is gorgeous with the jaunty haunt, and perfectly fitted skirt suit. But, the fun really begins when they are off duty, which just so happens to be in in fabulous and often exotic locations. The flip hairstyle and the beehive are very prevalent, especially when worn with dresses with flared dresses, pencil skirts, elegant florals and stunning pearls. Ane Crabtree, the costume designer has done a great job in showcasing the glamour of travel and the jet age through the use of fashion.
The series also includes momentous changes in society and culture at the time, including the presidency of John F. Kennedy. His wife Jacqueline Kennedy or commonly known now as Jackie O, was a style icon at the time and for the first time fashion was a subject for debate in the presidential elections between the wives of the candidates. During her time as First Lady, she favoured pillbox hats, shift dresses, pea coats and round necklines. You can see her influence in the choices of the Pan Am character's wardrobes. Even after her time as First Lady, she still maintained icon status by her effortless ability to look polished and refined.
Quite often 1960s fashion is often remembered for Yves Saint Laurent's Mondrian dress, Mary Quant miniskirts and Biba. Prada's collection for Autumn/Winter 2011 also emphasised the drop waist, geometric dresses favoured at the time. Pan Am serves as a lovely reminder that youth and mod culture was not the only look to come out of decade, especially for those of us who crave a little American glamour from time to time.
Photos: Courtesy of ABC (Pan Am) & Harpers Bazaar (Jackie Kennedy)
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