sooo...does anyone know if the super-rich are really as into ready-to-wear brands as the characters in this movie? If I had that kind of money, I'd have custom-made clothes, not be sporting logos all over my body. I do notice that these kinds of expensive boutiques have a huge presence in most major cities, however. Do you think the clothes and accessories were true to life, or just a result of product placement deals?
shareI don't think any of the characters actually wore logos. The logos showed up on shopping bags and in conversation, but were never really part of the clothes themselves. I imagine that expensive designer logos acting as status symbols are less common among the wealthy in France than they are in America, where the style is less subtle. Aside from the ever-recognizable Birkin bag worn by Madeleine, I didn't really notice anything that looked like product placement.
As for the "super rich being into ready-to-wear brands" as they are in the film, I'd guess that they are. The clothes in the film were beautiful---why should anyone think twice about wearing them?
Her?
You didn't see the interlocking Chanel c's on the metallic shoes they show closeups of at the beginning of the film? They were also (in rhinestones) on the dress that she wears at the end, if I read that correctly, plus there were many very strategic shots of shopping bags in her (or rather, Gilles') closet. I saw a white tag prominently displayed on the outside of the tank top she buys on her first shopping trip with the hero, although I didn't actually see the brand. The tags she dramatically rips off of all her purchases were pretty closely shown. I think the products were pretty well-placed.
I myself wasn't crazy about many of the clothes in the film--I prefer a look that leaves a little more to the imagination. (Also, dresses that are so super-low-and-widely cut paradoxically make you look flat.) However, I think the costumes were all perfect for the characters, so no complaints about the design.
No, I guess I didn't notice the Chanel logo. I think the film may have focused a bit on the really obvious luxuries (like clothes and fancy nights out on the town) in order to emphasize that which Irene idealizes. Because she doesn't know what real wealth actually feels or looks like, she thinks in terms of status symbols. She has very little self worth and tries to boost her self-esteem with labels. The labels were important in painting the picture of the life Irene believes will make her happy.
Her?
Interesting comment. (Hmm...this makes me wonder... do you know what "real wealth" actually feels or looks like? I'm curious!)
shareJust an aside...The shots of the designer labels and tags and bags that are shown when she takes Jean's credit card and is back at the hotel, is showing you that she's after money--she purposely bled him dry cuz she was mad at him for making her think he was rich. She purposely spent a lot of money--and purposely ripped off the tags so she/he couldnt return any of it. She was being a b*tch to him. She was mad. And she knew he couldnt afford her for very long. I dont think all of these kinds of scenes were about product placement or "name dropping" or anything. Remember...SHE wasnt rich...so if she got her hands on anything designer--label or not..she was happy. Maybe the MEN who actually had the money had custom made stuff, who knows...the point was that she was after expensive material possesions. What better way to show that to the viewer than to SHOW it to the viewer?
shareI think you're right, in that the purchases were intended to illustrate the character and her feelings, but I also suspect there were some big product-placement deals going on.
shareThose tags also show the ridiculous cost of some of those things - it is a way of showing us just how much of Jean's money she is spending.
share