Amongst the many lessons that the 1983 film Scarface offers to teach, namely do not get high off your own supply, nor steal Miami's biggest drug lord's leading lady and most importantly, no matter what, the Hawaiian shirt will never be deemed acceptable. The downward spiral of Tony Montana's empire managed to highlight the eighties penchant for tailoring and once again showed off how important costume really is in film.
A couple of Friday's ago I immersed myself in, once again for the hundreth time, one of my favourite Al Pacino films. Knowing the lines off by heart was routine so I found my self completely shocked when I realised just how little attention I had actually paid to the costumes. God bless Michelle Pfeiffer, her blond silky hair, thin figure and sultry looks. Scene after scene I found myself dazzled with Elvira Hancocks' sophistication (minus the cocaine) and her ability to make even the most simple dress look better than that Middleton wedding gown everyone raves about.
And to who do we owe the pleasure to? Patricia Norris is responsible for dressing the steely dame played by Pfeiffer and takes strong reference from thirties hollywood glamour, experimenting with various backless pieces in silk or satin cuts. A reflection of high end disco, the movie sees Elvira play her cold role in sexy full length gowns, with cutaway fronts and low leg swimsuits always perfectly accessorised. From the shimmery green chemise dress with gold applique that she enters in, through to the brown sequinned halter neck number later on, it seems there is nothing Pfeiffer cannot pull off.
Just when you thought cocaine couldn't get any cooler, in swoops Elvira in a white and silk linen revers suit complete with padded shoulders, tie waist and below the knee length skirt. It was almost the perfect time to introduce this number when Giorgio Armani was about to make a couture/tailoring breakthrough that would become a pinnacle part of fashion history.
When female power dressing was at its prime, the eighties really were the place to be. Money and image obsessed meant women were consuming more into fashion than ever and night clubbing was an even bigger excuse to get dolled up for. This phenomenon ruled the decade just as much as the Armani trouser suit, alongside exaggerated shoulders and the role of the female executive in society. It is no wonder why then that Elvira Hancock's outfits for me became the epitome of what was occurring in eighties Miami - sex, drugs and great suits.
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