International Chick Lit Month: Retro Review - Waiting to Exhale

For many people Bridget Jones was the first Chick Flick movie but as far as I am concerned it was  Waiting to Exhale that put the genre on the map. Based on the best-selling book by Terry McMillan, this movie set the world alight when it was released in 1996. I was in the cinema watching with my bestie the first night it was released and you could feel a real frenzy in the air. Waiting to Exhale is the story of four African American friends called Bernadette Harris played by Angela Bassett, Savannah Jackson played by Whitney Houston, Robin Stokes played by Lela Rochon and Gloria Matthews played by Loretta Devine who are at different stages of their lives. Bernadette's perfect life is turned upside down when her husband of ten years ups and leaves her and their two kids for his secretary and she is forced to go to court to fight for what is rightfully hers. Savannah has it all, great looks, independence, fabulous job and apartment but the only thing that is missing is the right guy. Robin is a high powered executive who is blessed with stunning looks and a smart brain yet lacks serious judgement when it comes to picking guys. Gloria runs her own successful salon and spends the rest of her time keeping an eye on her teenage son and has more or less given up on the idea of finding romance.

To me Waiting to Exhale set a precedence in the way women related to each other in films and TV - we had independent and sassy women who juggled careers, family, love lives and friends and who also spoke frankly to each other about their desires. It was a trend that was later emulated in Sex and the City, Lipstick Jungle, Soul Food and Girlfriends. That film was really ahead of its time and when I watch it now it still has a really fresh feel to it. All the issues that are covered are relevant today and the dialogue is as sharp as ever. Also it is one of a few films where the adaptation is just as good as the book. The first person narrative in the film worked amazingly well and gave us a real insight into the four women's personalities. Waiting to Exhale has it all, humour, love and friendship all wrapped up in a fantastic package. Much to my delight a sequel to the book was released last year which is rumoured to be turned into a film hopefully with the original cast. I can't wait.

Fashioning February: Retro review - Breakfast at Tiffany"s

From the moment she stepped out of the yellow cab on Fifth Avenue and sauntered across to Tiffany in her long black evening gown, matching gloves, sunglasses adorned with pearls and immaculate chignon, she had our full attention. So it is no surprise that Breakfast at Tiffany's is regarded as one of the most iconic films of all time and the most stylish film of all time. The film recently celebrated its 50th anniversary last September and many a book and newspaper/magazines article werw written in celebration. Breakfast at Tiffany's is the story of Holly Golightly played by Audrey Hepburn who is a good time girl determined to escape the drudgery of her former life by marrying a rich man. She also harbours a fondness of the store, Tiffany where she often frequents. Holly strikes up a friendship with Paul Varjak played by George Peppard, a writer who moves into her building. He becomes intrigued with Holly's lifestyle which consists of living off old and wealthy men and pretty soon he finds himself falling for her. The plot is simple but beautifully told and wonderfully acted by the two lead actors but it is the clothes that really makes this film along with Audrey Hepburn's dazzling charisma.

After all those years since the movie was made people still rave about the clothes in Breakfast at Tiffany"s and in fact Audrey was responsible for making the little black dress popular. When deciding on Holly's look director, Blake Edwards wanted it to be simple, classic and glamorous and he boy did he succeed. Holly's staple diet consisted of little black dresses with pencil skirts which were accentuated by jewellery and accessories. For example the first time she meets Paul we see her changing into an elegant sleeveless, black cocktail dress with over sized sunglasses complete with a large hat. However, it wasn't all black in the Golightly wardrobe, there were flashes of colour in Holly's wardrobe especially in her day wear. For instance the orange buttoned up wool pea coat with a fur hat that she wore when she went wandering round Tiffany with Paul. Also the bright pink cocktail dress with matching coat, shoes and tiara that she wore on a date with her one of her many suitors. Even when she was milling around her apartment with a scarf wrapped round her head she looked effortlessly stylish. Note the peach belted dressing gown she had on when she was playing host to Paul in her flat. Who can forget the immaculate trench belted coat that she donned in the last scene. Audrey Hepburn may be dead but her impeccable style will always live on.