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When Four Weddings And A Funeral was first released in May 1994, the Daily Mail's rave review compared Richard Curtis' screenplay to the work of Chekhov and declared the film was 'one of the great romantic
comedies of all time, cleverer even than When Harry Met Sally or Annie
Hall'.
Some may scoff at this sentiment, but I stand in firm agreement.
The only thing the review failed to note was
the sumptuous on-screen style of the characters as they dash, usually late, to the various nuptials.
Remarkably, 30 years later, the costumes are still as
immeasurably chic as they were then, not even near approaching that much-feared fashion label — 'dated'.
So, as wedding season approaches, here are five lessons for event dressing taken straight
from the film that will see you through the summer. Time to party like it's 1994...
Four Weddings And A Funeral, starring Andie
MacDowell, James Fleet, Kristin Scott Thomas, Simon Callow, Charlotte Coleman, John Hannah and Hugh Grant,
was released 30 years ago
A 50s silhouette is timeless
Ms Coleman's character Scarlett wears a particularly striking orange iteration in the film's iconic opening scene
We've chosen a campari-orange creation from London brand Amy Lynn,
rendered particularly full skirted by a stiff cotton fabric
There's a reason why Norman Hartnell-esque 1950s-inspired dresses of the full skirt, tight bodice, nipped-in waist variety were worn in 1994,
and it's the same reason they should be worn in 2024: they're supremely flattering.
Charlotte Coleman's character Scarlett wears a particularly striking orange iteration in the film's iconic opening scene as she and Charlie
rush to make it to wedding number one. Ours
is a similar campari-orange creation from London brand Amy
Lynn (?119, asos.com), rendered particularly full skirted by a stiff cotton fabric.
An insider's tip? Buy a cheap tulle underskirt from Amazon for as little as ?2.99 and wear it under your
dress to really amp up the 1950s swirl factor. Retro cat eye shades like Scarlett's are optional but advised.
Opt for separates for a modern take
Carrie, played by Ms MacDowell, chooses to wear a jacket and skirt combination to several weddings in the
film
Pair the taffeta Monsoon skirt with a white Zara jacket
Dresses aren't the only option for occasionwear; in the right fabric, separates
are more than smart enough (and sometimes smarter than a dress) for even the poshest function. Carrie chooses to wear jacket and skirt
combinations to several weddings in the film, to elegant effect.
Less elegant, of course, is her decision to wear white to said weddings, but you could
happily copy her colour palette for other
occasions.
Separates look modern — especially a trouser suit —
and offer the advantage of giving you more bang for your buck.
The taffeta Monsoon skirt worn by our model (?85, monsoon.co.uk) could be paired by day
with trainers and a t-shirt, while the jacket (?59.99, zara.com) paired with tailored trousers makes for perfect
office attire.
The same hat can see you through all summer events
Fi, played by Ms Scott Thomas, has for her signature accessory a wide-brimmed
raffia hat that she wears to several of the film's weddings
VV Rouleaux's also offer ribbons in a myriad of colours so
you can add a personal touch
Much of the film's plot centres around Hugh Grant's character Charlie's infatuation with the insufferable Carrie, played
by Andie MacDowell. Inexplicably, Charlie chooses
to be with Carrie instead of the cooler-than-cool Fiona, played by
Kristin Scott Thomas.
Fi's signature accessory is a wide-brimmed raffia hat that she wears to several of the film's weddings, each time with a different outfit.
Our 2024 takeaway from this? Hats needn't be a four figure,
fear-inducing feature of event dressing. Choose one good piece of headgear wisely and it can see
you through all your summer events.
Raffia in a natural tone ? la Fi is a wise choice as it will match any number of outfits.
The one worn by our model is by VV Rouleaux (?95,
vvrouleaux.com), which also offer ribbons in a myriad of colours so you
can add a personal touch.
There's an unexpected elegance to black in the summer
The Mandarin-collared gown worn by Fiona at Carrie's wedding is exactly the
sort of thing one wants to be wearing when declaring one's (unrequited) love to
Hugh Grant, who plays Charlie
This Zara homage to Fi's gown features a similar high
neck — this is key to its elegance
We all know wearing white to a wedding is forbidden, but
why should the same rule apply to black? Traditionalists
may disapprove, but black injects an Audrey Hepburn-esque dose of chic when worn as a summer
wedding guest. The Mandarin-collared black gown worn by Fiona at Carrie's wedding is exactly the sort of thing one wants to be wearing when declaring one's
(unrequited) love to Hugh Grant.
Our Zara homage to Fi's gown (?59.99, zara.com) features a similar high neck —
this is key to its elegance. Lashings of gold jewellery add
a lightness that ensures Fi's look doesn't veer into Queen Victoria in mourning territory.
...but don't be afraid of colour, either
Fiona decidedly sticks to black among a sea of rainbow-clad guests...
until the final wedding, that is
Add the Lisou silk jacket to a black ensemble for
a splash of colour
As discussed, throughout the film, Fiona decidedly sticks to primarily black among a
sea of rainbow-clad guests. Until the final wedding, that is:
that of the object of her unrequited love, Charlie.
There, in a riotously colourful silk coat, she declares: 'From now on, I'll be all the colours of the rainbow and fall in love with someone who
fancies me for a change.' While her style has changed, it's certainly not for Charlie — it's for herself.
She would surely approve of the Lisou silk jacket worn by
our model (?385, lisou.co.uk). Or head to Zara for a fuchsia and turquoise geometric-print jacket
for ?59.99 (zara.com). Wear with a pared-back dress like Fiona does to avoid looking like Joseph in his
technicolour coat.
Scott ThomasRichard CurtisHugh GrantLondon |
