Chasing the Grey Gardens

Everyone seems to be getting completely and utterly titilated and overly excited about the Sex and the City ambiguous movie trailer that is asking us to get ‘Carrie’d Away’.  I for one am not about to get carried away and start foaming at the mouth whenever new images emerge online of Carrie Bradshaw’s various outfits.

Instead, I’m looking out for on-set images from the HBO production of Grey Gardens, loosely based on the 1975 documentary of the same name, which ever since I got the DVD two years ago has always been on DVD rotation list as I seem to discover new nuances about the documentary everytime I warch it.  Any GG fans will know Drew Barrymore has landed the role of ‘Little Edie’ and Jessica Lange is playing ‘Big Edie’.  I’ve yet to be convinced about Barrymore (as an actress) but at least the costumes are looking ish-spot-on.  The white halterneck playsuit is surprisingly appealing seeing as I’m not into anything tight and white but the sheath over the one leg is pleasingly seductive.  Three costumes spotted so far and with production still happening right now, this is the ONE time where I’m going to be film-set stalking.  I’m just waiting for an array of head scarf combinations to appear.  The latter part of 2008 seems far too long away to wait for this to come out… 

I’ve lost count of how many Little Edie fashion thangs I’ve seen in the past five years ago but this DIY ‘Little Edie Moment’ editorial photographed by the wonderful artist Mia M√§kil√§ is quite impressive…

26 comments

  2. It is a pun, that’s why it’s so bad.
    US Bazaar also did a great Grey Gardens editorial recently with Mary-Kate Olsen and Lauren Hutton.

  3. i am totally blown away with the editorial you’ve posted. these are the amazing shots which combine this pseudo-historical home-made glamour (the glam-ooo-ur, not that plastic glamaah we’re so used to). it’s dramatical, it’s ironic. and god, forgive me, but i do adore jumpsuits.
    ps babushkas feel so naive. so russian.

  4. I’ve seen this several times in the Criterion section of video stores, but have never thought to pick it up until now. Why HBO would remake a documentary is completely beyond me.

  5. i don’t find those clothes contemporary at all. sheath over one leg, isn’t that… 90s? it’s just that i don’t feel inspired, but that’s a personal matter.

  7. They are filming parts of this in Toronto right now. I’ll try to do some on set stalking for you while I’m here.

  9. oh dear… if i hear one more thing about satc, i’m going to hurl.
    on another more appetising note… grey gardens looks fantastic. i will be watching.

  10. I really have to see that documentary, gonna look for it in Paris. I love Drew’s outfits and style, she seems to be perfect for the part. And thank you for the photographs of Mia M√§kil√§, I didn’t know her.

  11. I’m kind of blocking out (or trying to) all the SATC movie stuff anyway.
    I was looking at a Grey Gardens editorial in an old issue of ElleGirl the other day, and Drew Barrynore looks…interesting as Little Edie. Let’s see how it turns out..

  12. http://www.imelda.com.au
    Next year should a fashion smack down with SATC and GG, my money’s on CG…I expect the footwear to sharper in SATC – four women equal’s lots more shoes!!! I’m not entirely convinced Drew can carry off Little Edie.
    Teen Vogue did a Grey Garden editorial mid year, which wasn’t too bad!
    http://www.imelda.com.au

  15. No interest in the SATC movie, but I LOVE Grey Gardens. Little Edie is one of the most compelling characters ever caught on film. I hope Drew can get the accent right; that’s crucial. But the costumes look pretty good so far…I’d stalk this movie too if I could.

  18. I just really really really strongly dislike Drew Barrymore, don’t ask why- I just do.
    However that black pencil skirt, top, hat outfit makes me want to jump up and down in glee!
    brilliant editorial Ms. Bubble =)

  19. hello Style Bubble! you are one of my favorite blog on the whole(internet)world!!
    after watched this article,
    i’m really interested about the
    significant of culture and fashion
    “Grey Gardens” had mean, because i don’t Know this movie before . can you explain a bit for me. thankS.
    (sorry about my poor english ! )

  21. I am so excited about all things Grey Gardens. Its a look that is a constant style inspiration for me (minus the cats)! xx

  22. For those who don’t know about “Grey Gardens”, it was a documentary made in 1975, tho I believe it covered the year 1973. It was about a mother and daughter, both named Edith Beale, who lived in the Hamptons in an old run down house. They were completely eccentric in an aristocratic Miss Havisham kind of way….not surprising being that they were close relatives to Jackie Kennedy Onasis O and Princess Lee Radizwell and completely Social Register! This film was something of a scandal at the time because Jackie O was one of, if not, THE richest woman in the world and her cousins were living like this.
    For many reasons, “Little Edie” the daughter who’d been a popular socialite of the 30s, ended up living w/ her mother, bald (her creative use of scarves puts French women to shame folks), and w/ a very distinct fashion sense (incredibly sexy and eclectic…you’d NEVER tell her age just by looking. Little Edie had a fanastic figure for a woman of her age). When one considers that her soignee cousins Jackie and Lee were and are still held up as fashion icons, Little Edie being an inspiration might seem somewhat surprising being that she’s the complete opposite of everything they were about. However, she had a unique eye and flair for style which was incredibly memorable, completely her own, and frankly outside of time. IOW, Little Edie was a true original….an American “bobo” if ever there was one.
    For those in the US, Sundance shows “Grey Gardens” from time to time. I’d suggest anyone interested in fashion or just the incredibly offbeat to see this doc.
    LOL….after saying all this, I must say I’m surprised they are making a movie based on it. I love Jessica Lange (tho she’s too young for Big Edie) and maybe she could pull it off Big Edie, but Drew…oh please! She’s no Little Edie!
    SATC….over it already!

  23. I wish they wouldn’t make grey gardens into a movie. I hate to be a snob, but I always enjoyed the documentary as obscure fashion reference when I needed inspiration. I guess I can start legitimately wearing strange Little Edie outfits in public (shirt skirts, skirt shirts, head scarves, and all) and won’t be stared down like an estranged lunatic. But honestly… DREW???? Sorry, but I doubt she can catch the overt quirkiness of Edie and the subtle dependence on Edith.

  24. “Grey Gardens” was one of the 1st reality things ever done. For the purposes of the evolution of “cinema verite” it’s worth a watch.

  25. Thom Wong: I have high hopes for this one as a biopic can often yield good things…
    Saskia: It’s not really ground breaking but the accuracy is there…
    Drusilla: I’ve seen SO MANY Little Edie-inspired editorials…. some ok, some quite attrocious
    Claire: Please stalk away!
    Imelda: It’s not really a SATC vs. GG smackdown…two entirely different movies…knowing me I’ll see both…
    iheartfashion: Thanks for the link – a great little article though I’m not sure how good a GG musical could be…
    Zainab: I’m not a huge Drew fan either…she is either endearing or irritating…
    Jeff: Thanks for the link heads-up.
    Cindy: I think Brooksie summed it up very nicely!
    Brooksie: Thanks for the very detailed summary…
    Kat: I think you can legitimately wear those things anyway…. nothing wrong with any of that! I wasn’t sure about Drew either…but I’ll wait until I see it to judge…

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