#1
Posted: 9/5/12 at 11:08pm
Fashion Week has arrived in NYC.
That has gotten me to thinking about shows about the fashion world (Roberta, I Can Get It for You Wholesale, Coco) and also, ruefully, I must say, how fashion has disappeared from our stages, at least the kind of fashion we used to encounter regularly in our musicals like My Fair Lady, Camelot, Hello, Dolly! --- the list is long, and, alas, long-ago. Now look-- if you dare-- at the grubby fare we face today in shows like Carrie, Once, Leap of Faith... Nothing there to occasion a song like Roberta's "Lovely to Look At." But then, you don't find many fashion plates on our streets, either.
In any event, I thought it might be fun to reference our favorite shows, songs, and lyrics dealing with fashion.
My favorite lyric is undoubtedly "my pet pailletted gown" from "Down in the Depths," as only the incomparable Cole Porter could write.
I also like the way Grover Dale airily enounces "I'd like to cable to Balenciaga to prepare your wedding gown," in "When You Want Me" (Sail Away).
As for songs, "A Brand New Dress" (Coco) is a charmer, and "Haute Couture" from Skyscraper always prompts a smile and a laugh.
That has gotten me to thinking about shows about the fashion world (Roberta, I Can Get It for You Wholesale, Coco) and also, ruefully, I must say, how fashion has disappeared from our stages, at least the kind of fashion we used to encounter regularly in our musicals like My Fair Lady, Camelot, Hello, Dolly! --- the list is long, and, alas, long-ago. Now look-- if you dare-- at the grubby fare we face today in shows like Carrie, Once, Leap of Faith... Nothing there to occasion a song like Roberta's "Lovely to Look At." But then, you don't find many fashion plates on our streets, either.
In any event, I thought it might be fun to reference our favorite shows, songs, and lyrics dealing with fashion.
My favorite lyric is undoubtedly "my pet pailletted gown" from "Down in the Depths," as only the incomparable Cole Porter could write.
I also like the way Grover Dale airily enounces "I'd like to cable to Balenciaga to prepare your wedding gown," in "When You Want Me" (Sail Away).
As for songs, "A Brand New Dress" (Coco) is a charmer, and "Haute Couture" from Skyscraper always prompts a smile and a laugh.
- YOU'RE NEVER FULLY DRESSED WITHOUT A SMILE--- ANNIE
