Voque Today: Blue Blooded Drama

Although I possess little desire to actually see Scarlett Johansson's and Natalie Portman's latest offering, The Other Boleyn Girl, I can't help but be inspired by the rich, sumptuous fabrics and the wonderfully elaborate dresses. Much of the promotional material feature the image of Portman wearing a voluminous emerald green gown. I often find that emerald green is just one colour that is impossible to rid from one's memory. Indeed, just look what happened to Keira Knightley's Atonement dress, perhaps the defining moment of her career so far. I doubt Portman's gown will spark such attention as it is no where near sensational. Needless to say there is something in the thick, regal - coloured fabrics that has me pining for theatrical clothing.

I love the idea of wearing a hearpiece like these ones!

Stills from the Other Boleyn Girl. It's not that the costumes are exceptional it's more the type of lifestyle I envision when I see such dresses. I do love the heavy layers and the dark, luxurious colours though.

The dramatic shades and heavy, embossed textures makes me think of haute couture, all the extravagant excess of high fashion. The theatre and drama features heavily in the grandiose world of haute couture and this season's collection are no different. With The Other Boleyn Girl in mind, I was amazed to see the strong influence from that period on many of the haute couture runways. Lavish details around the collar and sleeves, frills, tiers and bows create a wonderfully majestic grandeur at the haute couture s/s '08 shows. The flamboyant colours are showstopping especially at Dior and the mixtures in luxurius fabrics and avant garde shapes make me wish I was one of those ladies who spend their days gliding about lonely, fairytale mansions in splendid haute couture.

Christian Lacroix s/s 08 haute couture has a strong Henry VIII influence. The tiers, frills, heavy fabrics and richly detailed necklines and loose sleeves create a sumptuous, regal atmosphere.

Meanwhile at Givency, the Henry VIII undertones are far softer. Mostly dusty, soft shades and flowing, goddess skirts combined with wonderfully dramatic concertina - fussy, frilled collars and sleeves.