As a movie buff with a passion for fashion, I often find myself drawn to films that not only appeal to my love for storytelling but also my keen interest in aesthetic and style. ‘Live by Night (2016)’, directed by Ben Affleck, is one such film that combines these elements perfectly. Set in the Prohibition Era, this film boasts a rich and opulent aesthetic that instantly catches the eye. The film’s production design and costumes work in harmony to create a distinct and immersive atmosphere that takes us back to the 1920s America.
What sets ‘Live by Night’ apart from other period dramas is its unique blend of classic and modern aesthetics. The film is a visual feast, with its luxurious sets and beautifully designed costumes. The attention to detail in every frame is admirable, and it’s clear that the filmmakers have put in a lot of effort to accurately portray the era.
However, as a fashion enthusiast, what piqued my interest the most is the character’s costumes. Each character’s style is reflective of their personality and status, making for an intriguing Character Analysis and Style Breakdown. The film’s costume design is a perfect example of how clothing can be used as a powerful storytelling tool.
Character Analysis and Style Breakdown: An Overview
- Joe Coughlin: Ben Affleck’s character, Joe Coughlin, is a perfect example of the Prohibition-era dapper. His outfits are a mix of tailored suits and casual wear, with a touch of ruggedness that mirrors his rebellious spirit. His signature look is a three-piece suit, complete with a Fedora hat and a pocket watch.
- Loretta Figgis: As Elle Fanning’s character, Loretta’s style is a mixture of innocence and glamour. Her outfits typically feature feminine silhouettes, delicate fabrics, and pastel colors. Her signature outfit is a soft pink dress with lace detailing, which perfectly embodies her character’s naí¯veté and charm.
- Maso Pescatore: Remo Girone’s character, Maso Pescatore, exudes power and sophistication. His wardrobe mainly consists of sharply tailored suits in dark colors, symbolizing his status and authority. His signature look is a black pinstripe suit, which he usually pairs with a matching tie and a white pocket square.
- Thomas Coughlin: Brendan Gleeson’s character, Thomas Coughlin, sports a classic and timeless style. His outfits are simple yet refined, with a focus on quality over quantity. His signature look is a well-fitted charcoal grey suit, which he often pairs with a crisp white shirt and a simple tie.
- Albert White: Robert Glenister’s character, Albert White, is the epitome of elegance. His wardrobe is full of luxurious fabrics and sophisticated suits, reflecting his high social standing. His signature look is a double-breasted navy blue suit, which he usually pairs with a striped shirt and a contrasting tie.
- RD Pruitt: Matthew Maher’s character, RD Pruitt, has a unique fashion sense. His outfits are a blend of practicality and quirkiness, which matches his eccentric personality. His signature outfit is a brown tweed suit, which he usually wears with a colorful bow tie and a trilby hat.
- Dion Bartolo: Chris Messina’s character, Dion Bartolo, is a style icon. His outfits are trendy and fashionable, making him stand out among the crowd. His signature look is a burgundy suit, which he often pairs with a patterned shirt and a matching tie.
Joe Coughlin as Ben Affleck
Joe Coughlin, played by Ben Affleck, is the central character of ‘Live by Night’. His style is a perfect mix of elegance and ruggedness, reflecting his journey from a small-time crook to a powerful mob boss. His outfits usually consist of tailored three-piece suits in neutral colors, which he pairs with a Fedora hat and a pocket watch. His style is a perfect embodiment of the Prohibition-era dapper.
- The Suit: Joe’s suits are always perfectly tailored, reflecting his attention to detail and preference for quality. They are usually in neutral colors like grey, brown, and navy blue, which add to his sophisticated and mature image.
- The Hat: Joe’s Fedora hat is a crucial part of his outfit. It not only adds a touch of class to his look but also symbolizes his rebellious spirit.
- The Pocket Watch: Joe’s pocket watch is another essential accessory in his outfit. It is a symbol of his status and wealth, and it adds a touch of elegance to his look.
Elle Fanning as Loretta Figgis
Elle Fanning’s character, Loretta Figgis, is a preacher’s daughter turned Hollywood actress. Her style reflects her innocence and charm, with outfits featuring feminine silhouettes, delicate fabrics, and pastel colors. Here’s a detailed critique of her style:
- The Dresses: Loretta’s dresses are the highlight of her wardrobe. They are usually in soft pastel colors like pink, blue, and white, which add to her innocent and youthful image. The dresses also feature delicate lace detailing and feminine silhouettes, reflecting her charm and grace.
- The Accessories: Loretta’s accessories are minimal and delicate, matching her feminine style. She often wears simple pearl necklaces and earrings, which add a touch of elegance to her outfits.
- The Hairstyle: Loretta’s hairstyle is a crucial part of her look. Her golden curls are styled in a classic 1920s bob, which adds to her vintage charm.
Remo Girone as Maso Pescatore
Remo Girone’s character, Maso Pescatore, is a powerful mob boss with a sophisticated sense of style. His outfits mainly consist of sharply tailored suits in dark colors, symbolizing his status and authority. Here’s a detailed breakdown of his signature style:
- The Suits: Maso’s suits are always perfectly tailored and made from high-quality fabrics. They are usually in dark colors like black and navy blue, reflecting his powerful and intimidating image.
- The Shirts and Ties: Maso’s shirts and ties are another essential part of his outfit. He often pairs his suits with a crisp white shirt and a matching tie, which adds a touch of sophistication to his look.
- The Accessories: Maso’s accessories are minimal yet elegant. He often wears a gold pocket watch and a pair of cufflinks, which are symbols of his wealth and power.
Brendan Gleeson as Thomas Coughlin
Brendan Gleeson’s character, Thomas Coughlin, is Joe’s father and a police captain. His style is classic and timeless, with outfits that are simple yet refined. Here’s a breakdown of his classic look:
- The Suits: Thomas’s suits are always well-fitted and made from high-quality fabrics. They are usually in neutral colors like grey and navy blue, which add to his mature and dignified image.
- The Shirts and Ties: Thomas’s shirts and ties are another essential part of his outfit. He often pairs his suits with a crisp white shirt and a simple tie, reflecting his preference for simplicity and quality.
- The Accessories: Thomas’s accessories are minimal and functional. He often wears a pair of black leather gloves and a police badge, which symbolize his profession and status.
Robert Glenister as Albert White
Robert Glenister’s character, Albert White, is Joe’s rival and a powerful mob boss. His style is the epitome of elegance, with outfits that feature luxurious fabrics and sophisticated suits. Here’s a detailed analysis of his elegant style:
- The Suits: Albert’s suits are always immaculately tailored and made from luxurious fabrics. They are usually in rich colors like navy blue and burgundy, which add to his sophisticated and elegant image.
- The Shirts and Ties: Albert’s shirts and ties are another essential part of his outfit. He often pairs his suits with a striped shirt and a contrasting tie, which adds a touch of flair to his look.
- The Accessories: Albert’s accessories are sophisticated and luxurious. He often wears a gold pocket watch and a pair of cufflinks, which are symbols of his wealth and status.
Matthew Maher as RD Pruitt
Matthew Maher’s character, RD Pruitt, is a quirky and eccentric character with a unique fashion sense. His outfits are a blend of practicality and quirkiness, reflecting his unconventional personality. Here’s a detailed analysis of his unique style:
- The Suits: RD’s suits are always comfortable and practical. They are usually in earthy tones like brown and olive, which add to his quirky image.
- The Shirts and Ties: RD’s shirts and ties are another essential part of his outfit. He often pairs his suits with a colorful bow tie, which adds a touch of eccentricity to his look.
- The Accessories: RD’s accessories are quirky and unconventional. He often wears a trilby hat and a pair of spectacles, which reflect his eccentric personality.
Chris Messina as Dion Bartolo
Chris Messina’s character, Dion Bartolo, is Joe’s best friend and a style icon. His outfits are trendy and fashionable, making him stand out among the crowd. Here’s a detailed breakdown of his iconic style:
- The Suits: Dion’s suits are always trendy and well-fitted. They are usually in bold colors like burgundy and black, which add to his fashionable image.
- The Shirts and Ties: Dion’s shirts and ties are another essential part of his outfit. He often pairs his suits with a patterned shirt and a matching tie, which adds a touch of flair to his look.
- The Accessories: Dion’s accessories are trendy and fashionable. He often wears a fedora hat and a pair of cufflinks, which reflect his stylish personality.
Styling Tips for Different Occasions: Dressing up like ‘Live by Night’ characters
Dressing up like the characters from ‘Live by Night’ can be a fun and exciting experience. Here are some styling tips for different occasions:
- Casual Outings: For casual outings, you can take inspiration from Joe Coughlin’s casual outfits. Pair a simple shirt with a pair of jeans and complete the look with a Fedora hat.
- Formal Events: For formal events, you can emulate Albert White’s elegant style. Wear a well-tailored suit in a rich color like navy blue or burgundy, and pair it with a crisp white shirt and a contrasting tie.
- Theme Parties: For theme parties, you can dress up like Dion Bartolo. Wear a trendy suit in a bold color like burgundy, and pair it with a patterned shirt and a matching tie.
- Vintage Events: For vintage events, you can take inspiration from Loretta Figgis’s vintage style. Wear a dress in a soft pastel color with lace detailing, and complete the look with a pair of pearl earrings and a classic bob hairstyle.
Get the look: Summary of outfits and where to buy them
Getting the look of the characters from ‘Live by Night’ is easier than you think. Here’s a summary of the outfits and where to buy them:
- Joe Coughlin: You can buy tailored suits in neutral colors from brands like Brooks Brothers and Hugo Boss. Fedora hats can be found at Stetson, and pocket watches are available at Tissot.
- Loretta Figgis: You can find dresses in soft pastel colors with lace detailing at brands like Needle & Thread and Self-Portrait. Pearl necklaces and earrings can be found at Tiffany & Co.
- Maso Pescatore: You can buy sharply tailored suits in dark colors from brands like Tom Ford and Ralph Lauren. Gold pocket watches and cufflinks can be found at Cartier.
- Thomas Coughlin: You can find well-fitted suits in neutral colors at brands like Canali and Zegna. Black leather gloves can be found at Dents, and police badges can be bought from costume stores.
- Albert White: You can buy double-breasted suits in rich colors from brands like Paul Smith and Dolce & Gabbana. Striped shirts and contrasting ties can be found at Thomas Pink.
- RD Pruitt: You can find brown tweed suits at brands like Ted Baker and Paul Stuart. Colorful bow ties and trilby hats can be found at Brooks Brothers.
- Dion Bartolo: You can buy trendy suits in bold colors from brands like Versace and Gucci. Fedora hats and cufflinks can be found at Borsalino and Montblanc.
How to incorporate ‘Live by Night’ elements into daily outfits
Incorporating elements from ‘Live by Night’ into your daily outfits can add a touch of vintage charm and sophistication to your look. Here are some tips:
- Tailored Suits: Tailored suits are a staple in ‘Live by Night’. You can incorporate this element into your daily outfits by wearing a well-fitted blazer or trousers.
- Hats: Hats are another significant element in ‘Live by Night’. You can incorporate this into your daily outfits by wearing a Fedora or trilby hat.
- Vintage Accessories: Vintage accessories like pocket watches and pearl necklaces are frequently seen in ‘Live by Night’. You can incorporate these into your daily outfits by adding a vintage accessory to your look.
- Color Palette: The color palette in ‘Live by Night’ mainly consists of neutral and rich colors. You can incorporate this into your daily outfits by adding pieces in these colors to your wardrobe.
Conclusion
In conclusion, ‘Live by Night (2016)’ is a film that offers a rich and detailed Character Analysis and Style Breakdown. The film’s aesthetic is a perfect blend of classic and modern elements, making it a visual feast for both movie buffs and fashion enthusiasts. Whether you’re a fan of the film or just looking for some fashion inspiration, the characters in ‘Live by Night’ offer a plethora of styles to choose from.
So why not try incorporating some ‘Live by Night’ elements into your daily outfits? Or better yet, dress up like your favorite character for a day. After all, fashion is all about having fun and expressing yourself.
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