Dangerous Liaisons 

 This movie has to be one of my favorites.  I love all the actors and the costuming is above reproach.  To me good costuming adds to the theme, the characters and story line.  The costumes in this movie help you understand each character.  It is a story of deceit and passion, opulence and betrayal!

Glenn Close' character, Marquise Isabella de Mertevil is a powerful woman who is trying to survive in a man's world.  She must walk the edge of being feminine yet powerful.  The only way she does this is to hide her true feelings.  Her costumes give her away and in the end you see her fully "uncovered" and exposed.

John Malkovich the Vicomte de Valmont is the worst kind of man.  He uses women and shows no concern for anyone but himself.  Of course love changes all that.  In the film you see him transform with costuming.

He goes from playboy to

(notice no wig and softer colors and more simple)

being in love to

(sorry it's dark-now a wig and dark and opulent clothing)

back to protecting himself and in the end he chooses death.

Then there is Madame de Tourvel, Michelle Pfeiffer.  Her character is all innocence and simplicity.  She holds herself in high regard and prides herself on being perfectly demure.  Her costuming also reflects her personality.

I  couldn't find a picture of when she finally gives in to herself and to the Vicomte.  She also chooses death in the end.  Kind of a sad story.

Of course there are other side stories along the way with equally beautiful costumes.  I have included some more of my favorite from the film.  

In closing, costumes can make or break a film and are much more than what some one might wear.  They are part of the character and the story and cannot be separated without the the film waisting away.

I love the way it show's the Marquise being "built" from to to bottom.

 Look at that Hat!

Glen Close and Uma Thurman

I think this dress is exquisite!