Get the forties look from The Edge of Love

Often movies set in Britain during World War II are grim affairs. As conflict raged around the globe, glamour and beauty were two lesser sacrifices made among many, with clothing rationed and women donning trousers to help do their bit. But despite what must have been the bleak reality of life back then, a more attractive gloss has been applied to John Maybury’s 1940s drama about Welsh poet Dylan Thomas and the two women in his life. Of course, such artistic liberties are easily excused when the two female roles are played by fashionistas Keira Knightley and Sienna Miller.

The pair of celebrated style queens clearly relished not only the opportunity to work together on the movie, but the chance to don some fashions onscreen similar to those they are often snapped wearing in their private lives. Asked on the film’s clothes at the premiere, Knightley enthused: “That era makes your body look amazing.”

And she should know, having previously wowed audiences with her period glamour in 2007’s Atonement (check out our article on her green gown in the film), she is synonymous with silver screen chic. So, what inspired ensembles do Knightley as Vera Phillips, (Thomas’s teenage love) and Miller as Caitlin MacNamara (his wife) flaunt in the movie?

Providing the period drama’s most flattering and accessible must-have wardrobe item is the tea dress. These are feminine and pretty, with ditzy floral prints and frilly layers creating a loose, floaty look very much on-trend for summer. These famously forties style dresses can prove tricky to locate in their vintage glory, but never fear as high street stores and online boutiques are stocked full of them as this article goes to press. Tea dresses have proved popular for the past few summer seasons and with The Edge of Love, they are certain to further cement their status as THE must-have seasonal item.

The romantic look is further accentuated by skirts – including high-waisted pencil skirts in heavy fabrics such as wool, and looser, less-structured pleated cotton efforts. These are teamed with lacy tops, blouses and often layered with knitwear. The latter pops up constantly in the film, most often as cardigans in an assortment of patterns and colours, from Caitlin’s brightly striped half-sleeves to Vera’s chunky mustard-coloured one. This layering effect is true of the actresses’ off-screen boho style and with the muted colours (greys, burgundies, and browns) reflects the reality of cold, wet weather in Wales and England (the film’s two locations).

Balancing this delicate femininity are a number of less flirty flourishes that acknowledge the war-time conditions, ‘land girl’ spirit of the time and rural landscapes. These include wellington boots, raincoats, high thick socks and a trilby hat. Naturally, these are fashion choices more of circumstance than style, but the trilby adds a dash of masculine daring that simply screams high fashion.

With the film set in inner-city London as well as rustic Wales, there are moments of more urbane dressing. These include Vera singing onstage to London’s soldiers in scenes which actually feature the vocal talents of Knightley (“I’ve never been so frightened in my entire life,” confessed the actress on her cinematic singing debut.) In these instances, she is the very picture of Hollywood glamour – striking red lips, large fabric flowers in her immaculately styled wavy hair and long gloves. But, this sophistication isn’t the sole property of Vera, with Caitlin also enjoying more polished moments wearing pointy shoulder-pads, similarly vivid red lipstick and with her hair swept off her face.

“I have an eye for fashion, without being a slave to it,” explains the film’s costume designer, April Ferry who brought to the project nearly 30 years in the business and Emmy and Costume Designer Guild Awards to her name. And though she admits to sleepless nights when working on a job, her efforts on this film are already reaching a wider audience than those paying to see the film. This heady fashion cocktail of casual countryside and groomed starlet is creating a buzz in stylish circles, with everyone from The London Paper to Elle magazine hyping up the various looks of the movie’s leading ladies.

And so like Sienna Miller and Keira Knightley, The Edge of Love’s fashions look set to take centre stage.