FAR FROM CLUELESS
FORGET “90210.” “CLUELESS” HAS THE NEW BEVERLY HILLS IMAGE — AND IT’S NOT JUST FOR TEENYBOPPERS. IN FACT, IT’S THE FASHION MOVIE OF THE YEAR.
Byline: Jessica Kerwin and Dahlia Dean
NEW YORK — The 411 on “Clueless,” Amy Heckerling’s new film, is that designer fashion gives Beverly Hills girls “a major toothache” — that is, they think it’s sweet. Former Aerosmith video vixen Alicia Silverstone plays Cher, a spoiled L.A. teen dream, whose live-to-shop image is certain to help usher in a whole new glamorous post-grunge age. Cher’s got a brand-new lexicon and a designer wardrobe to match. And “Clueless” is the first teen movie that might actually get the mall rats out of The Gap and onto Rodeo Drive.
Cher and her Lolita-esque friends parade around in micro-tartan kilts with matching jackets, mini knapsacks, fake fur and feathers, knee-highs or thigh-highs, platform shoes and the requisite schoolgirl headbands. For Cher, giving makeovers to her high school chums delivers “a sense of control in a world of chaos,” and a trip to a toney mall rebuilds her strength. “I only wish I had done a tie-in,” said Bloomingdale’s senior vice president Kal Ruttenstein after seeing the film. “It’ll be required viewing for our juniors buyers.”
When Cher gets mugged at gunpoint, she pleads with her assailant not to make her lie down on her stomach — that could ruin her dress. “You don’t understand,” she whines. “This is an Alaia, it’s, like, a totally important designer.”
When her father, played by Dan Hedaya, roars that perennial paternal line, “What the hell is that?” she demurely answers, “A dress.” “Says who?” he counters. “Calvin Klein,” Cher responds. (In fact, she’s wearing Vivienne Tam.)
Is this the way girls dress for high school in Beverly Hills?
“I didn’t go to the schools and research what they were wearing,” says “Clueless” costume designer Mona May. “I didn’t have an interest in that. I wanted to create something outrageous. I concentrated on the European look and incorporated that into the fashion sense of the Beverly Hills kids who have money.”
May used clothes from Anna Sui, Dolce & Gabbana, Martine Sitbon and Donna Karan, but also found some great vintage pieces and others from Contempo Casuals. (The store chain gets a plug in the film.)
“I wanted to do a character completely the opposite of me — one that had a silver lining to her silver lining,” says director Heckerling, who’s also responsible for “Look Who’s Talking” and “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.”
As for the film’s phraseology, Heckerling says, “I certainly went around after ‘Wayne’s World’ saying ‘schwing’ a lot. Lots of times in the cutting room we would say, ‘This is so not fixable’ and, ‘As if.’ I’m trying not to use — ‘Hello’.”
“Baldwins” — the code name for cute boys — are nearly as important as clothes to the film. Especially well-dressed ones. But therein lies the dilemma. What can our Cher bring to a relationship with leading style sultan Christian (Justin Walker) when he already dresses better than she does? Even his pickup line compliments her shoes. Of course, it turns out Christian is gay, so they become best shopping buddies, and Cher can focus on the more-backward Josh (Paul Rudd), who may dress funny, but is still kind of a Baldwin. He may be the one, but, after all, Cher says, “You see how picky I am about my shoes. And they only go on my feet.”
Sure, “Clueless” is as light as cappuccino foam, but cappuccino foam is tasty. So far, it’s the best fashion movie of the year. But what should you wear to see it? Whatever you choose. As Cher would say, “Never trust a mirror — always take a Polaroid.” As if.