I Married a Witch
USA, 1942
17th century. When Jennifer is about to be burned at the stake accused of witchcraft, she casts a spell on the Wooley family causing bad luck in love to their future descendants. In 1942, Jennifer comes back to life to torment Wallace Wooley when he is facing his election as a governor and his marriage with the arrogant Estelle Masterson.
While Estelle looks are severe and sober, Jennifer seems to be taken straight out of a fairytale book. Estelle wears padded shoulders, structured dresses and an immutable and elaborate hairdo. The hairpiece she wears at her failed wedding with Wallace is especially exaggerated and redundant. In contrast with her almost constant bitter facial expression, the whole looks ridiculous and accentuates her antipathy for the marriage.
Jennifer improvises her outfits during most parts of the film. When she comes back to life, she is naked until she finds the fur coat, and boots, that someone has left behind. Later at Wallace's house, she wears his striped pyjamas, too long and wide for her but she manages to tie them round her waist. When they spend the night at the inn, she borrows a modest nightgown from the inn's keeper. Jennifer has been born again, she does not have a wardrobe (she is not even used to 1940s clothing) so she has to improvise, and she does it graciously.
But the white (maybe it is a light color) and black frocks in the film are especially outstanding. The combination of gauze and lace give her a magical, truly bewitched, look. While in the first one, the leg of mutton sleeves in combination with the sweetheart neckline make her look more naive, the transparent bishop sleeves and corseted bodice in lace of the second one create a more dramatic look.
Other great costume piece is the witchy cape with pointy hood that Jennifer wears in her trip, framing her beautiful hair and face. Jennifer curls, Veronica Lake's signature, are hidden at the end of the movie in a refined but boring hairdo. Her more mature self wears a decorous and unflattering black dress with white ruffled collar and cuffs. She has become the ideal mother and wife and does not practice magic any longer.
While Estelle looks are severe and sober, Jennifer seems to be taken straight out of a fairytale book. Estelle wears padded shoulders, structured dresses and an immutable and elaborate hairdo. The hairpiece she wears at her failed wedding with Wallace is especially exaggerated and redundant. In contrast with her almost constant bitter facial expression, the whole looks ridiculous and accentuates her antipathy for the marriage.
Jennifer improvises her outfits during most parts of the film. When she comes back to life, she is naked until she finds the fur coat, and boots, that someone has left behind. Later at Wallace's house, she wears his striped pyjamas, too long and wide for her but she manages to tie them round her waist. When they spend the night at the inn, she borrows a modest nightgown from the inn's keeper. Jennifer has been born again, she does not have a wardrobe (she is not even used to 1940s clothing) so she has to improvise, and she does it graciously.
But the white (maybe it is a light color) and black frocks in the film are especially outstanding. The combination of gauze and lace give her a magical, truly bewitched, look. While in the first one, the leg of mutton sleeves in combination with the sweetheart neckline make her look more naive, the transparent bishop sleeves and corseted bodice in lace of the second one create a more dramatic look.
Other great costume piece is the witchy cape with pointy hood that Jennifer wears in her trip, framing her beautiful hair and face. Jennifer curls, Veronica Lake's signature, are hidden at the end of the movie in a refined but boring hairdo. Her more mature self wears a decorous and unflattering black dress with white ruffled collar and cuffs. She has become the ideal mother and wife and does not practice magic any longer.
Directed by René Clair. Costumes by Edith Head.
In the film stills, Veronica Lake as Jennifer and Susan Hayward as Estelle Masterson.
Credits:
IMDb - I Married a Witch (last accessed August 24, 2016)
Hulu - I Married a Witch (last accessed August 24, 2016)
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