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1970<br />
decade of decadence
Synopsis<br />
Struggling Chicago fashion design student Tracy (Diana Ross) goes from rags to riches<br />
when a chance meeting with hotshot fashion photographer Sean (Anthony Perkins) in<br />
the department store where she works leads to a runway life as a model in Rome. Tracy's<br />
overnight success and strong ambitions bring her professional success as a designer,<br />
but her diva antics may destroy her relationship with social activist Brian (Billy Dee<br />
Williams), as well as her respect in the fashion world. Her ambition leads her to spurring<br />
a choice between the man she loves or her newfound success.
Directed by-Berry Gordy<br />
Produced by-Jack Ballard and Rob Cohen<br />
Written by-Toni Amber (story)<br />
Starring<br />
Diana Ross<br />
Billy Dee Williams<br />
Jean-Pierre Aumont<br />
Anthony Perkins<br />
Production Company-Motown Productions<br />
Distributed by-Paramount Pictures<br />
Release date-October 8, 1975<br />
Running time-109 min.<br />
Country-United States<br />
Language-English
“ME” Era
• Big hair for women<br />
TRENDS
• Afro hairstyle for men
• Auntie Colours
• Turtle Necks
• Robe Dresses
• Overcoats, Hats and<br />
Scarves
• Tie Dye Blouse
• Dance
Iconic Looks<br />
The look in these pictures was entirely curated by Diana. She was the film’s<br />
costume designer and created spectacular wardrobe which she wore throughout the film. She designed<br />
about 50 outfits ranging from sportswear to haute couture and personally supervised all operations,<br />
from purchase of special fabrics to coordination of colours and all other finishing techniques.<br />
Iconic haute couturier Princess Irene Galitzine designed additional key garments in <strong>Mahogany</strong>.
"Diana was very chic. She's very knowledgeable about clothes. She's got<br />
more style than any of those girls walking around who had stylists. She didn't<br />
need a stylist. She knew what to wear.” says Jackie Rogers, a New Yorkbased<br />
couture designer who made dresses for Ross in the 1970s.<br />
reference: (montereyherald.com,2018)
Iconic Dialogue
<strong>Mahogany</strong><br />
Achievements<br />
• The film and its soundtrack include a Ross-sung theme song, "Theme from<br />
<strong>Mahogany</strong> (Do You Know Where You’re Going To)” sang by American<br />
singer Thelma Houston, which became a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in<br />
1976.<br />
• The film was nominated for the best original song Academy Award.
Continuing Fashion Statements from “<strong>Mahogany</strong>”<br />
• Big hair<br />
Rihanna, looks ethereal in a bubblegum pink dress, pearls, big hair and gloves to promote her<br />
fragrance, RiRi by Rihanna Eau De Parfum in 2015.
• Tie Dye Blouse<br />
Versace<br />
Spring/Summer 2014<br />
THEN<br />
NOW
• Robe Dresses<br />
Balmain's Fall 2000 couture collection.<br />
Ralph & Russo<br />
Spring/Summer 2016
Rihanna wore an elaborate satin Guo Pei haute<br />
couture to the 2015 Met Gala proving robes are<br />
appropriate on even the most upscale of red<br />
carpets.<br />
Rihanna wore a short and sweet,<br />
feathered Prada robe to a Met<br />
Gala after party in 2017.
• Movie Dreamgirls in 2006<br />
Ross was the epitome of black glamour in the 1970s. Costume<br />
designers for "Dreamgirls" used the <strong>Mahogany</strong> diva as the<br />
style template for Beyonce’s character. And of course, Diana<br />
Ross was what Beyoncé is now: a global superstar who<br />
transcended the limitations of race and gender.<br />
“Diana Ross is a big inspiration to all of us. We all grew up watching everything about her—her<br />
mic placement, her grace, her style and her class.”~Beyoncé<br />
reference: (montereyherald.com,2018)
• After 42years of <strong>Mahogany</strong>…<br />
Chronicle fashion editor Joy Sewing will host a screening<br />
of the movie on Dec. 2, 2017, at the Museum of Fine Arts<br />
Houston.<br />
Before "<strong>Mahogany</strong>" was projected on the big screen, drag<br />
queen Chloe T. Crawford performed Ross' classic song<br />
from the movie, "Do You Know." Crawford channeled Ms.<br />
Ross in a bright multi-coloured dress by Eternity Collins<br />
that looked identical to the one Ross wore in the movie.
5 REASONS WHY ‘MAHOGANY’ IS STILL A WINNER!<br />
1. THE MUSIC -The music for <strong>Mahogany</strong> was written by the late Michael<br />
Masser and includes the Oscar-nominated song, “Do You Know Where You’re Going To,”<br />
which was a No. 1 smash hit on the Billboard charts. It has also been performed by Mariah<br />
Carey and Jennifer Lopez.<br />
2. THE FASHION- In addition to starring as the film’s lead, Diana Ross also served as the<br />
film’s costume designer.<br />
“The whole experience of making <strong>Mahogany</strong> was such a joy—well almost the whole time<br />
of it. One of the best parts was that I got to design my costumes. (And I still have them<br />
all, in storage—I’ve never thrown anything away.) But for Motown, I might have become a<br />
fashion designer,” states Ross in her book, Going Back.<br />
reference: (Anon,2018)
3. THE LOVE STORY-No other Black actors possessed dynamic on screen chemistry<br />
during the 1970’s like Diana Ross and Billy Dee Williams.<br />
4. THE INFLUENCE-<strong>Mahogany</strong>’s influence on African-American fashion and style is<br />
without question. The film inspired generations of designers, stylists, models, actresses,<br />
and singers from the late 1970’s through today.<br />
5. THE ICON-The original diva, Diana Ross created the blueprint for infusing music and<br />
fashion and has been the quintessential style icon for over 5 decades. She has been a muse<br />
for such top designers as Bob Mackie, Thierry Mugler and Tom Ford.<br />
Her fashion influence can easily be seen in some of today’s biggest superstars including<br />
Kelly Rowland, Janet Jackson, Solange, Jill Scott, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Jennifer<br />
Lopez, Vivica A. Fox, RuPaul and Rihanna.
Takeaway<br />
Diana Ross was beautiful, glamorous, and successful when women of that colour weren’t supposed<br />
to be beautiful, or glamorous and certainly not ambitious. Exploring and deconstructing the movie<br />
has helped me in providing in-depth knowledge about not only the 70s decade but all the other<br />
decades too, as all the decades are interlinked. The project also broadened my knowledge by<br />
helping me relate luxury to culture.
Referencing of Quotes<br />
Montereyherald.com. (2018). 'Dreamgirls' costumes supremely dazzling. [online] Available at: http://www.montereyherald.com/<br />
article/ZZ/20070101/NEWS/701019921 [Accessed 10 Apr. 2018].<br />
Anon, (2018). [Online] Available at: https://raycornelius.com/2015/10/mahogany-is-still-a-winner-photos-video/ [Accessed 10 Apr.<br />
2018].
Referencing<br />
Mail Online. (2018). Rihanna stars in ethereal new fragrance campaign. [online] Available at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/<br />
article-3211340/Rihanna-ditches-signature-edgy-look-ladylike-pearls-bubblegum-pink-dress-ethereal-new-fragrancecampaign.html#ixzz5CqNaqQdk<br />
[Accessed 8 Apr. 2018].<br />
Out.com. (2018). <strong>Mahogany</strong> 40th Anniversary Celebration. [online] Available at: https://www.out.com/2015/2/20/mahogany-40thanniversary-celebration<br />
[Accessed 10 Apr. 2018].<br />
Houston Chronicle. (2018). '<strong>Mahogany</strong>' set for Movies Houstonians Love series. [Online] Available at: https://www.chron.com/<br />
entertainment/article/Cult-film-<strong>Mahogany</strong>-on-tap-for-Movies-12388768.php#photo-14614466 [Accessed 10 Apr. 2018].<br />
Moviefiednyc.com. (2018). Movie-Still Monday: Black Summer Nights features <strong>Mahogany</strong> (1975). [Online] Available at: https://<br />
moviefiednyc.com/2015/06/08/movie-still-monday-black-summer-nights-features-mahogany-1975/ [Accessed 10 Apr. 2018].<br />
Chicago Sun-Times. (2018). In 1975's '<strong>Mahogany</strong>,' Diana Ross timeless, but the attitudes aren't. [online] Available at: https://<br />
chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment/in-1975s-mahogany-diana-ross-timeless-but-the-attitudes-arent/ [Accessed 10 Apr. 2018].<br />
Neptsdepths.blogspot.in. (2018). Time to Polish My "<strong>Mahogany</strong>". [online] Available at: https://neptsdepths.blogspot.in/2013/03/<br />
time-to-polish-my-mahogany.html [Accessed 10 Apr. 2018].
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