Lauren Bacall Style in The Big Sleep - Her Stunning 1940s Fashion
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Looking for some Lauren Bacall style inspiration?
From slinky palazzo pants, to glitzy evening outfits, Lauren Bacall wears stunning 1940s fashion in the 1946 film noir The Big Sleep.
Keep reading to see all of her outfits from the movie.
This post is all about Lauren Bacall’s Style in The Big Sleep
Lauren Bacall The Big Sleep
The Big Sleep stars Humphrey Bogart as the private eye Philip Marlowe, with Lauren Bacall playing the part as the fiesty daughter (Vivian Rutledge) of one of his clients
When Philip Marlowe is called in to find out who’s blackmailing one of the Rutledge daughters, he finds himself in a complicated case and a potential love interest.
The Big Sleep is a classic 1940s style film noir movie, complete with snappy dialogue, femme fatales, and a twisty plot that is almost impossible to follow.
It’s worth the watch if you’re a fan of Bogey and Bacall and of course the gorgeous 1940s fashion that not only Lauren Bacall wears, but all the female characters in the movie.
Lauren Bacall’s 1940s Style in The Big Sleep
Lauren Bacall wears glitzy 1940s fashion in her role as the socialite Vivian Rutledge in The Big Sleep.
Typical of 1940s fashion, dresses and skirts make up the majority of her outfits, but long palazzo pants are occasionally worn for more casual styles, and she also wears some fancy clothes at the night clubs.
She favors large cocktail rings, heels, hats, and broaches as accessories. Oh, and of course you can’t talk about Old Hollywood glamour without a large fur coat.
The costume designer for the film was Leah Rhodes, who, after designing the styles for this film began to gain in popularity. After seeing the fashion that she designed for this film, you’ll understand why!
Lauren Bacall Style Outfit #1 - 1940s style pants
When we first meet Lauren Bacall’s character Vivian in The Big Sleep, she’s casually dressed in flowy palazzo pants to meet Humphry Bogart’s character Philip Marlowe.
A blazer with large button done down the front dresses up the pants and she’s also sporting a large cocktail ring.
Not too bad for early in the morning. Bogart also happily accepts the cocktail she pours him in the morning.
Vivan pours Philip Marlowe a drink, then tries to find out why her father hired him.
Lauren Bacall Style Outfit #2 - Old Hollywood Glamour Dressing Robe
Not sure if this could be considered casual Lauren Bacall style, but she wears a silk dressing robe over a nightgown when Humphrey Bogart’s character Philip Marlowe brings home her sister who had too much to drink.
Full on old Hollywood glamour dressing robe and room.
Check out the vintage lamp, the detailing on the curtains, and that ornate headboard!
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Lauren Bacall Style Outfit #3 - 1940s style skirt suit
Lauren Bacall wears a checkered 1940s style skirt suit when she goes to visit Philip Marlowe’s (Humphrey Bogart) office the next day.
To accessorize the outfit she wears a slouchy beret style hat, heels, and of course her large ring again.
Lauren Bacall Style Outfit #4 - 1940s style dress
Lauren Bacall wears a 1940s style dress with a slim white belt accenting the waist for a little run-in with trouble and, of course, Humphrey Bogart’s character Philip Marlowe.
Again, she wears her cocktail ring as an accessory, but this time also adding a bracelet.
In one of this film noirs many twists, it begins to look at this point like Vivian is in with the bad guys.
Lauren Bacall Style Outfit #5 - 1940s style cocktail outfit
In order to meet Humphrey Bogart for a drink in a quite smoky club, Lauren Bacall wears a shiny blazer with a skirt.
They smoke while talking, adding to the already excessive amount in the room.
Check out the fur coat she’s carrying on one arm, she’ll end up wearing that with her next outfit.
Vivian attempts to pay Philip Marlowe off to get him to drop the case.
Lauren Bacall Style Outfit #6 - 1940s Style Dress
Lots of 1940s style night club outfits!
Here, while singing at a nightclub/gambling joint, Lauren Bacall wears a white dress with a striped, fitted vest-like top over a full skirt.
She checks out Humphrey Bogart’s character as he enters the room to listen to her singing.
Lauren Bacall Style Outfit #7 - 1940s Style Fur Coat
Late that night, Lauren Bacall leaves the nightclub in style, throwing that glamorous fur coat we saw earlier on over her white dress.
In the parking lot, Philip saves her from an attempted hold-up.
The coat looks equally good standing up, or when snuggled into the passenger seat of the car at Humphrey Bogart drives her home.
Lauren Bacall Style Outfit #8 - 1940s Style Dress
Lauren Bacall wears another 1940s style dress when the action begins to pick up at the climax of the movie.
This time it’s a simple dark 1940s style dress, with a matching belt emphasizing the waist.
She leaves the house in style as a hoodlum follows her with a gun.
Below, a closer shot of the dress as Lauren Bacall comes into the room.
In this still from the movie, we can see the a clearer view of Lauren Bacall’s slingback heels that she paired with the dress.
In the final scene of the movie, Lauren Bacall is still wearing this dress for her happy ending with Humphrey Bogart.
The plot for The Big Sleep is so complicated it’s rumored that even Bogart had questions about the films plot.
However, despite it’s overly complicated plot, the movie is a classic film noir.
It’s popularity is due no doubt to Bogie Bacall star power, and it’s classy fashion.
If you’re a fan of film noirs, and 1940 fashion, then you’ll enjoy this 1946 classic.
This post was all about Lauren Bacall Style in The Big Sleep
What did you think about Lauren Bacall’s fashion in The Big Sleep?
Do you prefer her 1940s style or her 1950s style better?
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