Fashion Victim Takes a Vow

THE MOVIE: “Betsy’s Wedding.”

THE SCENE: Molly Ringwald (Betsy) plays a betrothed fashion design student. Her father (Alan Alda), mother (Madeline Kahn), sister (Ally Sheedy) and fiance (Dylan Walsh) are stultifying characters who distract from the two best parts of the film--the sartorially splendid, cartoon-gangster Tony Dee, played by Anthony La Paglia and Betsy’s wardrobe.

THE LOOK: Costume designer Mary Malin created Ringwald’s wannabe designer wardrobe by cleaning out her own closet and jewelry stash. She asked for contributions from her staff and even used some of Ringwald’s own clothes.

The eclectic style does not work to Ringwald’s advantage. She looks awkward in a ‘50s leopard fur toque with a short-sleeve red dress and red wrist-length gloves. Over-the-top fashion statements worked for Bernadette Peters in “Slaves of New York” but on Ringwald they look ridiculous, especially with a pillbox hat perched on her forehead, as if she were a carhop. The only clothes that she wears with any sort of conviction are the frilly dress for an opera scene and her wedding gown.

Anthony La Paglia, on the other hand, doesn’t have a bit of trouble wearing the double-breasted, washed silk suits with peak lapels that look like a mountain range across his chest, and ties that are so loud they’re deafening. He wears this grotesque wardrobe with a Cary Grant-like panache.

THE STORES: Malin swears Ringwald’s wardrobe has no certain store lineage. It was begged, borrowed or uncovered in the back rooms and sale racks of department stores. The wedding dress goes through such a transformation, from traditional to funky neo-nuptial, Malin feels it would be cruel to name the original designer. Customizing yields a Marie Antoinette-style frock with a decollete bodice and a swagged overskirt with a multicolored, multitiered underskirt of lace ruffles. Malin confessed the actual transformation took weeks of stitching in the workroom.

La Paglia’s suits came from Italy and from designers Hugo Boss and Bill Kaiserman. To find these eye-popping pieces, Malin said, “Well, let’s just say I did very well in the (San Fernando) Valley.”

THE PAYOFF: Ringwald’s converted wedding dress (pictured), worn with a white top hat and mid-calf length white boots, is surprisingly appealing. The white satin top hat is an especially nice touch.