And the Dinos Wore Tails

The Movie: “Jurassic Park”

The Scene: A “Jaws”-like adventure, but with more mouths. Director Steven Spielberg has humans--including Sam Neill (above), Laura Dern (above) and Jeff Goldblum--frolicking with newly cloned dinosaurs, but play at Jurassic Park turns ugly fast.

The Costume Designer: None. This is the first studio motion picture in recent memory without a costume designer.

The Look: There’s something wonderful about the costumes here, even though, officially, there aren’t any. Certainly, there is no obvious look. It’s just a bunch of people in shorts. But Jurassic Park is modern safari country, and paleontologists Dern and Neill are dressed for their parts. There’s nothing strikingly new or original about their khaki shorts and pants or denim and chambray shirts, but the way they wear them displays jaunty, all-American style. Goldblum, a hip mathematician in the film, plays the fashion wild card in his uniform of black leather and the kind of weird, narrow eyeglasses favored by Arsenio Hall.

Try This at Home: Notice how Neill and Dern always roll everything up--trouser cuffs and shirt cuffs. Kind of makes you think of the throwaway chic of Gene Kelly dancing. Notice the great hats, including Neill’s battered straw one. Think of all the rugged outdoor movie heroes who wouldn’t be caught without such a hat, including Spielberg’s own Indiana Jones. Notice Dern’s lovely little Reinstein/Ross Ltd. earrings, gold hoops with dangling sapphire charms. Notice how everyone’s in hiking boots, which just happen to be cool shoes in the big city now.

Be On the Lookout for: A revival in amber jewelry. The key to resurrecting dinosaurs is found through insects trapped inside ancient amber. Jurassic Park owner John Hammond (Sir Richard Attenborough) flaunts an amber watchband and amber-topped walking stick.

Hair Watch: Dern sports the modern haircut of the moment, bottoming off around chin length, as favored by Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Prediction: Although Spielberg has sanctioned licensees for his own Jurassic Park brand of clothing, this is virtually guaranteed to be of the boring logo-stamped variety. In reality, the actors’ safari clothes are so appealing that the movie ought to be a boon to Banana Republic.