‘Teen Beach Movie’ is a blast from the fashion past
“Teen Beach Movie” -- the television film Disney hopes will be the next “High School Musical” -- is set to premiere Friday night, and if nothing else it’s going to give us a blast from the fashion past.
The movie is about a pair of modern day teens played by Maia Mitchell and Ross Lynch who are transported into a 1960s-style beach movie called “Wet Side Story,” where they befriend characters played by Garrett Clayton (who is already being compared to “HSM’s” Zac Efron) and Grace Phipps. It’s kind of a riff on the old Frankie Avalon/Annette Funicello franchise but with a modern energy.
So the cast gets to wear plenty of board shorts, high-waist two-piece bathing suits, ruffled tops, madras plaids and polka dots. Ruth E. Carter, the film’s costume designer, drew from Los Angeles vintage dealers the Way We Wore and Palace Costume and mixed in pieces from Abercrombie & Fitch, Keds and J. Crew, according to WWD.
PHOTOS: “Teen Beach Movie” puts 1960s style on display
Disney brought in stylists Louise Roe and Daniel Musto for a publicity photo shoot that incorporated pieces from Forever 21, Zara and Topshop.
Roe reportedly was inspired by Edie Sedgwick, Marilyn Monroe and “Grease,” as well as retro looks on modern runways.
But if the movie inspires you to take a cue from looks that are now half a century old, she has advice:
Don’t wear vintage head to toe; instead just a piece or two, mixed in with your skinny jeans. White cat-eye sunglasses are a must. And a polka dot scarf tied around the neck would make a nice finishing touch.
“Teen Beach Movie” premieres at 8 p.m. EDT/PDT Friday on the Disney Channel.
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