This
Throwback Thursday Article focuses on the fashion and outfits of Gwen Stefani’s
“Cool” music video which debuted in the summer of 2005. Gwen Stefani’s song and
music video “Cool” directed by Sophie Muller, is about two past lovers, each of
them moving on (one of them in fact finding new love) and yet still wishing
each other well and remaining friends. The video follows the theme of the song,
with wonderfully sentimental flashbacks of Gwen and her former lover played by Spanish
actor, Daniel Gonzalez. Going along with the “it’s good to see you now with
someone else” idea in the song, the video interchanges scenes of the past with
the current, showing Daniel’s character introducing his new girlfriend played
by Erin Lokitz to Gwen.
Before
we get into the refreshing and nostalgic clothing of this beautiful music video
(which has lovely nods to the 40's), let me just start off by saying that
Gwen Stefani whether blonde or brunette is perfection!
The video begins with Daniel Gonzalez’s character and his new girlfriend walking up to a beautiful Italian villa owned by Gwen. Ladies take a tip from Erin Lokitz here, if you are going to be meeting your current boyfriend’s ex for any reason it is MANDATORY that you look flawless!
Her hair,
her décolletage, her posture…she just looks so regal!
1940’s
hairgasm anyone? I’ll have what their having!
Could the hair stylist working on the video have been inspired by the lovely 1940's film noir actresses, Rita Hayworth and Lizabeth Scott .
It is
clear that the song is inspired by feelings of nostalgia and it is easy to see
in the music video as there are so many nods to 40’s fashion that it isn’t even
funny. Like this still shot below of Gwen looking wistful and graceful as ever
as she looks at this old record while waiting for her Italian hunk to speed up
on a motorbike and rescue her.
Gwen's outfits and performance capture her as a young woman having a summer love along the streets of Italy.
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*I need that dress in my closet to seduce hot Italian men; I love the stylist's choice to have the black bra peeking out in the front* |
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*Doesn't this just make you want to buy a blue vintage one-piece and drag your boyfriend to a lake...no? just me? ok moving on!* |
Below Gwen and Daniel spend the day at the
beach, and while everything seems fine at first there is a clear brewing
tension between the two. Gwen looks lovely here with her beautiful 40’s
inspired shrug and bikini top. I love her billowy peasant skirt; it has a little bit of a 50's feel but definitely works for the overall romantic look.
Daniel Gonzalez looks so handsome and scruffy in that scene like a cross between Noah from “The Notebook” and this handsome 40’s gentleman below.
Gwen's golden locket is a subtle yet powerful symbol of young love (it could possibly be a locket given to her by Daniel’s character. As the audience we don’t know this, but the possibilities are both endless and timeless.)
As the video progresses we see Gwen and Daniel's relationship become increasingly challenging and tense as they drift further apart.
And we learned that a sad Gwen Stefani is in one word magical
But alas, all is not lost we see Gwen's character evolving into a mature adult. Gone are the playful and whimsical bikini tops, peasant skirts and maxi dresses. Gone are the sensual mini dresses and the shoulder length, bouncy brunette hairdo!
Instead there is a confident blonde bombshell who knows exactly what she wants and is clearly doing well for herself!
She trades in her past style for a bold leopard top with a more modest but still sexy pencil skirt. The styles are definitely more expensive looking.
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*I love the touches of leopard in both styles showcasing a more mature and happier Gwen* |
And after all the obstacles it's good to see all three of them genuinely happy for each other, not to mention beautifully dressed; coming together over tea and a playful barefooted walk in the sand.
Thanks so much for reading, leave a comment telling me what you thought of the article and also thanks to the following websites for the gifs, pictures, and information in the article:
http://tamucha.tumblr.com/
http://www.stickboydaily.com/movies/15-film-noir-femmes-fatales/
http://tamucha.tumblr.com/
http://www.stickboydaily.com/movies/15-film-noir-femmes-fatales/