 | Shane's wardrobe struggled to choose as much as she did. |
After an in-depth analysis of Shane and Oliver's wardrobe story in From The Heart, I became curious about the function of wardrobe inside other installments.
Of course, Impossible Dream immediately came to mind given that it was another time Shane experienced man trouble. I wondered how, if at all, her wardrobe varied as she navigated the space between her feelings for Oliver and any lingering feelings for Steve. Suffice it to say, there was definitely a story to tell.
Of course, Impossible Dream immediately came to mind given that it was another time Shane experienced man trouble. I wondered how, if at all, her wardrobe varied as she navigated the space between her feelings for Oliver and any lingering feelings for Steve. Suffice it to say, there was definitely a story to tell.
Pre-Steve
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Shane started out Impossible Dream with a bold, eccentric print. And, if you look very carefully throughout the first twenty minutes or so of the film, it's clear that Oliver's pocket square picks up almost every color in Shane's blouse.
We've already established previously that wardrobe coordination between Shane and Oliver is an indicator of the health of their relationship, and the more complicated the color coordination the better! Here, their relationship is in the best state possible, particularly given that Oliver asks Shane out to dinner for some one-on-one time. Her confidence in that regard is reflected in the bright orange dress we've all been obsessed with since it appeared in this installment.
We've already established previously that wardrobe coordination between Shane and Oliver is an indicator of the health of their relationship, and the more complicated the color coordination the better! Here, their relationship is in the best state possible, particularly given that Oliver asks Shane out to dinner for some one-on-one time. Her confidence in that regard is reflected in the bright orange dress we've all been obsessed with since it appeared in this installment.
 | That orange dress chooses one of the colors in Oliver's pocket square to emphasize, and, of course, she looks incredible in it. Unfortunately, this is also where Shane's wardrobe dilemma begins. |
With Steve
As Steve enters the picture, Shane's wardrobe takes an interesting turn that has her tenuously teetering back and forth between her two suitors. It begins their second day in D.C. when Shane rocks that bright yellow blouse, cobalt blue skirt and gladiator heels.
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While she seems to retain the blue that so often ties she and Oliver together via her skirt, notice that it also gets distinctively shorter in comparison to almost any other skirt/dress she has worn in the series. Consider that a red flag.
Not to mention that fact that Shane's cobalt blue skirt seems to perfectly capture the cobalt blue in Steve's tie, indicating Shane is fighting a subconscious battle between these two men. She is definitely trying to get attention--whether she realizes it or not---even when it's clear all eyes are already on her!
Shane's interaction with both Steve and Oliver at the Pentagon further serves to reinforce her struggle, as one minute she's taking Oliver's side about the letter being under their jurisdiction, but the next she's clearly caving to Steve's flirtations over the Department of Agriculture being "clandestine."
As Shane, Oliver, Steve and company appear before Senate Subcommittee, the color scheme has a red, white and blue bias. But the wardrobe dilemma finds Shane slowly leaning back exclusively in Oliver's direction, as her black blazer and blue dress match his black suit and patriotic pocket square. At the same time, Steve's blue shades hint at a lingering, but fading, connection between he and Shane.
Not to mention that fact that Shane's cobalt blue skirt seems to perfectly capture the cobalt blue in Steve's tie, indicating Shane is fighting a subconscious battle between these two men. She is definitely trying to get attention--whether she realizes it or not---even when it's clear all eyes are already on her!
Shane's interaction with both Steve and Oliver at the Pentagon further serves to reinforce her struggle, as one minute she's taking Oliver's side about the letter being under their jurisdiction, but the next she's clearly caving to Steve's flirtations over the Department of Agriculture being "clandestine."
As Shane, Oliver, Steve and company appear before Senate Subcommittee, the color scheme has a red, white and blue bias. But the wardrobe dilemma finds Shane slowly leaning back exclusively in Oliver's direction, as her black blazer and blue dress match his black suit and patriotic pocket square. At the same time, Steve's blue shades hint at a lingering, but fading, connection between he and Shane.
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I have never been able to quite determine whether or not that lace dress Shane wears to the pageant is black or navy blue. If it's black, then it's an anomaly, or a representation of her subconsciously stepping back from both men to make a final determination about her feelings. Whereas, if it was a deep navy blue, she technically matched both Oliver and Steve perfectly for a time, suggesting some internal conflict lingered on Shane's part, even though, in the end, we know she chose Oliver.
After Steve
| On the tarmac during their final hours in D.C., Shane's black and grey floral print dress with bright red skinny belt and expertly matched shoes seems to share a most obvious connection to Steve. Steve's black suit and grey and white striped tie are practically a perfect visual match. Notice how he is also standing between Shane and Oliver, a physical representation of his status as an obstacle current obstacle between the two. |  |
But once Steve steps away, leaving the space between Shane and Oliver completely clear, this happens:
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With the Steve situation more or less settled in Shane's mind, on that final day in D.C. she and Oliver resumed their complicated color coordination once more. It seems that Shane's red belt was the mini-wardrobe clue as to wear Shane's heart truly lay, given it once again matches Oliver's pocket square, pulling the two definitively back together once again.
While we knew deep down in our hearts where Shane's heart would ultimately go, the work Shane's wardrobe does in Impossible Dream to compliment, and even emphasize, Shane's struggle to choose between Steve and Oliver is incredibly satisfying to recognize and dissect.
Had you caught on to this wardrobe story, POstables? Let me know in the comments!
Always Lookin' Out,
~C
While we knew deep down in our hearts where Shane's heart would ultimately go, the work Shane's wardrobe does in Impossible Dream to compliment, and even emphasize, Shane's struggle to choose between Steve and Oliver is incredibly satisfying to recognize and dissect.
Had you caught on to this wardrobe story, POstables? Let me know in the comments!
Always Lookin' Out,
~C
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