COMING SOON : The Great Gatsby

Carey Mulligan playing Daisy Buchanan and Leonardo di Caprio as Jay Gatsby

I've been slowly seeing publicity shots and posters being released for The Great Gatsby (the stories sixth trip to the pictures) and I'm starting to get quite excited about this new adaptation by Baz Luhrmann. The character posters are beautifully shot and I love the art deco design with black and gold colour scheme. Luhrmann has apparently kept the story line very close to the acclaimed novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, whilst still adding his recognisable magic. The most famous screen version of The Great Gatsby so far was in 1974, starring Mia Farrow and Robert Redford.

The storyline follows the life and times of mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby (Leonardo di Caprio) who has questionable business ethics and an unhealthy obsession with married Daisy Buchanan (Carey Mulligan, in what I'm sure will be another stand out performance). It's told by Gatsby's neighbor Nick (Tobey Maguire) who recalls his encounter with Gatsby at the height of the Roaring Twenties.

In classic Luhrmann style, Jay-Z has been recruited to score the film (leading a host of pop icons such as Lady Gaga and Kanye West) in a move typical of the director of Romeo & Juliet and Moulin Rouge to bring a modern, contemporary feel to the films 1920's setting. You can hear a glimpse of the soundtrack in the recently released trailer (preview below). 

So, not only has Baz Luhrmann got Jay-Z on board with his new creation but he also has Miuccia Prada designing the costumes. The Italian designer previously collaborated with Luhrmann on the 1996 adaptation Romeo and Juliet, designing the suit Leonardo di Caprio wore for the wedding scene.

This time round Miuccia Prada has collaborated with costume designer Catherine Martin (also Luhrmann's wife) and chosen 40 dresses from past Prada and Miu Miu collections and adapted them into 1920s-style flapper numbers for the film. Four gorgeous illustrations of some of the dresses chosen have been released and here they are below...

Orange organza dress enriched with plastic fish scale-like sequin embroidery. Inspired by the Prada A/W 2011 collection

Multi-striped sequins dress with a plastic and trimmings embroidery at the bottom. Inspired by the Prada S/S 2011 collection.

Knee-length dress in octane-coloured tulle lined in matching silk cady.

Radzmire dress with bustier embroidered with pearls, stones and sequin fringes. Inspired by a revisited silhouette of the 1920s, it is made contemporary by the use of modern fabrics and embroideries of the 1950s.

I think these few pictures give us a glimmer of what to expect. Personally I think the designs are absolutely stunning and I can't wait to see what else the costume department has in store.

This long awaited  and much anticipated film will be gracing our cinemas in the UK on 17th May 2013. I seriously can't wait! How about you?

AKA Hooting Miss Owl

Mia Farrow and Robert Redford in the 1974 adaptation

Mia Farrow as Daisy Buchanan in 1974 adaptation

Carey Mulligan and Leonardo di Caprio

Leonardo di Caprio, Carey Mulligan and Joel Edgerton

Tobey Maguire and Leonardo di Caprio

All images courtesy of google here and here