I have shown in Part 1 & 2 how Almodovar's influences can be spotted in the ways the clothes are matched with the environment in FTLY. Although there were many instances of elaborate matching, there were also times when the stylist did not go all the way out to match flamboyant colours, especially where the lead female character was concerned.
The lead female character is Kim Mi Young, an office girl who wears lovely dresses (before she gets married).
[ Below: Episode 5--After her wedding at her hometown, Mi Young comes back to Seoul and is now at the Ferry Terminal.]
In the right photo below, the backdrop is red and this presents a great opportunity to match the characters' clothes. The stylist merely arranged for a passerby to wear a pink shirt and carry a red haversack. But why isn't Mi Young the one wearing something that really matches the red backdrop? Instead, she is wearing such a dull and conservative outfit.
With a few exceptions, her dressing seems to take a turn for the worse after the wedding.
[Below: Episode 5--Director Tak meets Mi Young at the Terminal]
In the top right photo, the Director Tak's green tie matches the green lights and backdrop ( see yellow ovals). A non-lead character, instead of Mi Young, is wearing something that matches the backdrop.
Since the stylist took a leaf from Almodovar's book (Refer to Part 1), why not go all the way out, like in the airport scene below? It's not like Mi Young is a poor dresser.
In fact, from this episode on, there are many instances of Mi Young and sometimes, Li Gun, dressing conservatively, whereas the non-lead characters are dressed more flamboyantly to match the background.
[Top left and bottom] Women on Verge of Nervous Breakdown (1988)
Notice how the woman's checked jacket picks out the geometric designs of the wall mural.
[Below: Episode 13]
I love the candy colours in this scene ...but sigh, this is another wasted opportunity to match colours that will make the image so much more vibrant.
Lee Gun, dressed in black, is chatting with his doctor in the hospital. Due to their work nature, both are dressed conservatively but why not dress the other characters in colours that match the wall? After all, even the chairs have matching colours!
[Below] Her red top matches the colourful backdrop. ( Kika, 1993 )
[Below: Episode 13 ] Such a lovely cafe so I don't know why Mi Young is dressed in such a pale yellow jacket that makes her blend into the surroundings!
[Below: Episode, when Daniel proposes ] I have a major GRIPE with this brown dress which is so plain and dull, and doesn't brighten up the actress' face. I couldn't understand why this dress was chosen until I looked at the scene a few times. It's to match the brown, ochre yellow seats and railings! There is a range of colours that can match the brown seats like Orange that would have been fabulous and that would have brought some colour to her face, which is quite pale since she's wearing nude makeup.
[Below] I'm not a fan of brown, but there's no denying that Lee Gun's stepmother's brown top with its geometric prints matches the brown pillars, window frames and furniture beautifully, much more so than Mi Young's plain brown dress in the above photo.
[Below: Episode 15] Li Gun's granny's lemon yellow jacket sits nicely with the bubble-gum coloured chairs but not Me Young's white outfit. Another instance of a non-lead character wearing colourful clothes instead of the lead character.
[Below] This studio is a gem--the red window frames and pillars provide a striking setting for the many colourful paintings. Even the gilded armchairs are upholstered in fabric with prints of the artist's whimsical paintings. The other furniture pieces have warm colours that match the paintings.
In this scene, although both are dressed in smart casuals, the manager wears a pink tie and Mi Young a salmon pink jacket, which match the setting well.
[Below: Episode 15] Daniel's light orange pants match the orange-red wall and the orange cushion. Although Mi Young's clothes match the black and white picture on the rug, I personally find it a very boring match as it just doesn't enhance the colourful studio. The black and white colours seem to mute the warm tones of the studio.
[Below: Episode 16] Mi Young's blue top matches the girl's blue and white top in the painting, and the cushion which has been carefully placed beside Mi Young. The small red painting matches the red wall and the pretty red floral lamp-shade.
But Mi Young's friend's clothes don't match at all! I can't figure out why not since this friend is very bubbly and would have suited yellow that will match the girl's hair (painting).
[Below: Episode 18] Another major GRIPE: Why are both of them wearing brown?
They are finally reconciled so there's no need for solemn colours in such a colourful studio.
I was wondering why the stylist again got Mi Young a brown dress for this scene--surely not to match the easel? Then I realised that it's to match her husband's brown suit!
Couple's Outfits (情侣装）are such a cliche idea. Even if they must wear matching colours, surely there are better choices? Since he is on 3 months' leave, why is he still wearing a waistcoat and tie?
There were so many bright colours in the studio that the stylist could have picked to match their clothes. The actor looked smashing in bright and pale pink before his Slave-Hunting days (not that the stylist must choose pink), and the actress could have done with some colour on her face as her makeup was very light (much appreciated).
[Below] Almodovar boldly matched the lead characters' clothes with the wall-paper colours.
Tie Me Up Tie Me Down (1990)
[Below: Episode 18] The stylist had obviously put in much effort in choosing a striped dress for Mi Young to match the thick stripes of the green chair and red bench.
[Top left] Daniel is wearing a pink jacket to match the bright green chairs but Mi Young's black and white colours just look so out with the environment. Brighter stripes would have matched the chair and Daniel's jacket better.
[Top right] Again, the same black and white stripes against a fiery orange-red bench ...
[Bottom left] ... just to match her husband's black outfit!
[Bottom right: I'm So Excited (2013)]
An idea of how a colourful dress would have looked like against a grassy green background.
[Below: Episode 20, at their honeymoon hotel]
A character who appears for only 5 minutes wears a skirt that matches the wall, so the two can wear Couple's Outfit! The skirt is pretty but hardly a match for the flamboyant installation art.
With such a beautiful wall, surely more could have been done.
Mi Young would have looked fabulous if only she had been wearing a lovely dress with matching colours and prints that picked out the heavily textured wall.
I was wondering what Almodovar would have done with the above backdrop, when I came across the stunning scene below. In this brightly lit scene, the artistic backdrop is a white wall with black graffiti streaks. The girl's floral dress actually matches the background, due to the big patches of white on her dress. The colourful flowers make her stand out against the black and white backdrop, and she's like part of the abstract art backdrop. The other character's turquoise cardigan and shoes match the black and turquoise fabric on the floor and together with the red basin, they bring colour to the otherwise black-and-white setting.
I'm So Excited (2013)
Part 4: Blues in Fated To Love You
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