Lauren Bacall Style in Blood Alley – Her Fabulous 1950s Fashion
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Lauren Bacall style in Blood Alley is an example of fantastic 1950s fashion in what is otherwise a terrible movie.
Lauren Bacall wears her usual Lauren Bacall style basics throughout the movie: a great fitting pair of slacks with a classy blouse, a trench-coat, and of course a skirt outfit with a well-defined waist.
As this movie was shot in right in the mid 1950’s, 1955 to be exact, 1950s fashion plays a strong influence on Lauren Bacall’s wardrobe, with the presence of a 1950’s style circle skirt, and an emphasis on defining the waist.
Practicality also plays a large role here, and we only see Lauren Bacall in one skirt throughout the film. Her outfits are dressier and she wears jewelry before they leave the village.
However, once they are onboard the boat, her character relies on more practical slacks and only a wristwatch for jewelry.
This post is all about Lauren Bacall Style in Blood Alley
Blood Alley Movie Synopsis
Blood Alley stars Lauren Bacall and John Wayne as Cathy Grainger and Captain Tom Wilder.
Tom Wilder (John Wayne) escapes from prison where he was being held by the communist Chinese.
Some villagers help him escape with the intent that he will captain a ship to help them all escape to Hong Kong.
The beautiful (and stylish) Cathy Grainer (Lauren Bacall) is among the villagers, also intending to make her escape.
It doesn’t take long on the voyage to Hong Kong for her to fall in love with the Captain.
It’s actually surprising that the movie’s IMDB rating is above a 6.0.
Not only are Lauren Bacall and John Wayne about the least imaginable couple together, but the storyline itself is poorly done and hard to follow.
As you might’ve guessed, about the only redeeming quality of the movie is Lauren Bacall’s 1950s fashion, which as usual, she pulls off in her effortless glamorous type of way.
Luckily we endured the movie and documented Lauren Bacall’s flawless style so that you don’t have to. 😳
Fun facts!
Although the location is supposed to be set in Shanghai, apparently the movie was actually shot near San Francisco Bay, which might account for the rather foggy scenes that are prevalent throughout the movie.
John Wayne is also one of the producers of the film as well as the leading man.
He wasn’t first choice though to play the role of Captain Tom Wilder though, quite the opposite.
Robert Mitchum was fired, Gregory Peck turned down the role, and Humphrey Bogart wanted too much money.
Too bad that Humphrey Bogart turned down the role, or we might’ve had another Bogie-Bacall classic movie.
Lauren Bacall Style Blood Alley – Black turtleneck sweater with 1950s style skirt
Lauren Bacall’s first outfit in the film is her typical 1950s style circle skirt, belted at the waist with a belt, with a turtleneck and a what appears to be a red sweater tucked in at the waist.
She pairs the skirt with a simple pair of black ballet flats, making this a comfy and casual 1950s style outfit.
The red and black look remarkably well on her, this is in contrast to the outfits she wears for the rest of the film which are much more muted.
During the 1950s, Lauren Bacall wore this style of skirt often, both in her movies and in her private life.
In the 1940s she tended towards wearing straighter skirt styles, closer to a pencil skirt silhouette, like in her film noir movies opposite Humphrey Bogart: Dark Passage and The Big Sleep.
Below, we can see Lauren Bacall wearing a very similar style of skirt while out with her hubby Humphrey Bogart.
Other posts you might like:
Lauren Bacall Style in The Big Sleep – Her Stunning 1940s Fashion
Lauren Bacall 1950s fashion Blood Alley – Pink Negligee
Lauren Bacall’s second outfit in the film is a very feminine silk pink negligee as she gets into for bed.
Again, 1950s fashion influence here, as even her negligee has a long skirt and emphasize the waist.
Check out the iron post bed and that antique lamp that she has to blow out!
Lauren Bacall 1950s fashion Blood Alley – Tan trenchcoat
For a cold, foggy day by the bay, (this was shot near San Francisco after all) Lauren Bacall’s character wears a a tan trench-coat accessorized with hoop earrings.
Even though she’s wearing a trench-coat, notice how she uses the belt to bring it in at the waist.
This is the last of her “fancier” outfits before they board the boat.
After they board the boat she doesn’t wear any more jewelry and she relies on slacks for practicality.
A trenchcoat is not often a style that we see Lauren Bacall wearing, more often, it’s Humphrey Bogart wearing the trench coat…although she did sport a house coat in multiple scenes Dark Passage.
Below is the typical “Bogie” outfit. With Humphrey Bogart wearing the trench-coat and Lauren Bacall wearing a sexy dress.
Lauren Bacall style Blood Alley – Neutral mandarin-collared blouse and black slacks
Lauren Bacall’s fourth outfit in the film is a tan mandarin-neck top paired with black slacks.
Notice how she also accents the waist with some sort of black tie that almost works as a belt.
The only other accessory she wears is a slim wristwatch, no more jewelry in sight for the rest of the film.
Although we can’t see them, we’re betting she’s wearing flats similar to what she was wearing with her skirt in the beginning of the film.
Slacks were a favorite Lauren Bacall style, and she wore them often throughout both the 1940s and 1950s as they suited her so well.
Below are the common 1940s style pants that she would wear.
Lauren Bacall 1950s fashion Blood Alley – White turtleneck sweater
For Lauren Bacall’s final outfit in the movie, she wears a white turtleneck sweater.
Not sure if she paired it with a skirt or slacks, but we’re guessing a similar pair of black slacks to what she wore in the previous scene.
Again, no jewelry here either.
Halfway through the movie her character had fallen in love with John Wayne’s character, and at first he was hesitant.
In the final scene here he changes his mind and decides he wants to be with her after all.
This post was all about Lauren Bacall Style in Blood Alley
What did you think of Lauren Bacall’s style in Blood Alley?
Do you prefer Lauren Bacall’s 1940s fashion or her 1950s fashion?
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Lauren Bacall Style – Her Fabulous 1950s Fashion in How to Marry a Millionaire
Lauren Bacall Style – Her 1950s Fashion in Designing Woman
The Ultimate Guide to 1950s Fashion for Women
Last updated: Sep 04, 2023
