Publication Date
Spring 4-16-2025
College
O'More College of Architecture & Design
Department
Fashion Design and Merchandising
Student Level
Undergraduate
SPARK Category
Art
Faculty Advisor
Nia Allen
Presentation Type
Article
Summary
The film Carol follows two women, one in later adulthood and one in early adulthood. The plot follows their journey through life and love while also learning about themselves. They navigate the challenges of the 1950s where homosexuality was not accepted. The film is a coming-of-age love story for the main character Therese, this can be seen in her wardrobe shift throughout the film. This presentation discusses the cultural significance of the 2015 film through fashion. We chose this movie to study because it reflects a widely marginalized group for the time it is set in. The movie is based on the book The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith published in 1952 which leads to further proof that the LGBTQ+ community was widely under-represented as it was one of the first novels depicting lesbians in a positive light. Through research of the film, we dissected the historical aspects of the 1950s, along with the fashion trends that reflected their socio-economic status. Costume designer Sandy Powell is widely recognized for her historical accuracy in costuming as she studied street photography from the 1950s, as well as found vintage garments from the time to use in the film. Through our analysis we found that Carol is a significant film that depicts an under-represented community in history.
Recommended Citation
maroney, jey and Praet, Katherine, "Carol" (2025). SPARK Symposium Presentations. 50.
https://repository.belmont.edu/spark_presentations/50
