Kathryn Bigelow on the set of “Detroit.”
THE ONLY FEMALE director to win an Oscar, Kathryn Bigelow took away the gold in 2010 for “The Hurt Locker.” Her 2012 film “Zero Dark Thirty” won several Oscar nods and a Golden Globe win for Best Actress Jessica Chastain. Now, Bigelow is back with “Detroit,” another controversial film, this time about the summer 1967 riots and civil unrest that tore apart that city. Little Birds Janet, Nancy and Kathy think the 5-foot-11-inch. 65-year-old Bigelow looks pretty terrific. Of course, though, we have our opinions.
Kathryn Bigelow at the 2010 Academy Awards. / Shutterstock photo.
JANET: Here’s Kathryn Bigelow at the 2010 Academy Awards, when she won the Best Director Oscar for “The Hurt Locker.” I have to say that a tuxedo is more her style. Gray doesn’t translate as celebratory to me.
NANCY: Yeah, she usually wears separates. But the gray is nice on her. (And Style Bistro pointed out her diamond tennis bracelet, more obvious in person, no doubt.)
KATHY: I love the simplicity of this gown (always wonder how those red carpet women can move, sit or even go to the bathroom without all their scantily covered parts falling out of those barely-there gowns) and how it looks like it actually might be comfortable. But I have to say I don’t think gray is anyone’s friend (maybe it’s supposed to be silver). The black lace helps, but still. And I’m not a fan of satin. See how it wrinkles just below her tummy?
Kathryn Bigelow in January 2010. / Shutterstock photo.
NANCY: I like this break from her usual monochromatic look. Also, she wore those python peek-toe sling backs to at least three big events—so they must be comfortable.
KATHY: I wish my arms looked like that. Then I’d wear this brown blouse too. She’s so good with the no-frills look. Like one of those women who walk through their closet and things just magically fall onto their bodies. It look as though she doesn’t even try. It just all comes together on its own. I think I hate her a little bit.
JANET: Like this departure from usual style, too. Shorter skirt shows off her good legs. Halter-esque top flatters her arms.
Kathryn Bigelow arriving at the Directors Guild awards in 2013. / Shutterstock photo.
JANET: That satin jacket really looks clumsy. I think she looks great in tuxedo dressing, but not this time.
NANCY: I think this outfit proves that even if you’re almost 6 feet tall, carpet-grazing trousers and what look like flat shoes can make you looked nailed to the floor.
KATHY: Um, no. Just no. I know what she’s going for. It’s something I would opt for too. What could be more simple and appropriate than a black jacket and pants paired with a white top? But there’s that satin problem again, and this duo just looks like it doesn’t fit her very well. Maybe she was in a hurry and just grabbed something from her closet and thought “Oh, what the heck.”
Kathryn Bigelow at the 2013 Oscar nominations luncheon. / Shutterstock photo.
NANCY: Monochromatic is just great! Liquid gold, or I guess champagne.
KATHY: I’d love to have this combo in my closet (and I’d love to have her figure to go with it). It’s so pretty and dressy, yet she looks so at ease in it. It’s not gimmicky. Just wonderfully classy and sophisticated.
JANET: Love this tailored and polished monochromatic look. She nails it for the occasion.
Hannah Murray, Jacob Latimore and director/producer Kathryn Bigelow at the world premiere of Annapurna Pictures’ “Detroit,” in Detroit, July 2017. / Photo by Eric Charbonneau/REX/Shutterstock.
KATHY: I’m totally sold on crossbody bags and really like this little number. She looks comfortable and chic with the bag’s tiny touch of bling.
NANCY: I agree. Crossbody bags have changed my life. This one looks like a Stella McCartney number, though I can’t be sure. Overall, this outfit can be had at virtually every price point; doesn’t take much to dress it up or down. A real winner.
JANET: Straight out of central casting for how to look like an Oscar award-winning female director at the preview of her new movie. Black suit taken down a notch from formal with white T-shirt. Aviators — a little Hollywood. Minimal jewelry and cross-body bag. Hands in pocket —an accomplished, confident working woman.
John Boyega and Kathryn Bigelow, director/producer of “Detroit,” at an August 2017 screening. / Photo by Eric Charbonneau/REX/Shutterstock.
KATHY: Okay, I take back what I said about gray. This jacket is fabulous. Or, is it ivory? Whatever it is, she looks terrific in it.
JANET: Hard to say exactly what color that jacket is or what material. Not a lot of distractions in this outfit. Simple and direct.
NANCY: The seaming makes the jacket quite special, I think. I wish we had a bunch of pictures of this outfit so we could see how the pieces come together. And so we could see what that little loop at the bottom of the jacket is: It’s driving me crazy. This outfit, like the champagne sweater-set outfit, shows that when you’re going simple, quality and tiny details really have to be up to snuff. Nice.
—MyLittleBird staff
How long are we going to maintain the fiction that we women don’t care what we wear!? Of course we do. In a Hollywood gone mad with red-carpet preening and resultant
fawning/snarking, Bigelow obviously presents herself as serious and apart from the crowd. She couldn’t negate her accomplishments if she wore a paper bag–or if she dressed like a Barbie doll (“You thought I had to be tough to make ‘The Hurt Locker?’ How do you feel about pink chiffon!?”). Every time a person leaves the house with clothing on, he or she is making some kind of statement; that’s why books have been written on the semiotics of fashion. Every time I look at a woman in public I’m thinking, Hmm, would that work for me? What if I did cream instead of the black? Ooh, make a note: satin ain’t easy! It’s an ongoing conversation, second only to the one about what and how much I’ve eaten that day!
Wow. Ladies, wouldn’t we all be raving mad if men were sitting around and critiquing her outfits – how she looks, what’s good/what’s bad? You know we would! Yes, I know you started the piece with proclaiming her an award-winning director, but then you begin your review of her wardrobe which seems like a negation of her professional acclaim. Why isn’t it ever enough for a woman to be a woman? As women we should grant that leisure to all women. Her accomplishments should not be negated by her choice of clothing and the possibility of approval from others. Now, I’m not intending to insult or be overly-sensitive, because there is some chance that Ms. Bigelow doesn’t subscribe to your blog and she is unaware of your comments (although, it is generally a very good blog and I wouldn’t be surprised if she was a subscriber). But given the degree of gender sensitivity women demand from men, shouldn’t we allow ourselves some breathing room.
Thanks for taking the time to comment, Renee. Delighted you like our site. Here’s my take on women and wardrobe: I think what anyone— man or woman — chooses to wear is their business card. This is what I think of myself and/or this is what I want to show to the world. Clothing is part of the package we present. I think Kathryn Bigelow’s wardrobe choices are part of her package.
Donald Trump sends a message with his too-long tie and jacket that he never buttons and crazy hairstyle. “I don’t care what you think — I’m president and you’re not. I’m also vain as hell.”