The New Anna Karenina Film & Banana Republic Holiday Collection

Pictured: Keira Knightley in costume as Anna Karenina

Last week I got to see a special sneak preview of the new film version of Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina starring Keira Knightly and directed by Joe Wright with a screenplay by Tom Stoppard.  This new version is a lush and unique adaptation of Anna’s tragedy staged on a theater within a movie type setting.  Some scenes are played on the stage, and some, like the scenes on the train, are given the full Hollywood treatment with settings similar to Doctor Zhivago.  Whether the story is filmed on movie sets with lush backgrounds or within the theater setting, the tragedy of Anna is pervasive.  Everything that will happen to Anna is hinted at in the movies first few scenes, from her meeting with her future lover Vronsky & his mother, to her death.  It’s a beautifully told story, with a smaller focus on the novel’s other main characters, Dolly (Boardwalk Empire’s Kelly Macdonald) & Steva Oblonsky and Levin & Kitty.  If you have the chance to see it when it opens, do go. The film is already in release in the UK, but won’t open in the US until Nov. 9th. The costumes by Jacqueline Duran are stunning and Jude Law gives a surprisingly understated performance as Anna’s long suffering husband, Karenin. Keira may be a bit young to play Anna, but she gets the passion and torment of Tolstoy’s doomed heroine right.  The film is a type of big screen eye-candy, with its reproduction of  the luxury lifestyle of Russian aristocrats in the Imperial Russia of 1874.  The film’s costumes are works of  art and Ms. Knightley recently donated one of the costumes she wore to the Victoria & Albert Museum’s Hollywood Costumes exhibit.

Pictured: A sketch from the collection made available to Time Magazine by Banana Republic.

As I reported back in July, I’m still amazed that  Banana Republic is bringing forward a holiday collection inspired by the film.   Time Magazine reports that ” a decadent, red evening gown worn by Anna Karenina—a central costume in the movie—has been reinterpreted as a knee-length shift that can be worn to work under a blazer.” This is actually planned as a 75 piece collection of fashions for men and women. Here are some pictures and details.

Pictured: An initial peak at BR’s Anna Karenina collection.

After seeing the film, the part of the BR line I’m most looking forward is the Anna inspired costume jewelry like faux pearls and tear drop rhinestone earrings.  There will also be faux fur Cossack like hats, coats, handbags and blouses. Prices will range from $39.50 for a blouse to $325 for a coat.  It’s reported that the jewelry and accessories will be priced from $29.50 for jewelry to $250 for a handbag.  Above are some of pieces from the collection   The collection will be available for purchase on October 30, 2012 in Banana Republic stores and on www.BananaRepublic.com.  Stay tuned, readers. I’ll post more pictures and a review when I see the collection myself.