After an all-star punk festival fell apart, the bands involved found themselves with some spare scratch and a landscape ripe for shootouts and standoffs.  The plot revolves around three hitmen/bank robbers who happen upon a small town populated by wild and wacky weirdos who they have to commingle with while they wait for the heat to die down.  Things, of course, go awry.  Honestly the plot is secondary though to the rollicking nature of the film, the setpieces, and total absurdity.

The film’s cast reads like a who’s who of the era’s punk and new wave scene.  There’s Joe Strummer, The Pogues, The Circle Jerks, Grace Jones, Elvis Costello, and even soon-to-be indie film god Jim Jarmusch.  And as an extra added bonus they’re all playing dress up.  Oh and Courtney Love‘s there too.

And she’s dressed well, which shouldn’t be much of a surprise if you follow her new Tumblr.  Pink dress with white polka dots not unlike this offering from Leifsdottir.  She might want to close those legs though.  But the matching watermelon‘s a nice touch.

Concerning the guys, check out Dick Rude‘s pants.  They’re very reminiscent of pairs shown off by Vivienne Westwood on a regular basis, which only seems fitting considering her place as the godmother of punk fashion.  Joe Strummer’s got on a ho-hum slim black suit but such a suit is almost always a recipe for looking good.

The gorgeous Jennifer Balgobin is, throughout the movie, basically a walking ad for American Apparel.  Look at the top picture for an example.  Spandex top?  Check.  High waisted bottoms?  Check.  That’s not to say she doesn’t class it up a little, though.  A simple, strapless blue dress which looks perfect for the weather…and also strikingly like this Jason Wu.

It’s almost frightening how much the women’s wardrobe in this movie matches up with pieces you’d find in today’s boutiques trending towards the younger gal.  Despite the film’s being over two decades old, the dress pictured above is here, here, and here.  And the boyfriend shirt?  Too many links to think about.

Similarly, this little white number on Michele Winstanley (I think) who, throughout the film, makes you wonder if Karen O got her whole schtick from this one character.  But back to the dress.  Ta-da!  And while the mariachi dressed men behind her probably aren’t exactly in style, they still look pretty awesome.

But before you think there’s only things for the ladies, say hello to Jeeves/Whitey and his killer pink summer suit.  Once again, very similar to something Westwood-ian, it also brings to mind pieces from Junya Watanabe and Filippa K.

The best ensemble in the entire movie, though, is definitely what Jim Jarmusch has got on.  It’s as if the director of such weirdo movies as Mystery Train, Dead Man, and Night On Earth decided to go as Karl Lagerfeld for Halloween.  And it is awesome.

Be warned: Straight to Hell is by no means a cinematic masterpiece, nor will it be in most people’s eyes ‘competent filmmaking’, what with a 5.5 rating on IMDB.  But if you go in with the right attitude, it’s as fun as Robocop and as splendorous as any period piece without being dry and/or expected.  Do yourself a favor and watch it.  (HINT: It’s on YouTube for free).

Some more looks at noteworthy, inexplicable get-ups in the gallery below.

London fashion week, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, begins today. Collections to anticipate: Burberry Prorsum, Pringle of Scotland, Matthew Williamson, Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, Stella McCartney and newcomers Erdem Moralioglu, Bruno Basso and Chris Brooke, William Tempest and Hannah Marshall.

Image above: London designers clockwise Paul Smith Women, Duro Olowu, Jaeger London, Louise Goldin, Paul Smith Women, Paul Smith Women, Eley Kishimoto, Paul Smith Women, Eley Kishimoto, Louise Goldin

Via WSJ

The Autumn/Winter 2009 collection by British designer Hannah Marshall is caller “Armour”, and loosely based on the exoskeletons of insects.

LINK: Popgloss via Haute Macabre

Hannah Marshall’s third collection, aptly named Code Black, is a call to the strong woman. Inspired by female icons such as Siouxsie Sioux, Grace Jones and Alison Mosshart, as well as panels of steel armor, it is meant to protectively conceal and reshape the female form, focusing on the shoulders, evoking power and emotion. Her signature black dresses have taken on sharp silhouettes and a fabric contrast between hard leathers and soft chiffons. My favorite pieces are a leather cardigan dress with sheer sleeves, a deep v-neck panel dress, a tailored mini with seam detailing and rouched sleeves, and a loose velvet t-shirt dress. An interesting detail, each piece is braille coded with the collections name inside.