Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)

On a forum that my husband visits, there is a thread all about costume design in movies, and the "subtle message" it sends to the viewer about who the characters are personally, in relation to one another, and so on.  This entry is my version of that thread.  "Breakfast at Tiffany's" communicates some obvious, though attractive, character points through sets and costumes.

Paul Varjak

Paul's character played by George Peppard is kept by a rich woman (Patricia Neal) who supports him financially as well as making most of his major and minor life decisions for him in the first half of the movie.  We are introduced to her as having done a great job decorating his apartment for him without his consent.  Her style is kind of ridiculously opulent for a single man who shows a kind of quiet, thought-out elegance throughout the movie, but some colors that still emerge in the apartment are subdued blues and pops of red, symbolizing his calm, comforting nature and instincts to protect and support Holly, as well as the passionate nature he often hides under the guise of, well, being a bit of a square (despite everything).

Some of Paul's subdued creams and blue-grays showing through in his surroundings.

Cruella De Vil, anyone?

Some live entertainment enjoyed by Paul and Holly.

Holly Golightly

Holly has two palettes: going-to-work blacks and tans:

As mob-rat,

 

As call-girl,

As future "Brazilian diplomat's" wife.

And her more chaotic, colorful at-home style.  This palette, and collection of oddities, express her inability to unify her many phases of life, identities, ideas and emotions.  Of course the first of these stills is taken from the segment of the movie wherein she is trying to be a homemaker, something she has some experience with but has never taken very seriously.  But the barrenness of her apartment in the second shot, and the exuberant, jarring effect of the fuchsia and purple colors on her sofa also speak to the disjointed passions in her life.  The tub sofa is a cool idea, but doesn't seem to have the sleek, modern edge it was intended to.  Rather, it looks homemade and half-finished.  Kind of like her current persona as a wild, beautiful socialite.