LANA TURNER THE SWEATER GIRL

Legend has it that Lana Turner was discovered in Schwab's Drugstore. In fact she was discovered at the Top Hat Cafe. Nicknamed "The Sweater Girl", Lana Turner reached the height of her success at the MGM studios during the 1940's and 1950's. Best remembered for her roles in films such as "The Postman Always Rings Twice", "The Bad and the Beautiful" and "Peyton Place", Lana Turner became the popular pin up girl for the GIs in World War II.

Here is a cream satin wedding gown worn by Lana Turner as Marianne Patourel in the 1947 MGM film "Green Dolphin Street". Based on the Sebastian Falks novel of the same name, Green Dolphin Street tells the story of two sisters and their love for the one man. The gown was designed by Walter Plunkett. Plunkett who favoured the military style in many of his designs, used tassle and braiding on this costume to represent the military theme of the wedding.

This costume was also displayed in the now legendary Diana Vreeland exhibition of film costume at the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art in New York. The exhibition "Hollywood Design" took place in 1974.




This second Lana Turner costume, also designed by Walter Plunkett is from the 1956 MGM film "Diane" in which Turner portrayed Diane de Poitiers, the Countess de Breze.





This costume is worn in a fencing scene opposite a very young Roger Moore. The gown is comprised of a quilted black skirt with black satin overlay and silver bullion design to the shoulders and bodice.

The costume can be seen here in this clip and comes in at 2;16:






Lana Turner remains as one of the true Hollywood beauties.