In Paul Gallico’s 1958 novel “Flowers for Mrs. Harris,” there was a perfect black dress called Temptation. It is covered in jet beads, the bodice a pale froth of a coffin, tulle, and lace. It’s number 89 in a show at House Dior, a palace in the book. The guests to the show are the usual elite, businessmen, royalty, millionaires, etc., but there is one guest, a Londoner that upon seeing the dress, proclaims “This is IT!”
The story is about Ada Harris, a London cleaner who is entranced by the beauty of the dress. She does everything she can – scheming, working, earning and losing all – in the mad pursuit of being able to have such a dress. Finally, she does it and is able to afford a trip to Paris. When she arrives, though, instead of playing the usual princess part getting accustomed to a new world, she plays the Fairy Godmother – helping those in need.
This summer, they will be releasing a film adaptation, and unlike the show adaptation, they will actually be using the House Dior to film it. They will use realistic replicas of the gowns and dresses described. In the film, they will describe Harris’s desire for the gown as magical, some kind of sorcery. She still does end up going to Paris and experiencing the things she did in the book.
The dress is kind of like the fairytale dresses we are used to: magical, and totally changing someone’s appearance but while still leaving room to show the characters true sides.
The story is about Ada Harris, a London cleaner who is entranced by the beauty of the dress. She does everything she can – scheming, working, earning and losing all – in the mad pursuit of being able to have such a dress. Finally, she does it and is able to afford a trip to Paris. When she arrives, though, instead of playing the usual princess part getting accustomed to a new world, she plays the Fairy Godmother – helping those in need.
This summer, they will be releasing a film adaptation, and unlike the show adaptation, they will actually be using the House Dior to film it. They will use realistic replicas of the gowns and dresses described. In the film, they will describe Harris’s desire for the gown as magical, some kind of sorcery. She still does end up going to Paris and experiencing the things she did in the book.
The dress is kind of like the fairytale dresses we are used to: magical, and totally changing someone’s appearance but while still leaving room to show the characters true sides.
