"Nancy Drew" is out on DVD and I watched it this weekend. It was super fun, and I thought, quite well done. In a recent post about all of the attention the seminal Harriet the Spy was getting, one reviewer suggested that girls in the 70s had to choose between the two sleuths; you were either a Nancy-Drew-girl or a Harriet-the-Spy-girl. It was implied that Harriet was cooler, and that Nancy was a square. Gasp! While I love sister Harriet, I think this movie could change people's minds. In fact, the movie "Nancy Drew" just might inspire a new generation of readers of the classic mystery novels -- if not a new fashion craze.

Emma Roberts (Julia Roberts' niece) is a dead-on good girl, no-nonsense, smarty-pants depiction of Nancy Drew. Not only was she able to pull off Nancy's sensible, sleuthing, singlemindedness, but she does so with panache. Girlfriend looks good! The art direction was fabulous. A combination of elements that played retro while grounded in the present formed a seamless connection between the series' 1930s origins, 1950s popularity and the present. Take, for example, her roadster or the Fedoras and trenches the men wore. These playful choices placed the perfect amount of yesteryear against Nancy's trendy L.A. schoolmates to create a world which seemed ageless.

But it was the costuming that really caught my eye. I loved looking at her clothes! In spirit only, it reminded me a little of Clueless and Alicia's Silverstone's brilliant reincarnation of Jane Austen's Emma. Bordering on geek-chic, Nancy has a trim, smart, librarian-esque style all her own. Her loafers and knee-highs, matching headbands and wool jumpers totally rocked. She always looks put together telling us she cares about her appearance, yet it's obvious that it's not her primary concern. Nancy likes "old-things" she says, and gives them a modern twist. There's also a line that suggests she makes much of her fashion herself. Gush. DIY to boot. One of my favorite scenes is when Nancy's friends (translation= frenemies) take her to be made-over at a posh Beverly Hills boutique. The sales woman thinks the intended makeover is for them, while fawning over Nancy's personal and unique "look." I laughed out loud and reminisced about Sassy's famous "make-unders."

I love Nancy Drew and think that her snappy dress only underscores what a one-of-a-kind gal she truly is. Not only is she intelligent and confident, she has impeccable taste. Mystery-solving ability aside, her fabulous fashion sense makes for a refreshing respite from the pantiless celebutantes so many of us are so sick of seeing.

Stay tuned...next month: "Prince Caspian". I CAN'T WAIT.

Posted by alli