When the name Tiffany & Co. rolls off one’s tongue, a glittering flood of pop culture references come to mind, such as a Givenchy-clad Audrey Hepburn, the classiest call girl ever to grace the big screen. She munches on a croissant while admiring the bauble-bedecked windows of the New York flagship location just as the sun is rising. Perhaps that catchy Deep Blue Something song from the 90s loops like a memory on repeat and “we both kinda liked it.” Or maybe it’s that custom Pantone bright Tiffany blue, number 1837 to be exact, signifying luxury and romance. Everyone knows something about Tiffany & Co., which is why the documentary Crazy About Tiffany’s, written and directed by Matthew Miele, is a celebration of the iconic American brand, arriving just in time to honor 179 years of decadence.
This film is a gold mine (pun totally intended) for the fashionably fluent viewer, much like Miele’s 2013 documentary Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s, but you don’t have to know the differences between “emerald” and “marquise” cuts to enjoy Crazy About Tiffany’s. Here’s why: Tiffany & Co. was established in 1837 (note the year and its Pantone Matching System [PMS] number), and its legacy thrives within countless other spheres of interest, thanks to founder Charles Lewis Tiffany and his painter son, Louis Comfort Tiffany.
There’s a peek into American history, where presidents like Abraham Lincoln and Franklin D. Roosevelt famously purchased Tiffany & Co. jewelry for their first ladies. The American dream of capitalism is ever present with the invention of the first mail-order catalogue; here is where Tiffany’s “Blue Book” was born. The legendary company couldn’t exist without the evolution of art and design from the talents of French jewelry visionary Jean Schlumberger, model-turned-jewelry designer Elsa Peretti, and designer / entrepreneur Paloma Picasso (yes, daughter of the legendary Pablo). Tiffany’s even has a profound connection to sports, creating the original logo for the New York Yankees, as well as designing numerous awards for American sports championships, including the NFL’s Vince Lombardi Trophy. Not to mention that New York City itself wouldn’t be nearly as glamorous without Tiffany’s stamp on the landmark that is Grand Central Station. Additionally, Miele’s documentary demonstrates a successful collaboration of romance and status with film clips from 2002’s Sweet Home Alabama (starring Reese Witherspoon), Baz Luhrmann’s 2013 epic interpretation of The Great Gatsby, and most undeniably and obviously, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, made in 1961. As if that’s not enough, there are references to Steve Jobs, Judy Garland, and Martin Scorsese aplenty throughout.
Crazy About Tiffany’s offers a modern representation of the company’s history and influence with sharp humor and gleaming joy. There’s no shortage of charming and provocative commentary from famous names like journalist Katie Couric, actresses Jessica Biel and Jennifer Tilly, fashion designer / stylist Rachel Zoe, Vanity Fair’s Derek Blasberg, Oscar-winning costume designer Catherine Martin, director Sam Taylor-Johnson (50 Shades of Grey), celebrity stylist Kate Young, author and essayist Fran Lebowitz, and countless more.
In the era of Netflix and Hulu, there’s so much to discover and binge on when it comes to informative entertainment, including the many gorgeous fashion-centric documentaries like Dior And I, Alexa Chung’s The Future of Fashion, and Miele’s previous Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s, all of which are just a click or voice command away. However, Crazy About Tiffany’s should top your must-see list, to do more than indulge in a lavish life of rare diamonds and vintage stained glass. Most importantly, Tiffany & Co. is an iconic brand, defining taste and style for nearly two centuries, spanning almost 300 stores internationally, currently employing more than 12,000 people around the world, and epitomizes the American dream. They must be doing something right, and you certainly won’t go wrong when dipping your toes into just such a world with Miele’s brilliant presentation.
Crazy About Tiffany’s will be released theatrically and on VOD platforms on February 19, 2016.
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