Nearly two decades after first experiencing Jurassic Park in childhood, C.E.R. returns to Isla Nublar now an Abercrombie Moose! How badass it is + inspo from Owen and Claire for repping Jurassic fandom #AFstyle on your exhilarating visit... #TheParkIsOpen
RARE IS A Millennial child - such as I was, and anyone, really, of all ages - who did not become awestruck by the adventurous and magical magnificence of Steven Spielberg's iconic Jurassic Park (1993) which endured throughout the decade, and forever will, as one of the greatest, groundbreaking epic cinematic works of the 1990s and of the greater 20th Century. Two sequels came along after that - The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) and Jurassic Park III (2001) - though it wasn't the same, and a fourth installment to reboot the franchise became highly anticipated though remained in development hell for more than a decade. I didn't hear much of what was in the works, and remained oblivious to the more appearing publicly-known efforts and details ongoing, when the project was actually finally greenlit and to totally happen in the 2010s. (Now I know the script was a years long process including issues that had to be worked out in terms of several script treatments and getting the right director, with pre-production having begun in 2013 and principal photography filming a-go by April 10, 2014). On a casual troll through YouTube in the first days of 2015, I then caught glimps of a video suggestion, the teaser trailer for Jurassic World. Click, 1010p HD, play... My heart soared; it was powerful. This summer 2015 (in a world now of smartphones, social media, 3D and touchscreen tech), the epic return to the glorious park wholly anew, and this now twenty-three year-old Abercrombie Moose I am today was ready to return to Isla Nublar!
Naturally, I went to see the Jurassic World on early opening, Thursday night, June 11 here in America; when it's about a flick I'm truly stoked and passionate about, I do my best to be among audiences opening night: arrive hella early (gotta be the perfect calculated distance from the screen and center in the row); popcorn, drinks, and snacks ready; and RealD 3D all the way!
Not gonna spoil it, but it was all the way incredible: if anything, it is the worthy blockbuster sequel to the original! And ingenious storyline development, the completely perfect characters and casting and quips, and the best fitting level of hyper-charged action and adventure and terror and wonder and overall visual effects. And there were beautiful nods to iconic moments and elements from the original Jurassic Park. Truly the worthy successor we've all been waiting for. That Thursday night, Jurassic World broke the record for the highest Thursday night early-opening at US$18.5 million in North America (it knocked down Furious 7, which had only just made the record two months prior, to #2), and the film became the first in history to gross over US$500 million by the end of its opening weekend worldwide (a record previously held by Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part II for nearly four years, and another film for which I was first in line for)! I was so happy, beaming (almost with tears) over the box office results! Haha.
I'm already looking forward to seeing it in IMAX 3D this week (and they've even got a resplendent bar for drinks where I'm going)! And will very likely see it at least two more times this summer. The film I've ever watched the most at the movies so far has been The Great Gatsby (2013) four times, and previous recordholder for that was Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) which I saw twice fanatic.
Alright, so, obviously, favorite characters are Owen (played by Chris Pratt) and Claire (played by Bryce Dallas Howard, whom I've long been familiar with from her performance as Gwen Stacy in Spider-Man 3 (2007) and daughter of Ron Howard who directed The Da Vinci Code (2006) film adaptation, a favorite of mine (I loved the book then which really impacted me), among other great films) - sharp brains and rugged attitude's a mix I personally cherish in myself... Those two and I should have a walk in the Park. Owen's a Velociraptor expert and trainer and his element in the story really brings about a unique, evolved perspective, understanding, and emotion on the creatures that was not a part of the original. Claire, meanwhile, is the park operations manager, is in communication with the CEO, and oversees laboratory developments, bringing in and assuring investors, execution of attractions and management, etc. Both had a little something feeling for the other, but it is made evident it phased off on a bad note prior to the events of the film. They're the lead characters, and the dynamic between the two is amusing. There is this one scene where they're out on the field and on the edge of a waterfall, and he comments to her that she can't go after the Indominus Rex, and looking for her lost nephews (with that thing on the loose wreaking havoc), looking like that. She looks at him and then brashly unbuckles her belt, untucks her shirt and ties the corners in a knot around her waist, and pushes up her sleeves and locks her hands over her hips like, Let's go: "What's that supposed to mean," Owen remarks perplexed and amused - the theater bursts with laughter - and she carries on boss. Haha. Critics have overall positively received Pratt's and Howard's performances; it was great, perfect, their casting and performance, as it definitely rekindled the series with a new set of unique, fresh, youthful, attractive great characters/actors for the ride.
After watching the movie (well, well weeks before), I knew I had to do a post translating passion for Jurassic World #AFstyle. And so, here we go!
Owen...
One of the things I've always loved about Abercrombie & Fitch has been the inherent heritage element of ruggedness stemming from outdoors recreation. I grew up playing outdoors in the woods and stuff, and it's that bond with the brand in the outdoors that I most love. For matching Abercrombie & Fitch gear with Owen's looks was not a challenge...
T H E G O O D S
The first one, we have one of his relaxed looks we see him in when Claire pays him a visit, grudgingly (LOL), and we see them together for the first time. Muscle Fit Henley was an immediate choice, although they made his particularly more muscle fitting to accentuate his physicality and sex-appeal, I guess (Chris Pratt's rather much become a sex icon and leading man ever since he dropped the overweight from his Parks & Recreation years)...the man was practically the main featured element - at every angle - in the movie along with the Indominus Rex and the rest of the dinosaurs. Everyone just stood by and behind him. There was another funny-ass scene where Claire was like, Oh kids I am never leaving you again for as long as I live, or whatever, and they go, NO WE MEANT HIM! (clutching onto him). Haha. As for the pants, A&F Classic Straight Jeans in black. Perfect.
For the main look, Solid Oxford Shirt in blue, the same A&F Classic Straights, and I threw in the Leather iPhone Wallet Case and the A&F Active Duffel Bag (which, in the second image in this post, you can see he has actually has a duffel bag) to heighten the on-the-field attitude, ruggedness, and round up a man's needs (sans the forward thrusting he comically also mentioned to Claire, You gotta relate to at least one of those things, haha). At the time of putting together these outfits, there was no leather belt in the American market abercrombie.com, so used is an archived product image from Spring 2015; if your abercrombie.com or store has one, there you go.
The only thing missing was a genuine leather vest. While looking through the goods, I was really struck by the idea of how great it would have been to have outfitted the character in Abercrombie & Fitch...were the brand positioned, even as now modern fashion retailer, even closer to its core heritage. It would have been really cool.
Now Claire...
Her look is more clean-cut, ethereal/light, modest/professional yet given an element of stylish/chic and cute; it befits her as a sharp, dedicated, top-tier woman in her profession. When sourcing A&F products to emulate Claire's look, it was a little more of a challenge. However, I managed, I think, pretty well...
T H E G O O D S
In the film, we see Claire in only one look, really. We see her in her outfit for the day, clean and professional, which then transpires into total chaos: she ventures on-field with Owen and then just adapts her clothes to facilitate reconnaissance and survival. So for the look, the shirt - the Split Hem Boyfriend Shirt - is less fashionable, non-baggy-chic but definitely classic, clean, stylish and a great selection with the subtle pockets further inline with the "Park" look; the skirt - the Eyelet Skater Skirt - is higher and with pattern (as there was no fitting option at A&F for below the knee / wide-drapey) but nevertheless is also perfectly fitting. Also, I could have placed in a tank more closer to the standard form Claire's is, but there was only in black or in stripes or whatever. So I instead gave it a form-fitting, perfect gray - the Ribbed T-back Cropped Cami - with thin straps with a T-back; it's sexy, flattering and complimentary. I also felt like I had to accessorize the #AFstyle look a little bit more here to make up for the lack of higher level "chicness" Claire had with the finer cut/silhouette of her shirt, skirt and jacket as one: thus, I threw in a Baggu Canvas Duck Tote in cream - Claire should have something to carry around her materials, I believe - and the Dolce Vita Hollice Bootie in tan - also a great, perfect alternative - in place of Claire's closed-toe heels. Overall, a very perfect "Park" look, à la Claire, for the Abercrombie girl!
I've got friends who've already seen it twice. It's just epic. All those memories and heart-pounding exhilaration from time ago, the Park is now open anew...
Stay FIERCE!
P.S. This. From inside one of the A&F Quarterly (1997-2003) editions, photography by our icon Bruce Weber. Jurassic love, indeed....
