Jewelry in Film: Freeway (1996)
I've started deep diving into some of my favorite films in order to find jewelry pieces that really stand out. I believe they add to the aesthetic that makes them so enjoyable to watch. Since I'm a person who makes jewelry and also loves film, this just seemed like a no-brainer to put together. The first film I've chosen to dive into is 1996's Freeway.
For those that haven't swam in the weirdness that is Matthew Bright's Freeway, it's essentially the old Grimm Fairytale about Little Red Riding Hood just...entirely screwed up and modernized in the world of teenage juvenile delinquency. While that might turn a lot of heads away, I have to say it's one of the most fun rides I've ever had watching a movie, despite its dark themes.
The first pieces of jewelry that stand out instantly are main character Vanessa's (played by Reese Witherspoon) name plate necklace which reads "Foxy Lady" paired with her tiny gold teddy bear post earrings. These both scream jewelry stand at the mall, but they have a nostalgic charm to them that just never really goes out of style. They also perfectly tell you exactly who this character is, helping visually shape the story and her innocence.
As the story progresses, Vanessa still holds a lot of that childlike style in her jewelry pieces, but they are paired with darker makeup to help show a changing of world views. After dealing with an unreasonable amount of traumatic events, she upgrades to these gold hoops with dangling heart attachments, which reflect a bit of a shift in attitude from the teddy bear days. Paired with the beaded bracelet, you get a ton of '90s charm.
The best look though, I have saved for last - and it's tied to Brooke Shield's performance as Mrs. Wolverton. She's the unfortunate partner to Kiefer Sutherland's wolf-inspired Bob Wolverton, and is often seen fighting for her husband without knowledge of his disgusting habit of killing girls. She's often seen wearing big shoulder-padded suits and large costume jewelry pieces, but hands down this look is the winner. She sports these insanely chunky movie-inspired dangle earrings, featuring director's chairs, film cameras, popcorn buckets and more. Being in the business that I'm in, of course I found it impossible not to stare at them in awe. I'm tempted to re-create them!
Anyways, that's all I've got on jewelry featured in Freeway. You can see my Instagram Reel exploring these pieces
here. Until next time, I hope you have a great day and I hope you watch something good!