Looking the Park City Part at Sundance

By Chris Frey
February 3, 2010

Situated in between between more overtly glam mega Hollywood events—the Golden Globes and the Oscars—is the Sundance Film Festival, held annually for 10 days in late January in Park City, Utah. Sarah Cathers, Director of Operations at the San Francisco Film festival and our in-the-field Sundance attendee says that during Sundance, "Park City transforms from a peaceful small town full of nature-loving residents to the place to be in America."

What started in 1978 as the U.S. Film Festival, a small series launched to attract filmmakers to Utah, has grown into a large-scale international gathering of the film community. From its inception, actor Robert Redford, a Utah resident and the driving force behind the festival, has helped draw attention to Sundance and its focus on independent, American-made films (something no other festival had done previously). While Sundance originated in Salt Lake City and was held during the summer months, in 1981, it was relocated to Park City and moved to winter with the goal of selling Hollywood on Park City’s ski resort appeal.

In 1991, the festival was officially remained the Sundance Film festival, an homage to Redford’s character in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Although still committed to premiering independent films and documentaries, these days, the festival includes luxury media lounges, industry-related panels, workshops, and even a music café mean to debut emerging talents or promote established musicias.

This year, in a direct nod to its independent roots, the festival introduced a new program called “NEXT” for extremely low-budget films. The San Francisco Film Festival's Cathers, who divided her time between premières, the music café and the filmmaker lodge said that "some of the best socializing and critiquing happens on the free Park City buses, where you will find new directors, anxious buyers, film lovers and self sufficient stars making their way around town."

Hollywood arrives in droves to soak in the relaxed mood and gorgeous landscape of the festival. And where Hollywood goes, the paparazzi will follow. It’s always a refreshing tabloid treat to catch celebrities at the festival sporting flushed cheeks, hat head, layers and layers of cold weather gear and what appear to be genuine smiles and a lack of red carpet posturing. Cathers sums the look up best, saying "There are so many famous people completely bundled up in the cold that photographers take pictures of everyone, hoping that under the layers, there is someone famous inside."

This year's festival closed on January 31^st. As usual, it seems to have been governed yet again by its own fashion rules, which have more to do with looking the Park City part than following whatever trends trotted down the runway last season. Through the years, Sundance style has often emulated Robert Redford and the Utah cowboy aesthetic: boots, 10-gallon hats, shearling coats, suede and leather. While there were still touches of that rugged look around town, this year's festival fashion felt a little less Marlboro Man and a bit more laid-back-urban. Some festival favorites included hats, especially slouchy knit beret and newsboy styles and fur trappers; oversize cardigans and chunky Nordic knits; slick black puffers; denim; and of course, the undisputed ski resort staple—fur.

BLACK SHEEN

There was lots of black at the festival this season, especially utilitarian puffer coats, often with a little sheen, like those worn by Naomi Watts and Malin Ackerman. The black was usually paired with denim or more dark layering pieces. Dakota Fanning added a slouchy beret and Kate Mara paired a dark plaid coat under a black vest.

Naomi Watts (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images), Dakota Fanning (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

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FESTIVAL FUR

Fur, real or faux, is always a cold weather staple. So it's no surprise that celebs bring some along when they visit the ski resort town of Park City for Sundance. Jessica Alba chose a cropped sleeve A-line shape that looks great layered over a thick black sweater. Marissa Tomei looked casually but luxuriously cozy in a turtleneck sweater coat with fur trim. And model Christine Teigen sported a glamorous fur trapper while accompanying her boyfriend John Legend.

Marisa Tomei (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images), Jessica Alba (Photo by C Flanigan/FilmMagic),

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UTAH COWBOY

There’s always a laid back vibe at the Sundance. Even at a seated theater première, Katie Holmes was spotted in a washed out denim shirt seated behind Fergie in a chunky muted sweater and matching newsboy cap. Adrien Brody was snug, and a little ironic, in a thick Nordic cardigan that’s adorned with reindeer. And Ryan Gosling channeled some Utah cowboy spirit in a fitted denim jacket.

Ryan Gosling (Photo by George Pimentel/Getty Images), Adrien Brody (Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images)

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