arfdawg-1 The Plot. Sherwood Nash is a swindler who bootlegs Paris fashions for sale at cut-rate prices. His assistant Lynn poses as An American interested in a dress and Snap conceals a camera in his cane. When they try to steal the latest Baroque designs hidden cameras capture them. Threat and counter threat lead to the suggestion of putting on a legitimate show.I am completely confounded by the 7 plus rating. There is the thinnest of plots. The only thing worth waiting for (or fast forwarding to) is the Busby Berkeley number about half way thru. It features a ton of half naked babes that are hot even by today's standards. Any red blooded 12 year old male will be wanking to these babes left and right. Other than that, it's a ho hum movie. And think think Bette Davis is gonna save the movie. She's barely in it and rather out of place.

richard-1787 By 1934, when this movie was made, First National had been absorbed by Warner Brothers and produced mostly small-budget movies, such as this one. It tells the story of a con artist (Powell) who goes to Paris with his artist (Davis) with the intent of copying the designs of the great houses of fashion so that they can sell them to department stores back in the States. Instead, when that doesn't work, they discover the inspiration for Paris' leading couturier, and open their own house of fashion, which has a brief success until things fall apart.If the dates weren't wrong, you'd imagine this was a low-budget knock-off of Roberta, which deals with some of the same themes. It probably owed something to the 1933 musical behind that movie, such as the American woman who lives in Paris disguised as Eastern European royalty.It has none of Roberta's elegance, though, either in its fashions or, more importantly, in the dancing and singing of its leads. The one big dance number doesn't involve any of the principals, just a lot of skimpily-clad women in ostrich feathers. During all the time the musical review is under rehearsal, you would swear you're in New York, and not Paris. Indeed, there is no effort at all to convince the audience that the action is really taking place in the French capital.Powell and Davis are fine, Frank McCue and Hugh Herbert do their standard routines, which are better used in other movies. There's nothing memorable here, and nothing Parisian.

preppy-3 Swindler Shewood Nash (William Powell) is stealing fashions from Paris under the designers noses. Lynn Mason (Bette Davis!) helps him and falls for him. There's more to the plot but I was basically so bored I could have cared less!The plot is silly with stupid dialogue and painfully unfunny comedy. This would be totally unwatchable if it weren't for a few things. Powell is great in his role. It's a nothing role but he pulls it off. Davis (this was made before she hit it big) is great despite having nothing to work with. Also she looks interesting in peroxide hair! The fashions by Orry-Kelly are actually pretty interesting. I don't think they'd ever work in reality but they're fun to look at. And then there's a beautiful elaborate ballet worked out by Busby Berkeley that is just incredible to watch. These elements make this worth catching...but it's still just a minor little musical. I give it a 4.

LEKKipp Don't let the title fool you. Fashions or Fashions of 1934 is just inocently fun to watch. Considering that it was made in the middle of the depression, it gave American's what they were looking for--humor, a love story and a considerable amount of extremely sexy costumes (pre-censor). As always, William Powell is at his best and Bette Davis, is well, Bette Davis--younger and more innocent but absolutely stunningly beautiful. Powell's performance is always enhanced by supporting actors--in this case Frank McHugh who has played his comedic side kick in several other movies. The direction is excellent--good continuity tells an simple but excellent story. Fun to watch--in 1934 or today.