Inger on Fashion

In 1963, during the first season of The Farmer's Daughter, reporter Lydia Lane interviewed Inger about fashion. Inger had suggested that Katy's wardrobe be limited to a budget of $250 so that she looked realistic. Inger spoke of that decision and her fashion sense and rules in general. During her life, Inger talked about living simply and frugally quite a lot and took pride in finding quality, long-lasting items for a good price. She was skilled at accentuating her beauty while building up her savings account. Inger always looked both completely on trend and timeless. What follows are the words Inger said to Lydia Lane:

It was a challenge to plan a fall wardrobe on $250. It had to include everything—shoes, dresses, coats and accessories. Along with economy, I had to be sure what I had chosen would be becoming and photograph well. The whole idea was my own, but I felt I would strike a level of reality if my wardrobe was confined to the limited salary of the heroine of the story.

When I was first starting out in my career, I found that the most economical way to dress well was to find a good dressmaker because you don't often find good fabrics in inexpensive, ready-made clothes. Although they are cleverly designed, you can't expect them to hold their shape.

I decided on blouses and skirts as my basic outfits. You can make a few things look different by changing them around or sometimes wearing them with a vest. I chose one dark dress that was simple enough to serve double duty for Sundays, luncheon dates or for evening wear. I had one raincoat and a double-duty cloth coat. I limited by colors so I could use the same shoes and bag for everything. I didn't try to economize on these accessories because it proves more expensive in the long run to use cheap leather goods. 

You have to be methodical about dressing yourself. The people who are not never look well dressed. They lack harmony in their ensemble. There are a few basic rules that can't be ignored. The foundation of a dress depends on fit and fabric. Everything else is secondary—color, design and trimming. In order for me to feel and look well in a dress I must be comfortable and it must be appropriate for the occasion. I like freedom of movement.

I don't like to see clothes too informal after dark or too dressy early in the day. That is why, if you can afford only one good dress, you should get one that you can change accessories for day or evening wear.

I am lucky because ever since I can remember I have had a flair for knowing what was right for me. If you don't have confidence in your taste, it can be learned through trial and error, although that can be expensive. Reading fashion magazines, attending fashion shows, looking through pattern books are some of the ways to learn the trends in current styles.

Sources:

All photos on this post are scans of originals from my collection.

Lane, Lydia. "Inger Stevens Learns How to Plan Wardrobe without Great Expense." The South Bend Tribune. October 20, 1963.

From The Farmer's Daughter to The Borgia Stick

Inger Stevens and Don Murray have a laugh with director David Lowell Rich
on the set of The Borgia Stick. Source: Scan from my collection.

While filming The Borgia Stick for NBC in New York in fall of 1966, Inger was interviewed. The Borgia Stick was unique in that it would be shown on television first then be released to theaters across the country. Inger, always so well-spoken in interviews, commented:

It is one of 11 such movies being filmed by Universal. Don Murray, Barry Nelson and Fritz Weaver are the male leads in it. It can best be described succinctly as a super-cool melodrama. We're on a four-week schedule but it may run to five, depending upon the weather. We'll shoot indoors for about nine days at a studio on Manhattan's west side, and will go on location around the city the rest of the time. The film, I understand, is budgeted at close to one million dollars.

Inger Stevens and Don Murray in The Borgia Stick. Source: scan from my collection.

When Inger was asked if this budget was too low and the filming schedule too short, she replied:

Not at all. It isn't when you have everything highly organized. I just finished working on a major film, The Long Ride Home [my note: this film also goes by the title A Time for Killing.] which was shot in eight weeks in the Arizona desert. That's just about three and a half weeks longer than we'll spend on The Borgia Stick. A good performer doesn't think or worry about a short schedule. He strives for quality whatever its length may be.

First, Inger responded seriously and then she laughed as she delivered the second sentence:

I always find the characters I play interesting to me. I also always find that they become more interesting in relation to how badly you need the money you will receive for playing them.

Inger had recently ended her run as Katy Holstrum when The Farmer's Daughter series ended in the spring of 1966. Inger adjusted well to the change in routine commenting:

I like doing movies presently because the roles are dramatic ones. It is the type of material with which I was involved before taking on the comedy role of Katy on tv. Only by varying your roles can you learn more and more about your craft and sharpen your skills.

Luckily for us The Borgia Stick, which is a film I find to be cleverly written, full of action and perfectly cast, is available to watch on Youtube! It really is one of my favorite films to watch often. If the embedded video does not play, click here.

Source:

"This Farmer's Daughter is Pretty Bright." The Tipton Daily Tribune. October 14, 1966.