Jazz on a Summer’s Day is not only one of the great jazz documentaries; it’s also a fascinating snapshot of late 1950s fashions – as worn by the most stylish and tasteful people of the time: jazz fans and musicians! Pictured left is singer Anita O’Day, a vision of uptown chic (and surely the style inspiration for Audrey Hepburn’s Sing Sing outfit in Breakfast at Tiffany’s? – watch the YouTube clip below and decide for yourself ..)
The film was first shown in Britain in June 1960, and I’m celebrating it over on my jazz blog, www.jazzmatters.wordpress.com
What’s so appealing about this movie to non-jazz devotees are the lingering shots of some of the audience: hipsters with crew cuts and Ray Bans, “cats” in
pork-pie hats, and girls wearing pony-tails and pedal-pushers.
It should come as no surprise to anyone who loves this movie’s sense of style to discover that it was filmed by a fashion photographer, Bert Stern – who went on to take the last photos of Marilyn Monroe.
Film & Style Matters 
I’ve been meaning to rent this documentary for awhile now. Although I love jazz, it’s really Anita’s fabulous hat on the cover which drew me in (and you’re right, very Holly Golightly). I will get it tonight!
Pingback: Jazz on Film @ Glasgow Jazz Festival prt 2 | Alison Kerr's Jazz Blog