“Archive”: The Exciting Look Into The Process of an It-Girl

By: Nicola DeGregorio

11 / 3 / 23

Continually championing what it means to be a girl, Sofia Copolla was born into a lineage of cool. Whether you first fell in love with her debut film “The Virgin Suicides” or find her later masterpieces to more correctly resonate, “Archive”, her newest creative project, is set to delight all fans by sharing photos, mementos, and creative whatnots in a little over 400 glorious pages. Ahead of the release of this new book and her upcoming film, “Priscilla,” let’s first take a deep dive into the style of the it girl herself.

Starting in the 90s with intern experience at Chanel and a stint with her own clothing line, “Milkfed,” she has always epitomized the feminine though understated glamor of the decade. Frequently sporting denim, ballet flats, a breezy button down, or all at the same time, Coppola channels the extravagance of femininity into her films.

For “Priscilla” in particular, Coppola crafts almost the antithesis to the award-winning “Elvis.”  In showing the story of Presely’s experience as the wife of a star, she highlights the feminine voice and experience. Telling the story of the teenaged Priscilla, Coppola expands the narrative beyond both perceived and present glamour, to explore the true dynamics of a relationship with such vast differences in power.

Speaking on her creative process in a video by W Magazine, Coppola shows a decadently messy photograph of her office. “I’m a messy person,” said Coppola, referencing the inspiration photos, open notebooks, flower vases, and postered walls seen in the space.

The Oscar-winning director channels the creative liberties she lacks in her everyday dress into her work. The most extravagantly costumed thus far, “Marie Antoinette,” proves Coppola to be a savant of fashion and pop culture history. These nuances of modern and classic elements display how savvy Coppola is; who else could marry a soundtrack of The Cure and Vivaldi with a sometimes nude Kirsten Dunst ornately frolicking across the screen?

This is what makes the director so enviable. Her films make it evident she possesses a plethora of artistic knowledge embedded in directorial decisions, yet for herself she remains quite paired. Thinking back to the office photograph, how does such a minimalist in outward presentation function in such a chaotic space? Though exquisitely executed, her films possess all the refinements and detailed attentions one expects of such an austere individual. Serving as an opportunity to dive further into the mind of such an intricate thinker, “Archive,” is an exciting opportunity for fans to not only step into films but also into the mind of such a creative feat of a woman.

A true 90s icon and natural-born it-girl, Coppola is bestowing quite the gift on her fans. Turning the camera on herself, this new book centers the idyllically painted pictures of femininity on Coppola, as one looks through a deeply personal lens at her creations over the years.