If you've read the book, you know The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a tender look at the life of teenage misfits living in Pittsburgh in the 90s. If you've seen the movie, you may have noticed the excellent set design. Turns out, it wasn't all inflatable chairs, flannel and bad haircuts.
Perks features some truly hip teenagers, so it's no surprise their rooms are pretty cool too. The story takes place pre-laptop computers and discmen - so mixtapes are common both in the story line and the set design. I've always loved the idea of giving old tech new love in your home and who doesn't remember their first mixtape from their first girlfriend or boyfriend?
Vintage tech isn't always practical, but I guarantee it's a conversation starter every time. A vintage typewriter adds of touch of whimsy to any desk.
Of course, this wouldn't be a story about teenage angst if there weren't string lights hanging from the ceiling and band posters on the wall. The Beatles and the Strokes are critical to the Perks soundtrack and storyline, but any classic band will do when choosing posters. Frame them for a more sophisticated look and don't forget the candles for a little extra mood lighting.
I have a soft spot in my heart for Polaroids and apparently, so does Perks protagonist Charlie. The wall right above his desk features a cute collection, which you could easily replicate. The best part of this old technology? For now, you can still buy it.
Here's your shopping list based on the collage above :
- String lights
- Vintage Typewriter
- Shelf
- Framed Beatles Print
- The Smiths Poster
- Leatherbound Classic Books
- Desk
- Candles
- Polaroids
- Colorful Push Pins
(Images: products - as listed above, movie stills - Summit Entertainment)
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I just saw this movie. It was fantastic!
I did feel there was something odd about the timeline. It seemed somehow earlier than the nineties, despite featuring some 90's songs in the soundtrack. I was a teenager during the early nineties and I remember it being a time of technology overlap. Yes, there were cassettes and typewriters, but there were also CDs and word processers too. I also found the fact that it took the characters a year to find a popular David Bowie song surprising... especially because their group of friends clearly listened to a lot of other indie music like The Smiths.
I know I'm just nitpicking here. I think the overall tone of the movie had a lot more to do with the feeling of being a teenager, than the specific year that it was set. Still, I'm wondering how others perceived the time period the film is set in. Thoughts?
I completely agree. The movie was incredible and I was blown away by the actors in it but the timeline was a bit confusing. When I think of 90s teen movies I think of Clueless, and this definitely seems to have taken place in a time before Cher was walking around with her cell phone...
But I'll try not to let it bother me and just revel in how amazing this movie is.
yeah, the 90's was synonymous with discmen and laptops. entertaining or not the film is obviously gearing itself towards a demographic too young to know the difference. the 90's now just falls into that 20-year cycle that's seems old to todays' teens and is easily misrepresented for commercial purposes.
"The Beatles and the Strokes are critical to the Perks soundtrack and storyline, but any classic band will do when choosing posters." THE STROKES?! try the smiths. granted, the link leads to a smiths poster, but...wow.
Yes! I'm glad someone else voiced what I was thinking. I took my daughters to this and when the movie was over I said this so took me back to my college days in the 80s. And my older daughter said she thought it was set in the 90s. I said no, maybe the late 80s. I didn't catch the songs from the 90s, so was surprised to hear the description of the film saying it was indeed set in the 90s. I think definitely they took some liberties but I wish they had been a little more authentic with that stuff. It's distracting to those who actually lived it. Even the style of dancing was right out of the 80s. Not knowing the Bowie tune also struck me as weird. Certainly they would have known Bowie--his voice is so distinctive. Still a lovely little film. Very much enjoyed it and made me terribly nostalgic.
I'm glad to hear I wasn't alone in thinking the time period seems a bit off. That said, if you haven't seen the movie yet, I highly recommend it!
I look forward to seeing this film, Even though I have not seen it yet I agree with the comments about the time period, I am glad to hear it isnt enough to detract from the story.
Oh god, I keep forgetting this got made into a movie. I appreciate their props (though they definitely don't look like the 90s I grew up in), but I'm not sure I will be able to handle the film based on how obnoxious the book was. Then again, the book came out as I was entering highschool, so maybe it is less teeth-gnashingly irritating when you aren't already subjected to teenagers on a daily basis.
At any rate, if you want your home to look like the "90s" as presented here, or just like it is full of eclectic treasures in a similar vein, probably start at a thrift store? I could practically recreate the first picture entirely with things I've found at the Goodwill: plenty of similar vintage cameras, old leather books, cute typewriters, polaroid cameras with usable film still in them, jamboxes (though no pink ones... yet), solid wood furniture, and absolutely no shortage of ill-fitting sports jackets. I am consistently baffled by people paying several times more than they could, and contributing to our waste problem while trying to emulate a thrifted look by buying all-new, often mass-produced, imported goods. I guess if you're buying push pins and string lights, maybe you won't save a mint buying them thrifted, but I will take my $24 solid-wood desk over Target's $150+ particle-board, assembly-required crap any day of the week.
Anything with the Beatles and the Smiths is a perk in my book!