Wednesday, December 04, 2013

COSTUME DESIGN FOR THE MOVIES

There's a new book about costume design called, "Hollywood Sketchbook: a Century of Costume Illustration." I'm no expert but I'll be very surprised if this isn't the best book done on the subject in decades. Take a look at a few pictures and see what you think.

That green dress above looks like something Ginger Rogers might have worn. I like the slanted pose.


Haw! I wonder what film this dress was for.  Well, costume design for film isn't the same as fashion design. Costume design for the movies is supposed to heighten our understanding of a particular character in a particular situation in a particular story. It doesn't always aim to make that character look good.


Okay, I recognize these dresses (above) from Caberet. 



Yikes! Stork legs!


I know I've seen this (above) design somewhere...maybe on Eve Arden in a 40s film.


 What were these sketches for? Commenters said they're Munchkins from The Wizard of Oz.

I threw this (above) in because I liked the back shot of the girl.


Holy Mackerel! This (above) looks like something Bakst would have done, but it's by someone else.


3 comments:

Steven Finch, Attorney at Law said...

Come now, Uncle Eddie. Surely you recognize those munchkins from the Wizard of Oz!

Interestingly, I just yesterday read that there was no Academy Award for costume design when the movie came out--what a shame!

Anonymous said...

The second-last one looks like Munchkin costumes from The Wizard of Oz.

Anonymous said...

Those signed "Adrian" were done at MGM for "The Wizard of Oz." Adrian was one of that studio's top costume designers in that era.