Having the right costume in a film is right up there with having the right music score. Edith Head was the Hollywood queen of costume design during her illustrious fifty year career.
Is there is a correlation between best costume and the actress who wears it? That is, the more elegant the attire the brighter the star? From Grace Kelley to Dorothy Lamour to Audrey Hepburn and hundreds in between, Edith Head designed more fabulous dresses than anyone and the actresses who wore them became larger than life.
Grace Kelly, To Catch a Thief
Dorothy Lamour, “Road Pictures” with Hope and Crosby
Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany’s
After Edith Head passed away in 1981, new costume designers set out to establish their reputations. The other day I read the Time Essay reader’s poll of favorite costumes in film, and the winner for finest dress ever in a film went to Keira Knightley’s emerald gown in Atonement.
Alexandra Byrne is a current costume designer who is a particular favorite of mine. She designed the exquisite period pieces in Elizabeth and Elizabeth: The Golden Age for which she won an academy award.
Which costumes from Hollywood’s history stands out for you? What film’s legacy rests heavily on the costume?
Cindy Bruchman 
As I’m not someone who know much about fashion, I’d pick whoever my fair Audrey wore in whatever picture she starred would be my pick.
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Ahh. Well then! Probably Ms. Head
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Great post! I blogged about Edith Head a while ago, she’s still the greatest costume designer ever. LOVE that green dress in Atonement, what a gorgeous color. Interesting that I had just featured that film on my Friday post too 😀
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You like McAvoy from the Scottlish list, I remember. Edith just turned 116 in October, so she must still be in the public’s mind. I see a lot of press for her still. 🙂
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Beautiful. These really are stunning costumes.
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Hi Malcolm, it’s hard not think of these actresses as mere women when they wear such gorgeous gowns as these. The gowns truly elevate them to the stratosphere.
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Nothing beats Audrey Hepburn’s little black dresses from Breakfast at Tiffany’s (61′).
With the simplicity of the black dresses and the naturally elegant Hepburn’s charming good looks, that iconic look from ‘Br @ Tiffzzz’ is a class apart.
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Couldn’t agree with you more, Nuwansen! Only she could pull off that ensemble.
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Edith Head is tough to beat, which is why hers is the only name I know without research.
I had to look up Eiko Ishioka, but she makes Mirror, Mirror (2012) almost watchable, single handedly. The rest of the movie is sheer rubbish, but her costumes, at times, almost make you forget as much. Can’t say I know much of her other work but still a name I thought worth mentioning.
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Hi! Glad you did! I’m not a fashionista by a long shot and I only a couple of names. Really crappy movies can have outstanding costumes and I find I focus on that when there’s not much else to consider. 😉
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Such is the case with Mirror, Mirror. 😉
Turns out Ishioka passed away last year (she was 73). Guess I won’t be getting to know any future work. 😦
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This hugely important aspect of film making is something I never think about. ??? Not sure why? Of course Edith Head is the queen of the lot – back lot or otherwise. But I’m sure there are other very worthy artists plying the trade. I’ll have to pay more attention to this in future. Thank You !!
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Sadly, I don’t know the artists behind the movie. And it seems to be gender specific, that is, no one talks about the smart dressed man in films. We sure are a visual breed and so if the costumes are great the film is better 🙂
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look at all those dang oscars !! is that a record for Oscar intake ?
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Yes, for sure. The most a female has won in Hollywood and the most a costume designer has won. All those legendary actresses benefited from Ms. Head.
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I’m way over my head with this category, but stunning dresses.
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I am not a dedicated follower of fashion, but I like the implication that the “star” is a result of the costumes she wore and when they wore Edith Head, they became more iconic. Similar theory that if you have John Williams creating the score to your movie, chances are it will elevate in stature and become a contender during awards season.
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