Vogue: A costume designer’s job is to use clothes to tell a story. Though aesthetics play a pivotal role in choosing outfits for a film, their choices also have to support the project’s time period, location, and overall theme and mood. It’s no wonder, then, that many costume designers approach their own personal style with a more thoughtful lens, too. Thinking creatively about fashion comes with the territory.
3 comments:
I hate to admit that while I know that the Oscars (and other movie and television award shows) have a lot of deep-rooted issues I secretly really enjoy watching them. The red carpet before the Oscars is nearly as enjoyable as the award show. It is always interesting and fun to look at various actors' clothes. It also provides a place for actors and designers to make a statement. I think it is especially interesting to look at what costume designers wear to the red carpet. I think that they approach it with a certain level of creativity and humor that the actors often lack. I think that it really shows their personalities and the way they approach design through the way they dress themselves. I love Sandy Powel's suit and Jenny Beaven's leather jacket and the way that you can really feel their personalities through it. I also really enjoy how some designers connect their red carpet outfit to the movie they designed.
Yes, two costume article comments in one week! This one is different then most of the others I have read, however. This article is focused on costume designers designing for themselves, specifically at the Oscars. The outfits at award ceremonies are always talked about for weeks after, this one talks about 8 specific outfits from costume designers when they were nominated (ranging from the ‘90s to last year). The common theme was paying homage to the movie they were nominated for, or something entirely unique with a message or goal. For example, Lizzy Gardiner was nominated for costume design in The Adventures of Priscilla in 1993 and wore a dress she actually designed for the movie but was never used. Or, in 2019, Ruth E. Carter pulled from the same inspiration and design qualities she used in Black Panther in her outfit– she won the Oscar, becoming the first Black woman to win the costume design award. This is an incredibly interesting article to read!
I have read many various article and interviews than mention how the costume designer should dress themself. One of my favorite designers William Ivy Long sticks to a strict wardrobe of a navy blazer, khaki pants, loafers, and a striped tie. He does this because he says he must spend all of his design energy and creative process on his work and not on himself. Having this stagnant fashion allows him to not have to think twice when he gets dressed in the morning. I have heard the same thing from other designers warning that some designers must pull back their wardrobe. For having a really put together look may be seen as intimidating or draw attention away from the actor’s costume in a fitting. Award Ceremonies however are a different story. This is the rare time whe the art of costume design is actually celebrated and so should the nominees. I especially liked Sandy Powell's approach and I have seen a handful of interviews with her about that suit. I’m surprised it didn't fetch more at auction.
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