© 2011, Clothes on Film 19 Apr ’11 In this abridged version of a feature originally published in Moviescope magazine in December 2010, Clothes on Film take an overview look at how to ‘read’ costume design. Costume design remains one of the most misunderstood and underappreciated filmmaking arts. Far in excess of merely ‘dressing’ an actor for their role, costume design is discourse. A film can be read via costume; sometimes overtly, sometimes subtextually. Not just conspicuous sci-fi or period, but contemporary stories set within a familiar world in familiar attire. On screen even the most rudimentary item of clothing can take on meaning. 2010 was a boundary crossing year…

Perhaps the most mind-churning mainstream film of recent years, Inception is testament to the power of great costume design. Not only does it look sumptuous, thanks to all those 3 pc suits and silk ties, but because of costume designer Jeffrey Kurland and director Christopher Nolan’s commitment to clothing serving an implicit function, Inception is at least partially decipherable by what the characters wear. The screen is filled with costume clues to interpret. Jeffrey Kurland has been costume designer on thirty seven feature films, including Ocean’s Eleven (2001) and Collateral (2004), though Inception is his first collaboration with Chris Nolan. Here he explains exclusively to Clothes on Film his sartorial…

Via Ain’t it Cool 3 Jun ’10 Click HERE to see the rest of the images at Ain’t it Cool It’s those Captain America costume pics! Later than everyone else! The images in question are computer generated concept art so hardly set in stone, though being as they strongly resemble JoBlo’s firsthand description of the CA costume last week (read it HERE) it is likely Chris Evans will be wearing something very similar in the movie titled Captain America: The First Avenger. His suit is apparently made from a leather type material. It certainly retrains retro touches of the traditional Captain America look, e.g. colouring, skullcap headgear and utility belt.…

© 2010, Warner Bros. 20 Aug ’10 Everyone who wishes to has seen and digested Inception by now, and still the most popular topic of discussion is Jeffrey Kurland’s inspiring costumes. Introducing costume design to cinemagoers who perhaps never would have noticed the craft before, Jeffrey has truly broken down barriers with Inception. Very kindly, he has taken time out of his busy schedule to once again speak exclusively to Clothes on Film about his intended meaning behind the costumes, plus some further details about the outfits themselves. Clothes on Film, Chris: Were the leather jackets worn by Leonardo DiCaprio as Cobb and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Arthur custom designed by…

Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), Forrest Gump (1994), Death Becomes Her (1992), Saving Private Ryan (1998), Unbreakable (2000), Munich (2005), War Horse (2011) – with credits like these it is amazing to think that British born costume designer has never been nominated, let alone won an Academy Award. Finally, however, director Steven Spielberg’s latest Lincoln has rewarded her talent with a costume nomination in all three of the major award ceremonies (Oscar, BAFTA and CDG). Johnston has been working with Spielberg on-and-off for 29 years now, and this collaboration looks set to continue. Perhaps it’s an obvious level of trust that allows Lincoln to have such a cohesive look when…

© 2013, Warner Bros. Pictures 19 Apr ’13 Hating Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby will be easy. Every intermediate reader has read it and loves it and wants to protect it. I’ve read it dozens of times and devoted nearly 20 years to writing about Fitzgerald, his characters, and their clothing. I’ve long imagined Gatsby’s closet, Daisy’s pearls, and Jordan’s knitwear. I know what they look like to me. What I want to know is: “What do they look like to Baz Luhrmann and costume designer, Catherine Martin?” F. Scott Fitzgerald’s text goes hand-in-glove with visual interpretation: mascara-laden flappers sobbing as the party ends; a lilac tricorn hat tipped just…

© 2013, Lionsgate 9 Mar ’13 Drip-fed over several days, these costume glimpses will likely cause some major appetite whetting. Remember however, The Hunger Games’ sequel Catching Fire does not even hit cinemas until November. Long wait. Catching Fire costume designer is Trish Summerville, who after winning a Contemporary Costume Designer’s Guild award for her fashionable work on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in 2012 is a hot name right now. Summerville replaces The Hunger Games’ costume designer Judianna Makovsky, a two time CDG recipient this year, who laid the franchise groundwork with some enjoyable nods to wacky runway trends. Available via Lionsgate’s ‘Capitol Couture’ tumblr, these portraits lack…

© 2013, Warner Bros. Pictures 17 Apr ’13 If this new trailer for Man of Steel was the actual movie, then it would be difficult not to stand up and salute at the end. This is three minutes of very worthy, very dramatic, very promising footage for one of the most anticipated films of the year. Best of all though, we really get to see the new Superman suit in action. Costumes designers for Man of Steel are two legends of the industry, James Acheson (Doctor Who, Spider-Man) and Michael Wikinson (Watchmen, Tron Legacy). Quite how these men divided their time on the film remains a tight-lipped mystery for now,…

© 2013, Walt Disney Pictures 4 Mar ’13 Starring: James Franco, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz Directed By: Sam Raimi There is a cute line early on in Oz the Great and Powerful. The screen is black and white, pre land of Oz with the boxy ratio of an old television set. Circus illusionist Oscar (James Franco) is told by the one that got away (Michelle Williams) that she can no longer wait for him. He strokes the fabric on her dress, “Is this gingham?” he inquires. We are back in Kansas. Oz the Great and the Powerful is a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, not a remake. It lays…

© 2011 Chris Laverty. All rights reserved. 25 Jan ’11 Today’s Academy Award nominations were not especially surprising in most of the headline categories. Well, maybe no Christopher Nolan for Best Director or Andrew Garfield for Best Supporting Actor, but in the Best Costume Design category there were a couple of major upsets. First of all, the actual nominees: Alice in Wonderland – Colleen Atwood I Am Love – Antonella Cannarozzi The King’s Speech – Jenny Beavan The Tempest – Sandy Powell True Grit – Mary Zophres Nothing wrong there, and with no desire to take anything away from the recipients, it is especially great to see Antonella Cannarozzi for…