Quentin Tarantino has directed films that feature some of the most iconic costumes of the last twenty years, e.g. Reservoir Dogs’ black suits (Betsy Heimann), Mia Wallace’s trouser suit (Heimann), the Kill Bill tracksuit (Kumiko Ogawa, Catherine Marie Thomas). Yet no Tarantino movie has ever won or even been nominated for a Costume Design Oscar; a travesty that may boil down to his stories often being contemporary, not period. World War II set Inglourious Basterds (Anna B. Sheppard) was an exception, but again, amazingly, not even a nomination. Django Unchained, costumed by Sharen Davis, might just buck this trend. It is period so immediately stands in good stead. Secondly, judging…

Playing computer hacker Lisbeth Salander, Noomi Rapace embodies the character in such a exhaustive way that picturing anyone else in the role was, until recently, impossible. Defined by copious piercings, a ragged biker leather jacket and skinny jeans, Lisbeth is a blatant symbol of unconformity. From author Stieg Larsson’s creation to costume designer Cilla Rörby’s interpretation for the screen, Lisbeth harks back to the mid-1970s; the early days of punk and a desire to skew superficial expectations. Lisbeth’s costume changes for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009, directed by Niels Arden Oplev) are faithful, certainly in spirit, to Larsson’s Millennium novels. The overall shock factor has been toned down…

Here it is then, the first trailer for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Join Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) as he hunts for the legendary Fountain of Youth, clashing with a woman from his past (Penelope Cruz) and formidable pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane). There won’t be any Orlando Bloom, but there will be zombies and mermaids, and maybe a Jolly Rodger too. To all intents and purposes this looks like more of the same, despite the presence of a fresh director – Rob Marshall replacing the original trilogy’s Gore Verbinski. Neither of these points are necessarily a cause for concern. Pirates is a lively franchise, though always works best…

You too can look as tasteless as 1980s gangster Tony Montana by sporting a snazzy neck scarf and money clip. Then watch Scarface on a limited edition steel book Blu-ray and see what a mistake you’ve made. We have three triple play DVDs, scarf and money clip combo sets to give away. Everyone knows Scarface (1982), director Brian De Palma’s epic tale of Cuban refugee Tony Montana (Al Pacino) and his violent rise and fall as a drug baron in early eighties Miami. Patricia Neal’s costumes are one of the most memorable elements, combining period accuracy with flamboyant creativity, especially wild Tony’s island shirts and the glitzy, sometimes stunning dresses…

Happy New Year everyone! Life Without Zoe, The Canyons Two well researched and well written posts by Superqueen. This site is always worth a scoot around. 12 Years a Slave Costume Designer Patricia Norris is 82 years young. Cancel your retirement. The Most Iconic Costumes of all Time Marilyn’s dress in The Seven Year Itch? No, frankly. Ellen Mirojnick The Costume Cafe podcast with a lady we adore here at Clothes on Film. Inside Llewyn Davis Frocktalk reviews the extraordinary ‘sweaterville’ work of Mary Zophres for the Coens’ latest. Michael Wilkinson For Guise magazine, Joe Kucharski chats to Michael Wilkinson about digital illustration in costume design. Big Screen Style Moments…

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Ciarán Hinds, Janet McTeer Directed By: James Watkins Victorian was a transitional age between classical romance and practical industry. It eventually gave way to economic upheaval in the Edwardian era, when Gothic mystery became less important than socialism. Clothing too was on the cusp of change. Frock coats and heavy lace dresses would soon be lost to ceremony, imbuing them with a theatricality that performs especially well in the horror genre. From recently resurrected production company Hammer, The Woman in Black is more accurately a ghost story; though do not think for a second that will dampen your fear. It won’t. Estate lawyer Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe)…

Friday 6th May sees the release of Florence Foster Jenkins, the 1944 set true story of a woman, Ms. Foster Jenkins herself (played by Meryl Streep) who heard nothing but sweet angels in her head, yet couldn’t actually sing for a toffee. Her manager and husband St. Clair Bayfield (Hugh Grant) hides the truth during the private recitals, but when Florence agrees to sing live at Carnegie Hall, things begin to get a little tricky… Costume designer for Florence Foster Jenkins is Consolata Boyle, a BAFTA award winner probably best known for her work on The Queen (2006), The Iron Lady (2011), and more recently Philomena (2013) – and yes there…

For this month’s Fabric of Cinema column in pan-India publication Arts Illustrated, Clothes on Film editor Christopher Laverty discussed the game changing costume design work of Trish Summerville. This makes that terrible title pun you’ve just read almost acceptable. The theme of the issue was women, specifically women approaching their role in society with a powerful, fresh perspective. This is sex rather than gender based, as none of the women featured conform to pre-established definitions of masculine or feminine. They are creatives achieving wonderful things not because of their sex, or in spite of it, but because of raw, unabashed talent. Trish Summerville’s breakthrough movie as costume designer was The…

With exclusive insight from The Hangover (2009) costume designer Louise Mingenbach, we investigate how clothing defined character and brought this chucklesome movie to life. The Hangover begins with Doug (Justin Bartha) sharing a tailor’s fitting with his soon to be brother in law Alan (Zach Galifianakis). Alan confides in Doug just how excited he is to be attending his bachelor party. Wearing a jock strap for no conceivable reason we get the idea that maybe not all of Alan’s dogs are barking. Next we meet school teacher Phil (Bradley Cooper), the kind of man who embezzles money from his pupils for their school trip and siphons it into his Las…

Academy Award winning costume designer Lindy Hemming has worked on five James Bond films with Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig in the lead role. Who better then to curate an exhibition of 007 style? The most anticipated event of its kind for fans of the Bond aesthetic, gadgets, sets, cars and some unforgettable costumes, this ambitious project has been in the making for nearly a decade. Speaking exclusively to Clothes on Film, Lindy Hemming talks through her involvement with the exhibition and hints at what to expect when it opens next month in London: ‘Having worked for the producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson on five Bond films over eleven…