Catherine George’s costume design demonstrates how we read physicality on-screen. Playing computer hacker, Lisbeth Salander, Noomi Rapace embodies the character in such a way that picturing anyone else in the role is nearly impossible. Mark Bridges exclusively explains his costume choices for retro epic Boogie Nights. The most exquisite fashion promo ever made. Anuvahood showcases urban wear swagger. If you want to belong, you must fit in. Jackson Pollock spawned a thousand imitators in the art world when he chose to work in denim jeans. Costume designer Louise Mingenbach worked closely with Zach Galifianakis to create Ethan’s camp and blissfully unaware look. We have teamed up with Last Exit to…

Interesting costume design stories you might have missed this week. Anna Nicole ‘A rags to riches tale of a pretty but plain girl growing up in small town Texas’, so says the strapline. Deborah Everton discusses her costuming of Agnes Bruckner as the tragic title character. Mad Men Janie Bryant looks back on season six and picks some choice cuts. …and responds to questions on Twitter House of Cards Tom Broecker gives THR the lowdown on costuming Robin Wright and Kevin Spacey in the acclaimed (and brilliant) Netflix show. A nice companion piece to own our article HERE. Christies auction Check out the costume lots. $6,746 for Timothy Dalton’s top…

Into the Woods opened on Broadway in 1987, with the music and lyrics written by Stephen Sondheim and the book by James Lapine. It is Sondheim’s most performed musical and one of his best known works. The story combines familiar characters from childhood fairy tales such as Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and the ubiquitous Witch, and explores their journeys to get their wish, as well as the negative consequences of the small dishonesties committed by each character to get what they want. As the witch sings, “Told a little lie/Stole a little gold/Broke a little vow/Did you?/Had to get your prince/Had to get your cow/Had to get your wish/Doesn’t…

As Little Junior Brown, Nicolas Cage puts in the kind of over the top performance that was in vogue during the early nineties (see also Robert De Niro in Cape Fear, 1991). Cage himself admits that muscle-bound gangster Junior is ‘larger than life’, so why not the same for his fashion sense? Kiss of Death was made in 1993/94 and released in 1995, but even taking this into account Junior’s monochrome wardrobe is still blatantly outdated and vulgar. For most characters in the movie fashion is dictated by circumstance. Put upon ex-con Jimmy Kilmartin (David Caruso) wears clothes that are anonymous and cheap. His new wife Rosie (Kathryn Erbe) makes…

Or when your costumes look like a building. Odile Dicks-Mireaux’s designs for High Rise (2016) are far more than that. But for a film set in such a heavily stylised world, especially one created by sci-fi author J.G. Ballard, homogeny is everything. In fact homogeny is terrifying. Everything is reflected in the aesthetic. The building towers, Tom Hiddleston’s trouser legs tower, and Luke Evans towers over everyone.  Director Ben Wheatley has claimed that he did not want High Rise to look like a ‘greatest hits of the seventies‘, but really that’s exactly what he’s got, certainly in terms of costume design – and that’s okay. It might not be the…

It is not entirely clear when The Personal History of David Copperfield takes place, mainly because, as far as we understand, it is not entirely clear when Charles Dickens’ original novel takes place either. If we go on its initially published serial timeline that puts the story at circa 1849, allowing for a few years either side. Point is; it’s the Victorian era. This period in history was lengthy, however, with many technical and industrial advances, such as the advent of aniline dyes – basically the first synthetic dyes – in the latter half of the 19th century. And, boy, did those Victorians go wild for a bit of colour.…

What has to be the final trailer for Blake Lively’s revenge thriller The Rhythm Section has hit and, faithful to the book, it looks to be a kaleidoscope of outfit changes and ludicrous wigs. Eimer Ni Mhaoldomhnaigh (Becoming Jane, The Guard, Little Women for TV) is on costume design duties for this one. Not to be all ‘we’ve read the book’ but, well, we have and, to be honest, it’s not that brilliant. However, the story zips along nicely and does features a compelling female lead. Being as Mark Burnell wrote The Rhythm Section in 1999, it’s astonishing that filmmakers have dragged their feet this long in getting a movie…

This one has been on the list ever since Clothes on Film launched ten years ago. Romancing the Stone (1984), and specifically Kathleen Turner’s character of Joan Wilder in the movie, has long been a costume favourite. Her very visible transition is what makes the costume character arc so fascinating. All kudos here to costume designer Marilyn Vance Straker for her clever and oh-so-stylish work. Turner is of the era – we definitely know it’s the eighties – but not dated, not really in any way now. Her look holds up. Having worked on some of the biggest box office projects Hollywood has ever produced, the likes of Ferris Bueller’s…

Tales from the costume crypt. The Talented Mr Ripley Remembering the stellar work of Ann Roth and Gary Jones. Blue Jasmine Costume designer Suzy Benzinger on budgets, Fendi and Cate Blanchett. The Butler Transformations…Ruth Carter discusses mimicking classic fashion designers such as Bill Blass to recreate Nancy Reagan (played by Jane Fonda). Jenn Rogien The Girls’ costume designer is now Gap’s official ‘styled by’ expert. Orange is the New Black More Miss Rogien, this time talking authenticity and maxi-pad shoes. Roman Holiday Just brilliant costume analysis of the film by DTSFT. Elysium A brief chat with costume designer April Ferry. Unsurprisingly, it was Jodie Foster who brought Armani on board.…

Costumes! Read all about it! Fifty Shades of Grey Will Victoria Beckham be the film’s costume designer? Oh dear, we smell another Black Swan situation. X-Men: First Class Part two of Gavia Baker’s superb costume round up. This time: menswear. Gwen Russell The costume maker of Dangerous Liaisons (not the costume DESIGNER like this sloppy article states) – she lives in Croydon, don’t cha know? Camera Ready In development TV show by Syfy, where 10 costume designers compete to create works of sartorial art for film, TV and music videos. Blue Jasmine Insightful guide to Cate Blanchett’s terribly chic and expensive costumes. Marathon Man Mode Parade has something interesting to…